-
The Poor Law
After The Poor Law Act of 1815 became too expensive the law was ammended. This said that if people needed help than they had to go to the workhouse where they would get food, clothes and somewhere to sleep in return for several hours work. However, the reality was that families were split up, the conditions were dreadful and the work was soul-sucking- people were being punished for being poor as it was believed that it was their own fault. Once in the workhouse it was very difficult to get out. -
John Snow
John Snow discovered that cholera was water-borne by linking cases of cholera back to a pump in Broadstreet; aptly called the Broadstreet pump. One lady caught cholera miles away from the pump but it eventually came to light that she liked that taste of the pump water and asked for it to be brought to her! By discovering that cholera was water-borne it showed the importance for proper sewage, sanitation and water treatment. By discovering this, Snow helped to slow the outbreak of cholera.