AIMS OF MODERN PEDIATRICS 485 



The weight and length curves taken from the work of Quetelet 

 show in so far a corresponding course as their greatest rise occurs 

 in the mtra-uterine period. From the fourth to the fifth year a 

 gradual flattening is noted in the curve which, at least in the case 

 of the length curve, passes into the horizontal about the twentieth 

 year. Properly speaking, then, if we would represent the inten- 

 sity of the vital processes, there should occur a gradual sinking 

 of the curve, so that it would return to the base-line at about 

 one hundred years (as the greatest length of life), supposing that its 

 course remains unaffected by external harmful influences. This curve, 

 reminding one of the parabolic course of a shot hurled aloft, together 

 with the fact that the period of ripeness and bloom of the individual 

 is not reached until the fourth decade, has led many authors (Bur- 

 dach) to the view that the greatest vital energy, together with the 

 highest functional development and greatest power of execution 

 occurs in the middle of life, at the highest point of this imaginary 

 curve. This idea is certainly wrong, as not only simple consideration 

 but also accurate physiologic study show unequivocally that the in- 

 tensity of the metabolic processes calculated for the body measurements 

 present is greater the smaller or younger the organism, and that it con- 

 tinually diminishes from the ovum on through the entire course of life. 

 I have represented this in a second curve. The straight red, in part 

 dotted line, shows schematically the continually sinking life-energy. 

 The first section of this has added to it a line obtained by the appli- 

 cation of the actual increase in length per year corresponding to 

 the expenditure of energy for growth; it rises rapidly to the point 

 corresponding to the beginning of fetal life. Its course corresponds 

 to the change of the potentiality of the embryonic cell into kinetic 

 energy, and shows that at no other time are the energy and power 

 of life as great as in childhood. 



In absolute contradiction of this idea, however, is the well-known 

 fact, that no other period of life shows so large a number of sick- 

 nesses and deaths as the first years of life; during these years, 

 about a quarter of those born perish. This phenomenon is observed 

 to the same extent in the plant and animal kingdoms, as Lichten- 

 staedt has already shown in answer to a prize question presented 

 before the Independent Economic Society in St. Petersburg. We 

 have the opportunity every day to see how only a minimal part 

 of the seeds sown broadcast develop, only a few of the fertilized 

 ovums reach full development. The cause of this unnatural fatal- 

 ity, in spite of the excess in vital energy, is that the organs necessary 

 for the support and protection of the life-processes are at this time so 

 undeveloped that the slightest injury already suffices to produce 

 an irreparable disturbance of their functions and thus destruction 

 of life. To the extent in which these organs in the course of devel- 



