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Stephen Breyer's Ice Cream's avatar

I mean, lack of hygiene is one of the main reasons that life expectancy in those times was like 27 and a half.

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Virginia S. O'Possum's avatar

Nah. The reason "life expectancy" was so low is because it's an average that's brought way down by a lot of death in infancy, childhood, and childbirth. And the issue with "hygiene" is more public health and sanitation than personal cleanliness. There's a reason beer and cider were safer than the drinking water.

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Dave Zimny's avatar

True that! On the other hand, historical epidemics were often spread by lice and fleas, which might have been less likely vectors if personal hygiene were better.

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