Answer:
Cities were generally overcrowded and dirty with no sewage systems. Diseases were rife and often fatal. The average life expectancy was about 40 years. A visit to the doctor was expensive and there was very little effective medicine available beyond alcohol, opium and blood-letting with leeches.
Explanation:
Yes, it is normal for the economy to go through cycles of expansion and recession, since this is called he "business cycle". It is not normal, however, for recessions to turn into depressions.