Cheap borrowing saves lives: how falling interest rates expedited Britain’s mortality decline
High borrowing costs hindered town investment in sanitation infrastructure in nineteenth-century England slowing Britain’s mortality decline.
Articles
Seasonality and early childhood mortality in the Netherlands, 1812-1912
In 19th century Netherlands, early childhood mortality strongly increased in the summer and during heat waves and cold spells.
Urban mortality in Greece, 1860–1940
This post examines the patterns of mortality decline in the Greek urban centre of Hermoupolis and the pathways facilitating such decline.
Research note: The legacy of colonial medicine in Central Africa
Summary of the work of Lowes and Montero (2021) showing the lasting impact of colonial medical campaigns on current trust in medicine.
Where money does not flow: Finance and the diffusion of the Dutch sanitary revolution,
What drove the Dutch sanitary revolution? I draw on contemporary newspapers to argue that financial difficulties played a key role.
The industrial revolution and the origins of modern sanitation
The industrial revolution was necessary to trigger investments in sanitary infrastructures, but not sufficient: better medicine and politics were essential.
Local Health Departments and the Puerto Rican Health Miracle
Local health departments played an important role in reducing mortality during the early days of Puerto Rico’s little-known health miracle.
Research note: Sleeping sickness in colonial East and Central Africa
This post summarizes the research by Headrick (2014) on responses to sleeping sickness epidemics in colonial Africa.
Research note: Mental health in Germany ca. 1900
This post focuses on the development of mental health care in Germany around the turn of the 19th century.
Research note: Colonial approaches to sleeping sickness
This post focuses on how British and French colonial governments reacted to sleeping sickness epidemics and what motivated their approach.
