Exhibit C 30—43.15
In the generations' up to the third inclusive, reproduction may
be considered as terminated, but in the fourth, and especially the
fifth and sixth, it still is in progress.
Age intervals separating the various generations.
Taking into account all the families investigated, the average
length of time between the birth of the originator of the family and
his first born son was 33^ years, his first born grandchild 63^ years,
and his first born great grandchild 95^ years. The curves become
gradually flatter, because the possible difference between minimum
and maximum age distance from one generation to another increases
in arithmetical progression.
Prolificness of first marriages in the 19th century. Taking the
entire period from 1811 to 1890 together the percentage of large
families (six children or more) and of small families (one-two
children) produced by all first marriages, excluding childless
ones, is indicated by the horizontal centreline. The positive or
negative deviations from the average during each decade are
entered respectively above and below this line. The note in Figure
C 38 referring to the families which may have emigrated while still
productive applies here also. The temporary increase in prolific
marriages after 1870 may be in connection with the material decrease
in the age of those contracting marriage for the first time, as com
pared with the preceding decade. (Men 28.65 in the earlier period
as against 27.41 in the later, and women 25.92 against 24.68 years.)
The extinction of the families is undoubtedly due partly to other
causes than the voluntary limitation of families—to a process
of degeneration. A very remarkable proof of the degenerative
character of the dying out of families is given by Pontus Fahlbeck in
his book, “ The Aristocracy of Sweden ” (Fischer, Jena, 1903).
The six Figures C 38-43 give what is biologically of greatest
interest in it. Note how the terribly quick extinction of the families
of the nobility is inaugurated by catastrophic changes : rapid fall in
the frequency of marriages, in the number of fertile marriages, and
in the number of their progeny. The curves of the surviving fami
lies (red in the original tables) are for comparison. That
we have to deal here with a natural and not a voluntary process is
shown by the rapid increase in the mortality of male youth- in the
last generations; also by the extraordinary change in the proportion
of the sexes of the children—which, of course, is beyond any con
trol , marked preponderance of girls amongst the survivors (pos
sibly also by the frequency of stillborn male children).C 39
C 40
C 38-43
