The best of times, the worst of times: A bio-cultural analysis of the Ferguson District, 1892-1909

This study concerns an analysis of the Ferguson District, a late 19th-early 20th century gold mining district in southeastern Lincoln County, Nevada. Historical events are reconstructed for the boom years between 1892-1909 and critical bio-cultural variables investigated. The hypothesis that silicosis ("miner's consumption") was the leading cause of death in the District during this period is tested. Mortality and morbidity rates in the study area are compared with similar data from two other Nevada mining regions; The results of the study indicate that infectious and chronic diseases of the respiratory system accounted for over 25 percent of the Ferguson District mortality. The hypothesis that silicosis was the leading cause of death among all District residents was not supported by the available evidence. Comparative data from the other mining regions suggest that conditions in the Ferguson District did not pose significantly more hazards to health and survival.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1991

Author dc:creator

• Ferris, Dawna Eileen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sheilagh T. Brooks

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/144

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1143