HIST 249 Chapter Notes - Chapter Reading : Smallpox Vaccine, William Farr, Cholera
Document Summary
Populations were frequently attacks by epidemics of fevers, smallpox and cholera especially in new and rapidly growing cities. In britain, death rates were 22 per 1,000 people per year. Life expectancy was 40 for men and 42 for women. 16% of infants did not live to see their 1st birthday. Children continued to suffer high mortality rates but deaths from smallpox and fevers, etc. had been eradicated. Industrialization and urbanization was associated with increasing rates of mortality and declining life expectancy. Death rates were high in britain where industrialization was rapid. From the end of the 18th century, data on disease and death were collected more systematically. They did this in order to understand how to regulate and legislate. With the data researchers saw links between social conditions and morality. William farr was a british medical practitioner and was appointed the first compiler of abstract at the registrar.
