On the seventh day of Advent I offer you a little-known gem whose title is longer than some of my blogs. It is a wonderful little book, first published in 1831, entitled The Effects of the Principal Arts, Trades, and Professions, and of Civic States and Habits of Living, on Health and Longevity: with Particular Reference to the Trades and Manufactures of Leeds and Suggestions for the Removal of many of the Agents which Produce Disease, and Shorten the Duration of Life.* Ok, so it isn’t the snappiest title in the world but it is a fascinating read. The author, Charles Turner Thackrah, covers many occupations that were common as Britain entered the industrial age and warns of the possible impacts on health. Thus we learn that: ‘Cattle and Horse Dealers, leading an active life in the open air, are generally healthy, and would be almost exempt from ordinary maladies, were it not for their habit of drinking. Wet and cold would rarely produce even temporary ailment to the temperate man in an employment so conducive to vigour. Horse dealers’ grooms or riders are a sickly set of men. Their appearance indicates those diseases of the stomach and liver which result from a debauched and irregular life.’ As you can see, the author is outspoken and his opinions are not devoid of stereotypes but this does not detract from the book. Having covered nearly 150 occupations, Thackrah’s conclusions have a certain political bias, ‘The disproportion of wages is a great evil in our system. The high wages allowed in some departments induce drunkenness and improvidence; while the low wages frequently given to weavers, wool-combers, burlers, milliners, roadmen &c., prevent a supply of proper nourishment.’

I first came across this classic volume when I was working on my online course ‘In Sickness and in Death: researching the ill health and death of your ancestors’ and it is has become a firm favourite. It will also feature in my ‘Occupational Hazards’ presentation, which I will be giving at the Secret Lives conference next year. Thackrah includes occasional case studies as footnotes: ‘A K Aged 23 entered the flax mill at 11 years of age. She was six years employed in the dusty departments. … She is of low stature and of a sickly appearance; she complains of pain in the right side of the chest…. Expectorated matter is sometimes tinged with blood.’ Sorry, should have been a gore warning there – hope no one is reading this while they are having breakfast. The book is indispensable for anyone who is interested in the history of medicine or the effects of industrialisation. It is also an insight into the hazardous nature of various jobs in an age before health and safety. Its rather quaint pre-Victorian phrasing and vocabulary adds to its charm.

* The link that I have included gives the volume an abbreviated title; this is currently the cheapest option I can find. I did pay appreciably less for my copy so it may be worth waiting or shopping around.