RYDA Newsletter            04/2026

Medicine in the 19th century, The age of Enlightenment

Britain experienced more changes in the 18th and 19th centuries than in any period before. Changes happened as a result of the Industrial Revolution, developments in science and technology, and a change in the government's attitude towards its role in the everyday lives of the population. These changes happened slowly, but they had a revolutionary impact on medicine.

The Industrial Revolution

Towards the end of the 18th century, many changes took place in Britain. Large developments in technology and innovation resulted in a period that has become known as the Industrial Revolution.

• Huge numbers of people moved from the countryside to urban centres. They left rural jobs in farming and agriculture, and found work in factories, mills and mines, which were springing up across the country.
• By the end of the 19th century, most people in Britain were employed in factories and workshops.
• Cities became the main centres of production.

By 1900, cities became overcrowded, and often the growing workforce was accommodated in poor-quality housing, often built by factory owners. Back-to-back terraced housing was common, with families living in a single room. Toilets were normally shared between several houses. The streets became filled with waste.

Water came from pumps in the street with water supplied from a river that was often heavily polluted. Cracked pipes could also lead to contamination of the water with human waste from cesspits. If there was an outbreak of a disease, it would spread rapidly due to overcrowding and poor sanitation.

Huge amounts of coal were being burned to power new factories and mills in towns and cities. Air pollution caused significant damage to health, as a thick smog hung over towns and cities where people had moved to in order to live and work. It caused breathing difficulties and led to many deaths as it damaged people’s lungs.

Overcrowding and the lack of an effective public health system led to the outbreak and spread of several diseases. These included the following:

• Cholera first arrived in England in 1831 and caused an outbreak that killed around 50,000 people. It was spread by contaminated water or food. It caused diarrhoea and vomiting, which often led to severe dehydration and death. There were further cholera epidemics in 1848, 1854 and 1866.
• Typhoid was also spread by contaminated food or water. It caused a high temperature and fatigue, and could also be fatal.

(picture from Wikipedia)

Chadwick wanted the government to take action. He said the government should ensure a clean water supply for everyone and invest in proper sanitation systems.

The idea that the government should be involved in public health was rare in the 19th century. Many people accepted this laissez-faire attitude and did not want the government interfering in their lives. This view is reflected in a letter sent to The Times newspaper in 1852. It helps to explain why there was a reluctance from the government to make public health reforms compulsory:

“We prefer to take our chance with cholera than be bullied into health. There is nothing a man hates so much as being cleansed against his will or having his floor swept, his hall whitewashed, his dung heaps cleared away and his thatch forced to give way to slate.”  — Extract from The Times in 1852

1848 Public Health Act

In 1848, the government responded to Chadwick’s report and passed a Public Health Act. The act set up a Central Board of Health to oversee the improvement of public health. This meant that:

• Local authorities could set up a local board of health to oversee public health. If an area had a mortality rate higher than 23 per 1,000 people, the local authority had to set up a board.
• The local board of health could then raise taxes to pay for clean water supplies and new sewerage systems.

The act was limited in that there was little funding and the local boards of health were usually not compulsory. However, it was an important first step in the government taking action to improve public health.

Discovering the cause of cholera

John Snow was a physician who was working in London during the cholera outbreak in 1854. He did not believe miasma theory was responsible for the outbreak of cholera in 1854. Therefore, he carried out an investigation to try to establish the cause of the outbreak.

• He Focused on cholera cases in Soho, London.
• He plotted all the places where people had died from cholera.                  
• From the map, he was able to work out that they had all drunk water from the same pump on Broad Street.
  
• It is believed that the drinking water was contaminated by sewage leaking into the water supply from a nearby cesspit.
  
• Snow knew that none of the workers at a local brewery had been taken ill with cholera.

Medical Transport - Voluntary Scheme - PAL [ Phone a Lift ]

If you need a lift to a medically related appointment [ health centre, hospital, eye dept., dental, physio. ] you can contact our voluntary scheme by phoning 0300 234 0250. The coordinator will then contact our drivers to see if anyone can help. This is a voluntary scheme and no charge is made. You may, if you wish, contribute to the driver's petrol expenses.

