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Samuel Johnson wrote that the life of the common man living in Europe during the 18th century was “little to be enjoyed and much to be endured.” (1) The masses of the 18th century lived short demanding lives. The life expectancy of the average person living i ....

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.... childbirth, thus many mothers died giving birth. Childbirth was such a risk to the women during of the 18th century that Madame de Sevigne told her daughter that if she wants to survive, “Don’t get pregnant and don’t catch smallpox.” (5) Disease was so rampant during the 18th century that even the rich and powerful could not avoid infection. One might think that the royalty of the 18th century would rarely catch such deadly diseases, but they did. Disease was a major influence on the aristocracy. During the eighty years between 1695 and 1775 disease killed a tsar of Russia, a king of France, a king of Austria, a queen of England, and a ....