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Comment on ‘Seat of Death and Terror’1

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  • TIMOTHY LEUNIG
  • HANS‐JOACHIM VOTH

Abstract

Oxley finds that smallpox consistently reduced heights, but that the fall was not statistically significant outside London or for juvenile Londoners. We demonstrate that inappropriate subdivision of the data into small samples explains the lack of significance she obtains. Further analysis of Oxley’s data shows that smallpox was a statistically significant cause of stunting, and that there were no differences in the effect by area. Juveniles exhibit greater stunting than adults, leading us to conclude that smallpox was not a proxy for overcrowding. That smallpox reduced height is important for anthropometric history: heights capture the effect of a truly awful disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy Leunig & Hans‐Joachim Voth, 2006. "Comment on ‘Seat of Death and Terror’1," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 59(3), pages 607-616, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ehsrev:v:59:y:2006:i:3:p:607-616
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2006.00352.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hans-Joachim Voth & Timothy Leunig, 1996. "Did smallpox reduce height? Stature and the standard of living in London, 1770-1873," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 49(3), pages 541-560, August.
    2. Roderick Floud & Kenneth Wachter & Annabel Gregory, 1990. "Height, Health, and History: Nutritional Status in the United Kingdom, 1750-1980," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number flou90-1, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Steckel, Richard H., 2009. "Heights and human welfare: Recent developments and new directions," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-23, January.

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