How effective was the 1848 Public Health Act?

Some clear successes

However In Context

Begining of 1850;

192 towns asked for the public health regulations to be applied

The Act had been applied to 32 of them

By 1853;

There were 284 petitions for the enw public health regulations

The Act had been applied to 1842 of the towns

Lancashire only 400,000 of its 2.5 million peoeple were living under some sort of public health board

Where they were set up;

frequently the existing town corporation under a different guise

consequently ruled under the same vested interests

e.g. lavotories fluseh into sewers that emtied into nearest watercource from which drinking water was taken

Of the 187 majot towns (those with a mayer and corporation)

29 had the powers of draining and cleansing in the hands of one board

30 had absolutely no powers over publich health because they were in the hand of independt commissioners

62 had no public health whatsoever