Yealmpton & Brixton Community Friendship Project – helping everyone feel part of our communities

Would you like some company or to make new friends? Why not join us? If we can help you, please call 07841 066921 or email communityfriendship@yealmpton.org

This project is open to people in Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo and other areas in our parish.

We offer

• Befriending for people who are housebound or feel isolated and would like some companionship
• Information about local activities and support groups
• A weekly coffee morning is held in the Community Hall in Yealmpton Community Centre, Stray Park each Friday from 10.30am until 12 noon.
• Information about help with transport so that everyone can join in

Our project relies entirely on volunteers
Could you spare a little amount of time to become a befriender? There is no need to offer a set time commitment. Support and training will be provided.

Planning

Funding is required for chemical analyses, student support, and specialist imposex survey work by Dr Simon Bray.

Dr Heidi Tillin (PML) has begun high-resolution drone surveys of the site. Her first flight was internally funded, but data processing and follow-up surveys require external support.

We need £17,500 for the initial survey work, with a possible £29,000 required for 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Independent verification now is essential to protect our marine environment and maintain public trust. This is important for river users of all types.

We have a one time opportunity to ensure that the works have done what they promised.

We have received some generous donations from local people, for the proposed survey work to the Paint Laboratory and also a grant from Natural England. The total raised so far is £3,660. So we are looking for further donations no matter how small. Every little helps.

Donations can be made to:   RYDA Sort code: 40-36-22 Account: 70801240 Reference: Remedial

Kind regards, RYDA Committee  & Thank you

Whats On?

7^th April 1^stTuesday Lunch club WIC hall new members welcome.. 12.00 prompt please £6pp 2 courses plus coffee. Allergies can be catered for. Please contact Jeanne (872442); Jane (872627) or Tracie (872612).

9^th April Thursday. Parish Council meeting Noss Mayo village hall 7.00pm

11^th April Saturday 10.30-13.00 Wembury Marine centre Cyanotype crafting workshop. £14.25 tickets from eventbrite  Make something beautiful and unique at Wembury Marine Centre using materials from the beach, whilst learning about local marine life.  Cyanotypes use the intricate shapes of seaweed and a little bit of chemistry to make beautiful pieces of artwork.

14^th April Tuesday Coffee & Chat Holy Cross 10.30-12.00

15 April Wed, at 10:00 Tots & Toddlers Rockpool Safari Wembury Marine centre

17 April Fri, at 11:30  Shoresearch Survey Wembury Marine centre

19 April Sun, at 12:30 Extreme Rockpool Safari Wembury Marine Centre

21^st April WI Yealm Group meeting at Down Thomas Jubilee hall 7pm

23^rd April 4^thThursday Lunch Club 12.15 £6 pp. Newton & Noss village Hall. 2 courses plus coffee. Please contact mrandmrsbarnett@gmail.com  Allergies and vegetarians can be catered for, also vegetarian option available. New members welcome.  High water 10.10am

April 25  Saturday at 7 pm at St George's Church, Modbury, Church Ln, Modbury, Ivybridge PL21 0QN.

Brent Singers, Matthew Searles - director, with Ben Horden - piano, Edward Dean - harmonium, Rebecca Hardwick - soprano, Sophie-Dominique Waddie - alto, Michael Graham - tenor, Julian Rippon – bass  Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle: church meets opera house
Tickets £15, u 12s free, from www.brentsingers.org.uk

28^th April Wi Craft group 2pm WIC hall Decorate a bra competition £1.50

Bring an old bra and  your ideas

30^th April WIC hall AGM

Save the Date

13 May Wed 10:30 - 11:15 Chat with a cop. Your local Neighbourhood Team will be at the Post Office

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14^th May Parish Council meeting WIC hall 7.00pm

May 21st, U3A have a talk by Stephen Powles, entitled, ‘The Unbelievable Truth: wildlife stories that must be seen to be believed’, at 2.30pm (doors open 2pm) in the Newton and Noss WI Community Hall on Parsonage Road. U3A members free, non-members £3.

Stephen is an ex-vet and keen photographer who has accumulated many fascinating experiences through keen observation.

28 May Thu, at 22:00  Night Time Rockpool Safari  Wembury Marine centre