Quote from: TDoS on Jan 29, 2026, 05:47 PMI can buy that. But back then, the common flu was probably something that killed many, polio, small pox...that was a GOOD one for pre-industrial times. I wonder who wins that dieoff scorecard, small pox versus winter storms...throw in hurricanes even.....my bet would still be on smallpox. That managed to decimate entire populations.
Oh no doubt, disease was a big killer in preindustrial era, but it got way worse at the beginning as populations moved from rural to city living to work in factories. Poor sanitation and high density led to epidemics in the cities. Rural populations usually were spared. It wasn't until the late 1800s when microbes were identified and antibiotics discovered that got turned around.
Women dying in childbirth also a big killer in the old days, and common infections from injuries. That got worse with industrial accidents, as well as death by fire in factories. That has improved but remains a problem in countries with low safety regulations where capitalists exploit the cheap labor.
Let's not forget the BIGGEST killer of them all in the industrial era, car accidents.
Car accidents are a major, leading cause of death both in the United States and worldwide. With over 40,000 traffic fatalities in the U.S. annually (roughly one every 13 minutes) and over 1 million globally, they are a significant public health crisis
. They are the leading cause of death for children and young adults (ages 5–29) globally and for individuals aged 1 to 54 in the U.S.
RE