Studies in poverty and health during the nineteenth century in Britain and Egypt

This thesis is an attempt to study the evolution of the idea relating to poverty and disease during the 19th Century. The interest in the welfare of the people and the improvement in public health owe much to the recognition of' the injurious ef'f'ects of want, on the health of the nation. This is why I was interested in following the growth of understanding in this subject. The study of the evolution of this idea naturally involved all investigation into the health and social conditions which inspired it, and allowed society to conceive it. It also entailed a study of the prevalent economic and political trends of thought, and how those trends had influenced the reaction and the response to this idea. Further, it was requisite to ascertain how far the growth of' understanding of the dangers of destitution on the public health had helped in the gradual change in the outlook and attitude toward the problem of poverty.