Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1901 — The First-Born Child Strongest. [ARTICLE]

The First-Born Child Strongest.

It would seem that first-born children excel later-born children hi height and weight. This may be due to the greater vigor of the mother at the birth of the first child. We are reminded of a fact, mentioned later, that out of fifty great men of this country 30 per cent were the youngest sons. In England It was found that growth degenerates as we go lower in the social scale, there being a difference of even five inches In height between the best and worst fed classes in the community. An investigation of 10,000 children In Switzerland showed that children born In summer are taller for their age than those born in winter; as a majority of chldren in the public schools are poor, in winter their parents are forced to economize more on account of expense of heating; their rooms are also liable to be small and poorly ventilated, while In summer they are out in the fresh air; f food is also cheaper and more varied. The Influence of unhealthy conditions on a very young child would be much greater than when It Is older and better able to resist them.—Everybody's Magazine.