JUNIOR EDITION for Ages 6+
Medicine: From Discovery to Everyone · Book 1

Life Expectancy: Why Life Was So Short

Long ago, did people really only live to about 30?

In this book, you will find out…

When you grow up, you could…

Who is in the story

AgastyaAgastyaCurious. Loves counting things.
CharlieCharlieAsks one good question — then lets Agastya find out.
WarrenWarrenTurns up late. Thinks about a hundred years from now.

Today’s mystery

Long ago, did people really only live to about 30?

Look for the clues. Try to guess the answer before Agastya does!

Chapter 1

The Empty Card

🔍 Did everyone long ago die young?
On a rainy Tuesday, Agastya walked into the health museum.
On a rainy Tuesday, Agastya walked into the health museum.
One chart stopped him. For a long, long time the line stayed low. Then it shot up!
One chart stopped him. For a long, long time the line stayed low. Then it shot up!
The chart said people lived to about 30.
The chart said people lived to about 30.
AgastyaThirty? Was everyone old at thirty?
Under the chart was a little card. It said only one word: WHY?
Under the chart was a little card. It said only one word: WHY?
The guide smiled. Find the answer by six, and you may write the card!
The guide smiled. Find the answer by six, and you may write the card!
Agastya’s notebook
My job: fill the WHY card before six.
In the next case was an old photo. A grandma and grandpa. Very, very old!
In the next case was an old photo. A grandma and grandpa. Very, very old!
Agastya looked closely.
Agastya looked closely.
AgastyaThat man is seventy at least!
Charlie sat on a bench by the window.
Charlie sat on a bench by the window.
AgastyaSo the chart is wrong!
CharlieThe chart is fine. What is an average?
Agastya did not answer. He wanted real ages, not one number. Where could he find them?
Agastya did not answer. He wanted real ages, not one number. Where could he find them?
Chapter 2

Counting Stones

🔍 Where can you find the real ages of people long ago?
He decided to go to the old churchyard. Every stone has a name and an age.
He decided to go to the old churchyard. Every stone has a name and an age.
He opened his notebook.
He opened his notebook.
AgastyaI'll count them all!
He expected rows of very old people. That was not what he found.
He expected rows of very old people. That was not what he found.
By the wall were some very small stones.
By the wall were some very small stones.
He read a big family stone.
He read a big family stone.
AgastyaTwo babies. Then a grandpa who reached seventy-one.
Not every family could pay for a stone. So he went to the records room too.
Not every family could pay for a stone. So he went to the records room too.
A big old book listed everyone in the village, year after year.
A big old book listed everyone in the village, year after year.
He made two lists: little children, and everyone else. He made a guess first.
He made two lists: little children, and everyone else. He made a guess first.
His guess was right! The little children's list was much longer.
His guess was right! The little children's list was much longer.
🔎 Clue found!
Lots of people DID grow old. But many little children got very sick.
Agastya sat back.
Agastya sat back.
AgastyaIt isn't that nobody grew old!
Chapter 3

Ten Beads

🔍 How can the average be 30 if people lived to 70?
Back at the museum, he built a tiny model. Ten beads for ten children.
Back at the museum, he built a tiny model. Ten beads for ten children.
Four beads got very sick when small. Six grew up and lived long lives.
Four beads got very sick when small. Six grew up and lived long lives.
He added it up. The average was about 30!
He added it up. The average was about 30!
AgastyaBut nobody in my ten was thirty!
CharlieHm.
One number. But two very different stories hiding inside it.
One number. But two very different stories hiding inside it.
Stop and think!
Nine kids aged 10 and one person aged 100 are in a room. The average is 19. How many people are 19?
🔎 Clue found!
The average was low because many little children got sick.
Today, little children get checked at a clinic.
Today, little children get checked at a clinic.
Scales, a tape measure and a chart help keep them healthy.
Scales, a tape measure and a chart help keep them healthy.
Agastya looked at the clock. It was two o'clock. Why did little children get sick?
Agastya looked at the clock. It was two o'clock. Why did little children get sick?
Chapter 4

