Medical and demographic history: Inseparable?

The case is made for forms of medical history that focus explicitly on sickness, health and life chances; ones that explore the effects of health interventions by examining their impact on mortality risks. Using a series of examples drawn from environmental health, midwifery and obstetric care, the paper illustrates various ways in which long-term trends in health and mortality may be read together. But it also demonstrates how fraught with problems of description and interpretation this process is likely to be. Finally, a plea is made for evidence-based medical history where 'progress', 'outcomes' and 'results' are given privileged positions.