Some lost many. Newfoundland was not unusual. Many small children also died in Canada, Britain and the United States. Why did so many children die?

Today, it is easy to think that children's lives are saved because we have better medicines and better doctors. This is true, but it is not the whole story. To find out what happened in the past and how things changed, let's take a closer look.

Section Two
Looking Ahead: Things to Know About the Past

In the next section, you will find out how people lived in the past. Things have changed a lot in the past 100 years. Here are some questions and answers to help you understand.

What Is A Nightsoil Cart?
" Nightsoil" is another word for raw sewage. A nightsoil cart was a wagon that took raw sewage away from houses that had no toilets. Nightsoil carts were used in cities.

What Is An Icebox?
An icebox kept food fresh before people had refrigerators. An icebox works just like a camp cooler. It keeps a block of ice cool for a few days. Food kept near the ice stays cool as well. The icebox only works until the ice melts. Then new ice is needed.

What Is A Root Cellar?
A root cellar is a small room dug into the earth. The walls and ceiling are made of stone or cement. Root cellars stay cool in the summer and do not freeze in the winter. People who lived outside cities used root cellars to keep food fresh before there were refrigerators.