BY MALI K, YULI A AND NI CK

PERI OD 2
Public Health of the Victorian
Age
Sanitation and its Absence
The Victorian Age was a time of leaky, blocked up
sewers that usually spilled out onto the Thames
River. Sanitation was minimal thus diseases such as
typhoid, typhus, cholera and tuberculosis ran
rampant throughout the population.
Report on Sanitary Conditions
Due to crowded and unsanitary living, disease spread
quickly, especially among the laboring class. There
was a poor water supply, which led to poor cleansing
habits. The laws for the protection of public health
were in decay. Annual death by disease was greater
than death during war, and those who lived had their
working ability cut short by an average of 8 years.
The younger population was inferior in health, and
the exposed population was reckless, short-lived, and
prone to sensual gratification.
Report on Sanitary Conditions (cont.)
Keys to improving sanitary conditions:
Cleansing, removal of refuse, proper ventilation and
drainage
Cheaper drains/sewers to reduce expense of manual labor
New public works with competent civil engineers
District medical officers to initiate sanitary policies
Health and Hygiene
There were several outbreaks of smallpox, typhus,
measles, influenza, and cholera. These diseases
started as endemics, but turned into epidemics in
periods of economic distress. They spread very
quickly in poor, crowded districts where baths were
almost unknown, the water supply was irregular, and
food processing was unsanitary. Water closets were
rare and sewage seepage common in the many
unpaved streets. Eventually, the Public Health Bill
set up a central authority to regulate sanitation.
How Filthy was London?
Prior to 1830, most were pleased with the overall
cleanliness of London. By the time 1832 came, the
cholera epidemic struck and people no longer
thought the region was sanitary. The epidemic killed
fewer than any other bug to hit, yet it promoted the
most pollution control of any.
Women and Children
There was a high infant mortality rate. The diet of
many women made childbirth difficult. Smaller and
lighter woman risked a stronger chance of having her
fetus die. Many women were highly anemic and had
contracted pelvisesmaking childbirth dangerous.
Low nutritional standards led to premature births.
Attitudes Towards Health
Citizens had respect for Hugeia, the goddess of
cleanliness, and obeyed her laws. They surprisingly
gave more attention to health than politics or
religion by doing things like dieting and recreational
sports. People attempted to learn how to cure
diseases (became educated) and went on to create
different medicines
Health and Victorian Criticism
To Victorian literary critics, mortality, psychology,
and health were related fields. They took medical
approach to their criticism, and examined words for
signs of disease or a healthy mind. All of the
criticisms were based on common assumptions of
the healthy mind, which was composed of morality
and intellect. A healthy mind takes in life coherently,
and balances moral direction and external reality.
Moral causes of disease included gluttony, anxiety,
etc.
Cosmetics
The women of the Victorian Age used highly toxic
materials to achieve the popular pale complexion
such as white lead,mercury or white arsenic. Also,
urine was mixed with rosewater for a clear
complexion and animal fat/grease was used for hair
by women as well as the men.
Adulteration of Food
Many foods contained chemicals and poisons which
often led to gastritis or food poisoning. The
chemicals were added to give foodsgood appearances
when selling them. Also, meat came from animals
that were sometimes diseased or died of serious
diseases, transmitting them to humans or poisoning
them.
Medical Developments
During the Victorian Age, expansions of facilities,
specialty hospitals and training of doctors became
more widespread. New drugs such as codeine and
morphine were being invented and advances were
made in identifying and differentiating diseases.
Health Mentality
The constant ailments and deaths made people living
in the Victorian Age more aware of their bodies and
created a thirst to learn about them and how they
worked and how to protect them and keep them
healthy.
Pictures provided by The
Victorian Web
Drinking water was
contaminated
containing various
micro-organisms,
waste, and the like.
The London
Nightmens task was
to excavate and
remove the
excrement and refuse
from numerous
cesspools throughout
the night.
London County
Country
Medical Officer
discovered the
following in
samples of ice
cream: cocci,
bacilli, torulae,
cotton fiber,
lice, bed bugs,
bug's legs, fleas,
straw, human
hair, and cat
and dog hair.
THE END