Socioeconomic background, disease, and mortality among Union army recruits: implications for economic and demographic history

Union army recruits who were former farmers, natives and rural residents were more prone to diseases, and hence more likely to die than recruits who were nonfarmers, nonnatives and urban dwellers. Economic status was a major determinant of diseases brought on by nutritional deficiencies. The advantages of open living spaces were found to be more important for the health of farmers and natives, than those of nonfarmers and nonnatives. The adverse impact of urbanization on the mortality and health of rural recruits was compounded by the poor immunity status of rural migrants to urban areas.