ABSTRACT
The growth of state involvement in medical services is one of the major developments within modern medicine. By 1950, the state had become the major provider of services to prevent disease through a wide range of public health and welfare schemes and of health care through the National Health Service (NHS). Sanitary reforms overlapped with civic amenity: clean streets were not only associated with health but were also pleasant for pedestrians, encouraged the flow of traffic and drew in visitors – holidaymakers, shoppers, and businessmen – to boost local trade. Using powers under the 1875 Public Health Act, Medical Officers of Health (MOsH) and their staff inspected, analysed and if necessary seized dangerous foodstuffs before they could be consumed by unwitting customers. A number of welfare measures were introduced by Liberal government of David Lloyd George – including the Maternal and Child Welfare Act, which gave local authorities in England and Wales the powers to set up infant welfare centres.
