Congenital defects in 18th and 19th century populations from rural and urban northeast England
In England, the 18th and 19th centuries marked an increase in urban living and the development of industrialisation. The movement of large numbers of individuals into newly created urban, industrial centres led to a decline in the standard of living conditions. In overcrowded towns, infectious disease easily spread amongst the improperly fed masses exposed to air and water pollution from nearby factories. To investigate the effects of these poor living conditions on populations in the post-medieval period, the prevalence of congenital defects, anomalies present at or before birth, were chosen for study in skeletal remains. Using an analysis of the prevalence of congenital defects, the hypothesis tested was that there should be a greater prevalence of congenital defects in people in urban centres due to the inferred poor state of health present there at the time compared to individuals from rural areas who may not have been as heavily exposed to unsanitary environmental conditions. This research focused on populations from four sites in Northeast England. The two urban sites were the Quaker burial ground, Coach Lane, North Shields (1711-1857 AD) and St Hildaâs, Coronation Street, South Shields (1816-1856
Tancock, Devon Lee Kase
Congenital defects in 18th and 19th century populations from rural and urban northeast England. In England, the 18th and 19th centuries marked an increase in urban living and the development of industrialisation. The movement of large numbers of individuals into newly created urban, industrial centres led to a decline in the standard of living conditions. In overcrowded towns, infectious disease easily spread amongst the improperly fed masses exposed to air and water pollution from nearby factories. To investigate the effects of these poor living conditions on populations in the post-medieval period, the prevalence of congenital defects, anomalies present at or before birth, were chosen for study in skeletal remains. Using an analysis of the prevalence of congenital defects, the hypothesis tested was that there should be a greater prevalence of congenital defects in people in urban centres due to the inferred poor state of health present there at the time compared to individuals from rural areas who may not have been as heavily exposed to unsanitary environmental conditions. This research focused on populations from four sites in Northeast England. The two urban sites were the Quaker burial ground, Coach Lane, North Shields (1711-1857 AD) and St Hildaâs, Coronation Street, South Shields (1816-1856
defect population rural_urban northeast england england mark increase urban living development industrialisation movement large_number individual newly create urban industrial centre lead decline standard living_condition town infectious_disease easily spread amongst improperly feed mass expose air water pollution nearby factory investigate_effect poor living_condition population post_medieval_period prevalence defect anomaly present birth choose study skeletal_remain using analysis prevalence defect hypothesis_test great prevalence defect people urban_centre due infer poor state health present time compare individual rural_area may heavily expose environmental_condition focused population site northeast england urban_site quaker burial ground north coronation street south