Louis Pasteur V Edwin Chadwick

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History Mr Wicken                Katie Noble 9Sv6

Was Chadwick or Pasteur a more

Important figure in Medical History?

In the 1800’s medicine was being revolutionised; people were discovering the causes of germs and others were creating solutions for them. However at the start of the century the streets of London were filthy, the poor were becoming ill and doctors could only be afforded by the rich. If a disease was caught by one family member the chances of everyone in the household getting the same infection was very high. In the cholera epidemic of 1831 – 1832, 7000 people died; nearly a 50% death rate of those who caught it. Not only was the death rate so high, but cholera was spreading to the rich areas of London and wealthy powerful people were dying. The government realised something had to be done, and changes were made. Many people played a part in transforming London, two of these were, Edwin Chadwick; a civil servant, and Louis Pasteur: a French scientist. Both helped to change the way people looked at medicine and dealt with their health, but in very different ways.

Edwin Chadwick was employed by the Poor Law Commission (PLC) in the 1830’s. The PLC overlooked the amount of money the poor were receiving out of the local taxes and asked Chadwick to report on the living conditions and health of the poor in both town and country areas. The reason being, the poor were becoming ill meaning they worked less and the rich gained less money, putting taxes down and less money going back to the poor for support with medical costs. The vicious circle had been noticed by the PLC as they saw less money being transferred to the poor.

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In 1842 Chadwick completed his report and came up with an answer as to how the poor could become healthier and in the long run save the rich from paying too much money. He would improve drainage and sewers, remove rubbish from the streets, provide clean water supplies and appoint a medical officer of health to check the reforms.

Although his method of making to poor healthier was great, neither the poor nor the rich wanted it enforced; the poor didn’t want Chadwick telling them how to live and the rich didn’t want to pay for it.

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