1996/12/31 by Bertrand Desjardins · 3 citations
Social Sciences · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Canadian Identity and History #Agriculture and Farm Safety
paper · pdf · doi:10.25336/p6459c
openalex publication_date 1996/12/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
Data compiled by the Programme de recherche en demographie historique of the Universite de Montreal were used to number and characterize deaths within the population of European extraction from the 1702-1703 smallpox epidemic in the St-Lawrence valley. Between 6% and 6.5% of the settled population in the late fall of 1702 was eliminated by the disease; adding the death of an extra 25% of newborns the epidemics toll reached some 1300. A significant proportion of adults died among the Canadian-born population surpassing 10% for women of childbearing ages in particular. This proves that contrary to what most observers have written smallpox was not prevalent among the non-native population during the XVIIth century. (SUMMARY IN FRE) (EXCERPT)