Public Health during the Industrial

Revolution
THINK ABOUT THIS! ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 11-14

This document contains potential answers to activities provided in each pack.

Note that subjective/perspective-type of activities may vary in sentence
construction and grammar. Nonetheless, objective-type activities are provided
with spot-on answers.

COMPARISON. Using the main points, compare and contrast the state
1 of medicine in Britain under specific periods in history. (X marks)

PERIODS Medieval Renaissance Industrial

Scientific Renaissance
approach was changed Amidst being
not used medicine prone to diseases
during this through the due to poor living
time, as use of conditions during
the Industrial
people highly scientific
Revolution,
MAIN POINTS

relied on methods and medicine reached

religious and classical new heights
supernatural knowledge through scientific
reasons for the from ancient discoveries and
inventions.
causes of Greeks and
diseases. Romans.

Note: Marks for each activity are to be determined by the teacher.

 BIOGRAPHY. Choose a remarkable figure in the field of medicine
2 during the Industrial Revolution who you found most significant. Write
a short biography on this person. Highlight his/her contribution to
medicine. (X marks)

You may choose from Louis Pasteur, John

Snow, Edwin Chadwick, and other medical
scientists of the time.

3 TERMINOLOGIES. Define the terms provided below. (X marks)

INDUSTRIAL A series of transitions towards new manufacturing

REVOLUTION processes in Europe and the United States.

A scientific explanation that states that bacteria can

GERM THEORY
cause diseases.

An acute diarrhoeal infection caused by

CHOLERA
contaminated water or food.

A medical discovery that makes a body undergoing

ANAESTHESIA
surgery insensitive to pain.

EPIDEMIC Refers to a widespread occurrence of an infectious

disease.
 4 THE GERM THEORY. The Industrial Revolution saw the change in
medical theories that later led to innovations in identifying and treating
diseases. Amongst these was the Germ Theory. Using the diagram
below, make an infographic on the Germ Theory before and after Louis
Pasteur. (X marks)

Your infographic material

should include the following
Your infographic material points:
should include the following ● Germs could be
points: bacteria, fungi, and
● Miasma theory virus
● Contagion of disease ● Microorganisms are too
● Religious punishment small to see by a naked
● Idea that decay creates eye
germs ● Microorganisms caused
disease

5 PROS & CONS. After learning about public health during the
Industrial Revolution, complete the pros and cons wall. (X marks)

Due to poor living

Scientific experiments were in PUBLIC HEALTH conditions, people in
demand due to outbreaks of IN INDUSTRIAL England became vulnerable
diseases, which led to to diseases.
REVOLUTION
advancement in medicine.

Population declined due to

Public health was given
epidemics.
priority in England.
 THINK ABOUT THIS! ACTIVITIES FOR AGES 14-16

PICTURE ANALYSIS. Using the source, write an essay in which you

1 analyse the political and bureaucratic challenges that stalled the issue of
cholera epidemics being addressed in London. (X marks)

SOURCE A

The source was entitled The Silent Highwayman, 1858, which depicted the
Great Stink of 1858 that primarily influenced the Public Act of 1875. Your
answer should also include the factors of Laissez-faire and cholera epidemic of
1854.

TEXT ANALYSIS. Study the source and then answer the questions that
2 follow. Remember to contextualise and substantiate your claims. Explain
how the living conditions described could create ideal conditions for
diseases. (X marks)
“Tyndall’s-buildings is a court containing 22 houses… the basement
story of nearly all… was filled with fetid refuse, of which it had been
the receptacle for years. In some… it seemed scarcely possible that
human beings could live: the floors were in holes, the stairs broken
down, and the plastering had fallen… In one, the roof had fallen in: it
was driven in by a tipsy woman one night, who sought to escape over
the tiles from her husband.”

- George Godwin, editor of The Builder, describing a Holborn court,

c. 1859
SOURCE B

Your answer should discuss how the Industrial Revolution changed cities
and towns in Britain. Moreover, it should highlight how this factor aided the
spread of infectious diseases.

PERSPECTIVE. Given the source and your understanding of the

3 historical context, express your thoughts on the message of the cartoon.
(X marks)

Express your inference on the

source.
E.g. Water was so dirty it was a
health hazard that could kill.

Poor people were mostly

affected as they had no other
choice but to use the water
available to them.

Due to the attitude of Laissez

Faire, pashishes and councils
were not responsible for
providing clean water to the
public.

SOURCE C
 THEN AND NOW. The spread of epidemics was one of the main
4 health issues during the Industrial Revolution. Today, COVID-19
alarms people across the world as a case of modern disease. Write a
comparative essay on how Britain then and today addresses such a
public health issue. (X marks)

Your discussion may include the promotion of sanitation, experimentation

on new medicines, public knowledge about the status of the disease, etc.

MULTIPLE SOURCING. Analyse both sources and identify the

5 purpose of each. Moreover, point out the difference between both in
notifying the public. (X marks)

SOURCE D SOURCE E

Both sources warned people about the spread and how to fight cholera,
however, Source E provided information after successful experiments
identified what really caused this disease.
 INFERENCE. Critically look at the source and make a substantial
6 inference of the living conditions in England and how they contributed
to the spread of diseases. (X marks)

Your observation may

include trash in the streets,
dirty canals, and how these
conditions aided the spread
of diseases.

SOURCE F