The Clear Bucket

🔍 Was the water making people sick?
In the museum yard stood an old pump. Forty families once shared it.
In the museum yard stood an old pump. Forty families once shared it.
One tin cup hung on a nail. For everyone.
One tin cup hung on a nail. For everyone.
Agastya had a guess.
Agastya had a guess.
AgastyaThey'd know if the water was dirty!
Then he found a toilet pit. Just nine steps from the pump!
Then he found a toilet pit. Just nine steps from the pump!
Some cities took drinking water from the same river they used as a drain.
Some cities took drinking water from the same river they used as a drain.
Beside the pump was a bucket. The water was cool, bright and perfectly clear.
Beside the pump was a bucket. The water was cool, bright and perfectly clear.
Charlie looked in too. He said nothing.
Charlie looked in too. He said nothing.
AgastyaYou can't tell! You really can't tell!
🔎 Clue found!
Water that makes you sick can look perfectly clean.
Poor families queued at one pipe for an hour a day.
Poor families queued at one pipe for an hour a day.
Not far away, rich families had a tap that never stopped.
Not far away, rich families had a tap that never stopped.
Nobody back then could see what was in the water. So what did they think was wrong?
Nobody back then could see what was in the water. So what did they think was wrong?
Chapter 5

The Bad Smell Idea

🔍 What did people think made them sick?
People could not see the danger. So they blamed what they could smell.
People could not see the danger. So they blamed what they could smell.
They carried little bunches of flowers to block bad smells!
They carried little bunches of flowers to block bad smells!
They thought bad air made people sick. That idea was wrong.
They thought bad air made people sick. That idea was wrong.
Agastya frowned. A wrong idea. So nothing helped, right?
Agastya frowned. A wrong idea. So nothing helped, right?
Wrong again! To stop the smell, people washed walls and emptied drains.
Wrong again! To stop the smell, people washed walls and emptied drains.
Cities swept their streets. And fewer people got sick.
Cities swept their streets. And fewer people got sick.
🔎 Clue found!
Wrong reason, right action! Cleaning helped, even though they didn't know why.
In one hospital, a doctor made everyone wash their hands. Fewer people got sick!
In one hospital, a doctor made everyone wash their hands. Fewer people got sick!
Today, soap hangs on hospital walls everywhere.
Today, soap hangs on hospital walls everywhere.
It was four o'clock. Cleaning helped. But what helped the MOST?
It was four o'clock. Cleaning helped. But what helped the MOST?
Chapter 6

The Water Works

🔍 What really made lives longer?
Agastya went to the old water works. Giant beds of sand cleaned the water slowly.
Agastya went to the old water works. Giant beds of sand cleaned the water slowly.
A huge engine pushed the water up the hill.
A huge engine pushed the water up the hill.
Big pipes carried the dirty water far away.
Big pipes carried the dirty water far away.
Milk was heated and sealed to make it safe.
Milk was heated and sealed to make it safe.
And vaccines helped PREVENT a terrible sickness called smallpox.
And vaccines helped PREVENT a terrible sickness called smallpox.
He stood above the tanks.
He stood above the tanks.
AgastyaThis works every single day!
At three in the morning, someone is awake, watching the water for your street.
At three in the morning, someone is awake, watching the water for your street.
Warren arrived late.
Warren arrived late.
WarrenIt works. Good. Now — how many people get it?
The pipes reached some streets first.
The pipes reached some streets first.
Other streets waited a long time, with one pipe and a queue.
Other streets waited a long time, with one pipe and a queue.
🔎 Clue found!
A good idea only helps when it reaches EVERYONE.
The best health helper in this book is a tap!
The best health helper in this book is a tap!
Chapter 7

The Card

🔍 So, did people only live to 30?
At half past five, Agastya came back to the chart.
At half past five, Agastya came back to the chart.
His notebook was full now. Fuller than the chart.
His notebook was full now. Fuller than the chart.
A pump handle. Filter sand. A milk churn. A bar of soap.
A pump handle. Filter sand. A milk churn. A bar of soap.
He wrote the card himself: clean water, drains, safe milk, clean hands, vaccines.
He wrote the card himself: clean water, drains, safe milk, clean hands, vaccines.
Not one of those is a cure. Most of them are not even medicine!
Not one of those is a cure. Most of them are not even medicine!
But one question was left. Clean the water of WHAT?
But one question was left. Clean the water of WHAT?
Charlie was waiting by the door.
Charlie was waiting by the door.
AgastyaSomething tiny was in the water!
CharlieNow that's a good question.
Agastya walked out at six, with a brand-new question in his bag.
Agastya walked out at six, with a brand-new question in his bag.

All the clues

  1. Lots of people DID grow old. But many little children got very sick.
  2. The average was low because many little children got sick.
  3. Water that makes you sick can look perfectly clean.
  4. Wrong reason, right action! Cleaning helped, even though they didn't know why.
  5. A good idea only helps when it reaches EVERYONE.

So… Long ago, did people really only live to about 30?

No! Many grown-ups lived long lives. But many little children got very sick, and that pulled the average down. Clean water, drains, safe milk, clean hands and vaccines changed that.

OmahaIndia Junior · a simpler version of Book 1 for readers aged 6-8