Changes in the Seasonal Distribution of Births in Gorlitz, Germany, During the Period between 1675 and 1816

Document Type

Article

Authors

Teiji Miura, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Joachim Richter, Jugendgesundheitsschutz für den Stadtkreis Görlitz, Görlitz, DDR

Abstract

The monthly distribution of 41,507 births during the period between 1675 and 1816 was investigated by studying old baptism registration books in a church in Gorlitz, DDR. In general, there were two evident peaks of seasonal birth distribution, one in the early spring (January-March) and the other in the fall (August-October). The fall peak was greater in magnitude than the spring peak in the late 17th, late 18th and early 19th centuries, while the opposite held true for the periods between 1691 and 1760 and 1781 and 1800. The presence of these changes in the seasonal distribution of births has also been observed in other European countries, the U.S. and Japan at about the same period.

Recommended Citation

Miura, Teiji and Richter, Joachim (1981) "Changes in the Seasonal Distribution of Births in Gorlitz, Germany, During the Period between 1675 and 1816," Human Biology: Vol. 53: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol53/iss1/4