1. The germ theory of disease
How long do most people live in Britain today?
What are the main causes of death?
How does this compare with 150 years ago?
Why have things changed?
Interesting to discuss suggestions before looking at answers in the following slides

2. Causes of death in England & Wales
Describe the main trends and suggest reasons

3. percentage of all deaths
UK in 1850 and 2000
year
Life expectancy/ years
Causes of death as
percentage of all deaths
Infectious disease
Cancer
Circulatory disease
UK / 1850
estimates 42 50 2 15
UK / 2000 77 1 27 37
The drop in infectious diseases. This is in part thanks to the understanding of germ theory
Increases in cancer and circulatory diseases are because we are living longer. These are mainly diseases of the old.
The diagnostic categories were different in Researchers have made estimates based on accounts of the time and on later studies.
We are living longer. What reasons do the data suggest to
explain this?

4. Death rate from Tuberculosis
Note that the death rate was declining well before the disease was understood.
Explanations have included better nutrition and better housing but there is no agreed explanation
Measures such as isolation would help prevent spread even if disease not understood
Describe the trend
Discuss reasons

5. Is Kenya today more similar to the UK in 1850 or today?
Country/ year
Life expectancy/ years
Cause of death as a percentage of all deaths
Infectious disease
Cancer
Circulatory disease
UK/ 1850 42 50 2 15
UK/2000 77 1 27 37
Kenya / 2002 65 3 8
possible discussion points
Kenya will have different infectious diseases from the UK in either period
HIV causes 38% of all deaths, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria are major causes of death in children
Unlike UK in 1850 knowledge and treatments exist now but Kenya cannot afford them
Lack of clean water is still an issue
Which set of figures are the most accurate?
Is Kenya today more similar to the UK in 1850 or today?
Suggest two differences, despite similar statistics