D. C. Gini.Sociology and Eugenics.3°7
8. On the other hand, the examination of the frequency of multiple births
and of the vitality of the offspring according to the season of conception does not
suggest in any way for the human species the existence of an atavistic survival
of an original season of reproduction.
Even in multiple births (at least if we consider those caused by more than
one egg) many persons have tried to find an atavistic survival. We should
therefore expect to find, according to this idea, that their frequency is greatest
in the conceptions during that period of the year which was the original season
for the reproduction of our species, that is to say, in the conceptions of the
spring, and therefore in the births of the winter.
The data, which I have been able to work out (see Table IX.) on the
frequency of multiple births according to seasons, do not shew any such
regularity; in two countries (Servia, Luxemburg) the maximum frequency
is found amongst the births of December to February ; in three (Bologna,
Florence and Spain) among those of June to August; in one (Berlin) among
those of March to May; in one (Amsterdam) among those of September
to November.TABLE X.
Season of Conception.*
Budapest 1903-1905.
Probable season of conception
State of offspringTotal SpringSummerAutumnWinter
123456 Legitimate Births.
Miscarriages14111418148014185727 Stillborn3483773223041351
Born alive ...1170312713117081148147605
% Miscarriages on those born alive12'I11'212-612'4I2'0
% Stillborn on those born alive ...3'°3'°2\72'62-8
% Miscarriages and Stillborn on
those born alive..............................14'2I5'3ISO14" 8
Illegitimate Births.
Miscarriages4775444485061975 Stillborn ................201190155178724
Bom alive ...463645694138435817701
% Miscarriages on those born alive10-3irg10'8ii'b11'2
% Stillborn on those born alive ...4'34-2374'I41
% Miscarriages and Stillborn on
those born alive ...14' 6ib'zI4'515I15'3
Legitimate and Illegitimate Births.
Miscarriages188819 62192819247702
Stillborn ............................................5495674774822075
Born alive ...1633917282158461583965306
% Miscarriages on those born alive/1113512'1’J12' IS1* '79
% Stillborn on those born alive ...
% Miscarriages and Stillborn on3 '363-283- 013 '04
those born alive ...Z4'Ç214-63iS'1815-IÇ14'97 * Data worked out by author from official statistics.X 2
