Between 1821 and 1831 the population of Scotland doubled in size. In the same time span the population of Britain as a whole almost tripled. Historians find it hard to say exactly what caused this massive population explosion for several reasons, though mainly because records from that time period are unclear on this matter and due to the fact that there are many factors which were actively involved.

One of the primary reasons is that the diet of people drastically improved. Technological advances in farming changed the quantity and quality of food which could be produced. More of the right types of food, such as potatoes, cereals and dairy products was suddenly available. People’s intake of vitamins and protein increased making them healthier.

Medical care also affected the population of Britain. Hospital staff such as doctors and nurses had to undergo training. The hygiene in hospitals, as elsewhere around...