Sick, not dead

by James C. Riley

The life expectancy of British workers rose dramatically during the nineteenth century, a period in which workingmen began routinely to consult doctors. But while death rates fell, episodes of disease and injury lasted longer. Instead of dying at relatively young ages, workingmen lived longer and experienced more sickness. In Sick, Not Dead, James C. Riley traces these developments and examines the arrangements made for providing medical care to workers. Drawing on the work attendance and sick visit records of British friendly societies, Riley explores how these organizations provided workingmen with access to doctors and regulated compensation for wages lost due to sickness. He finds in this period the roots of today's doctor-patient relationship. Using the extensive claims records of the societies, Riley also explores the regional patterns of sickness in Britain from 1870 to 1910, illuminating how occupations and living conditions influenced the incidence and outcome of disease.