Legislation was introduced in an attempt to regulate 'common prostitutes', in order to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases within the British army and navy.
Legislation established the Local Government Board, to administrate the Poor Law and the public health work of the medical department of the Privy Council.
Legislation consolidated previous public health acts made during the 19th century. These reforms set a framework for the next 50 years in public health.
Legislation gave the Metropolitan Asylums Board (MAB) additional powers to tackle infectious diseases and removed civil rights from people admitted to an MAB hospital.