The Significance of Edwin Chadwick

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Edwin Chadwick was a civil servant in London who devoted his life to sanitary reform in Britain. Chadwick’s role was important in improving public health because he documented the living conditions far more accurately than ever before and thus could create suitable solutions to longstanding problems. His first significant contribution to gaining support for legislation was in 1883 when he wrote a report for the Poor Law Enquiry leading to the 1834 Poor Law. Chadwick followed this up by investigating the connection between the poor law and public health arguing that because disease caused pauperism, the prevention of this did fall to the Poor Law Guardians. The reports confirmed what had previously been found out about the connections between health and living conditions but more importantly, they suggested how improvements could be investigated. Chadwick’s work here was significant as these reports were published in the annual report of the Poor Law Commission and received official authorisation, bringing their conclusions to the attention of parliament, therefore leading to the Home Secretary asking for a further report to be completed. While still working with the Poor Law, Chadwick took up the question of sanitation in conjunction with Dr Thomas Smith. Their joint efforts provided a beneficial improvement in the public health. His report on The Sanitary Condition of the Labouring Population (1842) was researched and published at his own expense. A supplementary report was published in 1843. The formation of The Health of Towns association and creation of various city-based branches followed rapidly. These national and local movements contributed to the passing of the 1848 Public Health Act. Chadwick’s second contribution was that he believed disease was caused by miasma from rubbish and sewers. Chadwick attacked the infectiveness of sewerage
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