How did the Public Health Act of 1875 improve upon the Act of 1848?

The Public Health Act of 1875 significantly improved upon the earlier Act of 1848 by mandating local governments to take direct action in improving public health conditions. This act required local authorities to provide essential services, such as clean water supplies and public toilets, which were critical in preventing diseases that arose from poor sanitation and contaminated water sources. By placing this obligation on local governments, the 1875 Act emphasized the importance of actively managing public health issues rather than leaving it to individual municipalities to choose whether or not to implement improvements.

In contrast to the 1848 Act, which had provided guidelines and was more of a recommendation without enforcement, the 1875 Act established a framework that ensured local authorities had a responsibility to maintain public health standards, directly addressing the public health crisis of the time. The advancement made by the 1875 Act was crucial in establishing a more systematic approach to health and sanitation during a period marked by rapid urbanization and industrialization.