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

Death of James Barry (1795-1865) who qualified in medicine at Edinburgh University
in 1812. Served as a regimental surgeon reaching the rank of inspector-general of British
Army hospitals. After "his" death it was discovered that James Barry was a woman; thus she
was the first woman to qualify in medicine in Great Britain, and to serve in the British Army.
1865 Cont - 1867
1865 cont "Experiments in Plant Hybridization" by Gregor Mendel published in the
Proceedings of the Brunn Society for the Study of Natural Sciences.
1866 Sanitary Act (29&30 Vict., c.90) required local authorities to undertake sanitary
regulation; set out general powers for the provision of sewage disposal and supply of water,
and the abatement of nuisances; made overcrowding of residences illegal; introduced
penalties for persons suffering from dangerous infectious diseases who endangered others in
public places; and gave powers to authorities to provide hospitals or contract for the use of
hospitals or parts thereof. Simon was largely responsible for drafting the act; he considered
that the act "represented such a stride of advance as virtually to begin a new era". See 1868
and 1875.
Labouring Classes Dwelling Act (29&30 Vict., c.28) enabled the Public Works Loan
Commission to make loans towards the erection of dwellings for the labouring classes. See
1868.
Cattle Plague Prevention Act (29&30 Vict., c.2) amended the law relating to
contagious and infectious diseases in cattle and other animals. A further Act (c.15) amended
the 1848 Act, and another Act (c.110) gave inspectors powers to order the slaughter of
diseased animals. See 1894.
Simon's Annual Report for 1865 to the Privy Council contained the results of a survey,
by HJ Hunter (1823-1908), of dwellings of the labouring classes in towns. A survey of rural
dwellings had been reported the year before. The general conclusion was that existing powers
were completely inadequate to control overcrowding or prevent the continued use of
dwellings unfit for human habitation.See 1875.
Association for the Improvement of Workhouse Infirmaries formed to press for the
separation of the care of the sick from that of the able-bodied and to establish workhouse
hospitals in London. See 1867.
Association of Metropolitan Workhouse Medical Officers, president Dr Joseph Rogers
(1820-89) formed; in 1868 it became the Poor Law Medical Officers Association.
"Metropolitan Workhouse Infirmaries and Sick Wards", by Ed. Smith (1818-1874,
medical officer at the Poor Law Board), published as a parliamentary paper. See 1867.
Last great cholera epidemic in London ended. See 1893.
The City of Leeds appointed its first medical officer of health.
Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields, founded.
1867 Representation of the People Act (30&31 Vict., c.102), second reform act, enfranchised
urban working class householders adding about a million eligible voters. Equivalent reform
in Scotland was passed in 1868. See 1869 and 1884.
Metropolitan Poor Act (30&31 Vict., c. 6) provided for the establishment of hospitals
(with nursing staff) for the sick, infirm, insane and other classes of the poor; of dispensaries;
and for the distribution over the metropolis of the charge for poor relief. This act led to the
establishment of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
Poor Law Amendment Act (30&31 Vict., c.106) made the Poor Law Board permanent;
amended administrative details of previous acts; and applied the principles of the