The British Public Health Act, Reducing Death Rates and... Castors?

The state of urban areas in Britain has long been a topic of debate for the government, alongside question relating to how to clean the likes of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield up. This is an age old problem and one that first made it into policy in 1848 with the first Public Health Act following a major outbreak of cholera, which increased death rates and highlighted just how poor public health was at the time. With some areas having a death rate of more than 23 per 1000 people in the mid-19th Century, it was recognized that something had to be done. That something was quite obviously cleaning up the urban environment, although there were ongoing problems with the methods proposed at the time. It is just a shame that they did not have castors to help them!

Before we get to how a few little wheels could have helped government to clean up the streets in line with the Public Health Act, it is necessary to look at the policy as it was. The July 1848 Public Health Act was based on the Health of Towns Commission findings and established legislation to clean up urban conditions. Local Boards of Health were established between 1848 and 1894 to control sewers, regulate slaughterhouses, clean up water supply and generally clean the streets. They were heavily criticized by local authorities because it was perceived as government interfering in local matters but this, alongside further Public Health Acts in 1866 and 1875, did help to make urban conditions better, reduce disease and reduce death rates.

So how could the Public Health Act have been aided and abetted by the use of castors? Well, it should be noted that those calling for reform wanted sewage removing from living areas as it ran freely in the streets, rubbish removing from the streets as it was attracting pests, and the installation of running water in all areas where people were living. This was not the end of their demands but it gives a good idea of the sort of thing they wanted. The clean up took years because many areas simply did not have the equipment at their disposal to do so quickly. Imagine if they had had industrial cages and trolleys with small wheels on the bottom that could negotiate all terrains!

The local government could have removed rubbish on such industrial cages, with castors like the 2BZQX/XXH/SZ, which can carry between 2800kg and 11500kg. They could have employed people to load up the cage and pushed it out of the living quarters in no time at all. Small wheels could also have helped to transport equipment into areas for pipe installation without the need for trip after trip after trip to get it all in the one place. Obviously there were no cars or vans back then! When you consider how the clean up was organized back then and how it would be carried out now, you realize just how big a difference the humble castor would have made!