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traditionally had greater access to superior diets and nutrition. An additional explanation
to nutrition and disease is that farmers worked outdoors and were exposed to greater
sunlight during adolescent ages. Islam et al. (2007, pp. 383-388) demonstrates that
children were exposed to more sunlight and produced more vitamin D, and if there was
little movement away from parental occupations, 19th century occupations may also be a
good indicator for the occupational environment in which individuals came to maturity
(Costa, 1993, p. 367; Margo and Steckel, 1992, p. 520; Burdieu, Ferrie, and
Kesztenbaum, 2009).
Occupation omission effects on restricted model coefficients are similar between
soldiers and prisoners. A joint test on socioeconomic status has little effect on other
restricted model slope coefficients; however, socioeconomic status was jointly related
with stature (F-statistic: Soldiers, 104.52, p=.0000; Prisoners, 62.75, p=.0000).
Socioeconomic status omission did not influence the stature relationship with other
variables. Consequently, stature and socioeconomic status may also be related to
inslotion and vitamin D production but not other variables (Badiwala et al., 2003, pp.
659-660; Holick, et al., 1981, p. 590).
Other patterns are consistent with expectations. Both soldier and prisoner statures
declined throughout the first half the 19th century (Figure 3). Between 1800 and 1840,
white soldier and prisoner statures declined by about two cms. These stature declines are
comparable to those observed for National Guardsman reported by Steckel and Haurin
(1994) and prisoners reported by Carson (2008 and 2009). Moreover, birth period
omission effects are similar between soldiers and prisoners. A joint test on birth-period
effects has little influence on other restricted model slope coefficients; however, birth-