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

1871 Cont - 1872
1871 cont distinguishing marks: "first, as to qualification, that he was an expert and (as
compared with co-existing forms of medical practitioner) in some degree a specialist, in
regard to knowledge and skill applicable to the prevention of disease; and secondly, as to
duty, that he had undertaken to act as impartial public accuser and adviser against whatsoever
unwholesome influences in his district should be removable under sanitary law ... duties
which he would follow with strictly impartial truth and justice as between conflicting local
interests ... Probably in general the best constitution for the office would be, that its holder
should be exclusively in the public service; not necessarily debarred from other public
employment, if his health-office left him leisure for it, and if the appointers to the healthoffice
approved; but debarred from private professional practice, and from serving as private
opinional witness in sanitary suits" (English Sanitary Institutions, 1897, pp.335-8).
The Royal Commission on the Contagious Diseases Acts (chairman, WN Massey,
1809-81, politician) recommended (C.408) the continuance of the acts, with the exception of
the periodical examination of the women. See 1886.
The General Medical Council introduced regulations for diplomas in public health. See
1886.
GHA Hansen (1841-1912) discovered the leprosy bacillus.
Trinity College, Dublin, introduced a certificate in state medicine examination. In
1873 Oxford offered a course in state medicine leading to a certificate; in 1874 Edinburgh
offered a BSc in public health; and in 1875 Cambridge examined for a certificate in sanitary
science.
The new St Thomas' Hospital opened at Westminster Bridge.
Newnham College, Cambridge, founded.
"The Descent of Man" by Charles Darwin (1809-82) published.
1872 Ballot Act (35&36 Vict., c.33) introduced voting by secret ballot, and increased the
number of polling stations. See 1884.
Public Health Act (35&36 Vict., c.79) established urban and rural sanitary authorities
and set out their duties which included the appointment of a medical officer of health (being a
legally qualified medical practitioner) and an inspector of nuisances. The act gave power to
the Local Government Board to constitute designated sanitary authorities as port sanitary
authorities. See 1874.
Adulteration of Food, Drink and Drugs Act (35&36 Vict., c.74) strengthened and
extended the 1860 Act. See 1875.
Scottish Education Act (35&36 Vict., c.62), a major act, created the Scottish Board of
Education and local school boards; and made school attendance compulsory for children aged
between 5 and 13 years. See 1897.
Infant Life Protection Act (35&36 Vict., c.38), followed a report of a Select Committee
on the Protection of Infant Life, required any person who took in for reward two or more
children under one year of age for more than 24 hours to be registered by the local authority.
See 1897.
Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act (35&36 Vict., c.77) prohibited the employment in
the mines of all girls, women and boys under the age of 12 years; introduced powers to
appoint inspectors of mines; and set out rules regarding ventilation, blasting and machinery.
Bastardy Laws Amendment Act (35&36 Vict., c.65) gave the right to the mother of an
illegitimate child to apply to a court for a maintenance order against the father of the child.
Licensing Act (35&36 Vict., c.94) introduced licensing of premises selling beer and