[struwwelpeter]

That's interesting. When I was living in rural east Ukraine, and then later in northern Kazakhstan, I was in a lot of homes that were heated with coal. For some reason they always felt so much warmer than those using 'solyarka' (kerosene), and they had this strange but pleasant smell, too. Perhaps only my imagination.

What I am sure of, however, is that the families using coal were quite a bit poorer than those with oil furnaces, and especially less well off than people in larger towns with radiator heating from central steam plants or electricity. Did they take into account dietary differences between poor people living in the sticks and their petroleum and steam-heated countrymen?

[Repeal The 17th]

“...Did they take into account dietary differences...”
-
Of course not.
But give them another few million dollars in research grants,
and maybe they will study that for several more years.

[org.whodat]

I would say it has more to do with the location than anything, we heated with coal and wood, but we ate high on the hog. A county boy will survive. We slaughtered four to six hogs every winter my dad was alive. Have no ideal how many gallons and quart jars my mom canned every year. But those dried apply pies were wonderful. How many ten year plans did the communist have for their collectives anyway.