It is true that gains in life expectancy came over the same period that modern pharmaceuticals were developed, but this does not mean that one caused the other. Many other changes took place over the same period, such as improvements in midwifery, sanitation, housing, nutrition, and education. All of these may have had a part to play. Many other less likely things changed, too. Bombs became bigger and more destructive, for example, but we might be reluctant to conclude that the gains in life expectancy were due to that.
This page maintained by Martin Bland.
Last updated: 8 April, 2004.