By the 1800s, it took (1a. 6 months/1b. 5-8 months/1c. one yr) for ships to sail across the atlantic ocean. this increased speed reduced middle passage death rates. sanitary conditions also improved as slave traders took (2a. better care of the captured africans/2b. time out to treat sick slaves/2c. some of the slaves as part of their crew). this change was not done out of care for enslaved africans but from a desire to get a better price for them when they were sold.