Story: Death rates and life expectancy

Unhealthy city (1st of 2)

Unhealthy city

English statistician William Farr distinguished 'healthy districts' – usually rural areas – from unhealthy places such as big cities. These were seen as overcrowded and filthy, an impression reinforced by images such as this engraving of a slum district in London in 1872.

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Museum of London
Lithograph after an illustration by Gustave Dore

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How to cite this page:

Ian Pool, 'Death rates and life expectancy - Recording births and deaths', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/26566/unhealthy-city (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Ian Pool, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 14 Mar 2019