Men's and women's mortality in the past.

This is a historical survey of adult mortality in western Europe from 1625 to 1900, with a focus on the state of women's health during this period. The author attempts to determine whether "women's health in the past was more precarious than it is to-day...[and assesses] the influence of maternal mortality on the excess mortality of women during part of their adult lives." Mortality comparisons are made among female age groups, countries, and historical periods. excerpt