Pathocénoses méditerranéenne et atlantique à travers les sources médicales du XVIIIe siècle.

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The presentation provides valuable insights into historical mortality patterns using primary sources. The argumentation is methodical, with clear descriptions of data collection and analysis. The authors acknowledge limitations, such as missing causes of death and small sample sizes, which strengthens the credibility of their conclusions. However, some inferences, like estimating typhus contamination rates, rely on assumptions that could be further justified.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The research is based on rigorous archival work, using naval registers and parish records. The sources are appropriate for the research questions, and the authors transparently discuss their limitations. The title accurately reflects the content, though the term ‘pathocenoses’ is not explicitly defined in the presentation. The analysis of sources is thorough, but the presentation could benefit from more explicit references to secondary literature.

The title accurately reflects the content, which compares disease patterns (pathocenoses) in Mediterranean and Atlantic contexts using 18th-century medical sources.

7/10

The presentation is based on original archival research, using primary sources such as naval registers and parish records. The methodology is clearly described, and limitations are acknowledged. However, the sample sizes are small, and some inferences are based on indirect evidence.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction to the study of sailors from Cancale and their mortality.
• 02:00Comparison of mortality between Newfoundland sailors and general population.
• 04:00Impact of wars on life expectancy of sailors.
• 06:00Analysis of sailors who died in hospitals.
• 08:00Typhus epidemics on naval expeditions and their impact on Cancale sailors.
• 10:00Introduction to the second study on sailors from Étang de Berre.
• 12:00Age structure of sailors in the registers.
• 14:00Variables observed and methods used for analysis.
• 16:00Results on health status and mortality of sailors.
• 18:00Limitations of the study and need for complementary sources.

• Registres de matricule des marins (18e siècle) — Primary sources used for the study of sailors from Étang de Berre.
• Inventaire de Tiriuc — Used to identify the cohort of sailors from Cancale.
• Monographie paroissiale de Cancale — Provided age at death for the general population of Cancale.

• Grmek, M. (1991). Diseases in the Ancient Greek World — Introduces the concept of pathocenosis, which aligns with the presentation's framework.

• Some studies suggest higher life expectancy for sailors — The presentation's finding of early mortality among sailors may contrast with other historical studies that indicate better health conditions for certain naval populations.