Unfortunately though, Polio shouldn't be in there if the comparison is with the middle ages. Polio was quite rare[*] until the late nineteenth century, and almost never resulted in death. Even after Polio became more common (and paralysis proportionately more significant) death rates were well under 0.1%. So for one out of 16 people to die of Polio is excessive by about 50x.
And before anybody responds that the idea, the message, is more important than the accuracy of the detail, remind yourself of the subject of the picture.
[*] Slightly misleading - apparently Polio was more common but almost everybody developed an immunity due to the prevalence of open sewers and lack of sanitation.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 10:41 pm (UTC)Unfortunately though, Polio shouldn't be in there if the comparison is with the middle ages. Polio was quite rare[*] until the late nineteenth century, and almost never resulted in death. Even after Polio became more common (and paralysis proportionately more significant) death rates were well under 0.1%. So for one out of 16 people to die of Polio is excessive by about 50x.
And before anybody responds that the idea, the message, is more important than the accuracy of the detail, remind yourself of the subject of the picture.
[*] Slightly misleading - apparently Polio was more common but almost everybody developed an immunity due to the prevalence of open sewers and lack of sanitation.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-15 05:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-15 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 03:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 12:13 pm (UTC)