ABSTRACT
ALL this time-throughout the cholera epidemic, and then the distractions and anxieties of the struggle for the Metropolis-the Board was ceaselessly extending the Public Health Act. Even in the gloomy winter of 1852 this aspect was cheering. l
The progress had undoubtedly been rapid and impressive; 215 places had petitioned for the Act, and it was already applied to 98 of them, while in another 34 only parliamentary confirmation was wanting. The most advanced places had even finished their engineering works, and in at least seven towns Chadwick's' arterial' system was actually in operation. 2
These successes were undoubtedly due to the novel procedure for introducing the Act. This process usually started with a local petition to the Board asking them to apply the Act. The petition had to be signed by one-tenth of the ratepayers, but the Board was also prepared to begin proceedings on the petition of the local governing body. Although the Board had the power to initiate proceedings itself if the local death rate exceeded 23 per 1000, it used the power sparingly. It was generally kept in reserve to support petitioners who were subsequently outvoted by their neighbours.
