298 



THE TREND OF THE RACE 



The lengths of the same series of babies were found to be 

 as follows: 



These sets of tables, — and there is considerable additional 

 evidence to the same effect, — indicate that the first born infants 

 of both sexes are lighter in weight and shorter than the second 

 born, and that there is a general increase according to order of 

 birth until near the close of the child-bearing period. The reason 

 for the relatively small size and weight of the first born may lie 

 in the fact that the mothers are, on the average, young, and also 

 in the circumstance that their organization is not so well adapted 

 to child bearing as it becomes after one or more births. It is well 

 known that the first birth is usually the most difiicult. There is a 

 relatively larger number of stillbirths among the first born. 

 Taking the records of 48,843 births among the professional and 

 upper classes, Ansell found the proportions of stillbirths distrib- 

 uted as follows: 



According to Ansell there is a greater mortality among the 

 first born in the first year of life. From the records of the 48,843 

 births just mentioned he obtains the following data: 



Additional evidence in the same direction is furnished by 

 Pearson from the records of the artisan classes from several 



