A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

1863 - 1864
1863 Public Works (Manufacturing Districts) Act (26&27 Vict., c.117) enabled large towns
to obtain loans from the Public Works Loan Commission for sanitary works.
Alkali Act (26&27 Vict., c.124) empowered the appointment of a chief inspector
(Robert Smith, 1817-84, chemist) with four assistant inspectors. Smith developed acceptance
of inspection by showing manufacturers how to turn wasteful pollution into profitable byproducts.
See 1874.
Nuisances Removal Act (26&27 Vict., c.117) amended the 1855 act; dealt with the
seizure and destruction of unsound meat intended for human consumption. See 1866.
Vaccination (Scotland) Act (26&27 Vict., c.108) made vaccination of infants
compulsory.
JS Bristowe (1829-95, physician, St Thomas' Hospital, London) and T Holmes
(surgeon, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London ) reported to Simon on a survey of
hospitals, setting out the quantity and quality of care given. They showed the fallacy of using,
as an indicator, death rates per 100 beds occupied irrespective of duration of stay, admission
rates and severity of illness.
William T Gairdner (1824-1907, regius professor of medicine at Glasgow) appointed
part-time medical officer of health to the City of Glasgow.
International Red Cross founded by Jean-Henri Dunant (1828-1910, Swiss
humanitarian). "Sick and wounded soldiers will be collected and cared for irrespective of
nationality" (see Pringle, 1752). See 1919.
First underground railway, the Metropolitan Railway (Paddington to the City of
London), opened. It became known as "The Sewer".
1864 Factory Acts (Extension) Act (27&28 Vict., c.48) incorporated previous factory acts
and extended their coverage of industries. See 1867.
Contagious Diseases Act (27&28 Vict., c.85) attempted to control venereal diseases by
the compulsory medical examination of "common prostitutes" in garrison towns and ten
miles around. The act was amended and extended in 1869. In 1869 Mrs Josephine Butler
(1828-1906), with the support of Florence Nightingale, founded the Ladies National
Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts on the grounds that they were
unfair and one-sided, ignoring the role of men in the spread of the diseases. Nightingale
considered the acts ineffective and advocated more support for the wives and children of
soldiers and sailors and the provision at barracks of rest-rooms and leisure activities. The acts
were suspended in 1883 and repealed in 1886. See 1869.
Burials Act (27&28 Vict., c.97) created Burial Boards to take over the care and
management of churchyards from the vestries, and required all burials to be registered.
Chimney Sweeps (Regulation) Act (27&28 Vict., c.37) amended the 1840 act and
permitted chimney sweeps to employ children under 10 years on their own premises. See
1875.
Public Schools Act (27&28 Vict., c.92) set out conditions for the governance of such
independent schools. See 1868.
Metropolitan Houseless Poor Act authorised casual wards at workhouses to be used for
vagrants in the London area.
The Clarendon Commission on the Public Schools reported.
A Select Committee reported that there were not sufficient grounds for materially
interfering with the existing system of medical relief for the poor, despite the evidence