A World Made Flesh: Ecologies of Health in Rebecca Harding Davis' Life in the Iron Mills.

Rebecca Harding Davis' novella, "Life in the Iron Mills," is a significant work of American industrial fiction that explores the effects of industrial capitalism on moral, social, and environmental decay. The story depicts the harsh living conditions and physical hazards faced by millworkers, emphasizing the ecological rifts caused by industrial production. It also examines the negative impact of industrialization on public health, particularly for the urban poor, racial and ethnic minorities, and immigrants. The novella challenges assumptions about poverty and illness, critiques the prevailing medical model, and calls for a more holistic approach to healthcare that considers the broader socio-economic and environmental factors affecting health. [Extracted from the article]