THE VITALITY OF WOMEN

Evening Star, Issue 15072, 2 January 1913, Page 8

THE VITALITY OF WOMEN

More boys than girls are horn every year, but every census return shows that there are more women than men. The apparent contradiction is explained by the theory that women are much more tenacious of life than men, that they have tougher organisms and are less likely to succumb to clisense. Men are prodigal of vital force, whereas women conserve it, and as -a result women will often recover from ailments that are fatal to men. A woman of 10 has 78 chances to 1 against dying within the year, while the changes of a man are only -19 to 1. These figures are based upon English actuarial tables, but they are sustained bv calculations in other countries. An English sociologist, writing iu the London • kt.-m----dard,' calculates that it is estimated that if 1,000 men and 1,000 women, each of average weight and build and practically equal training, were armed and equipped for battle, and started on a long forced march, probably 90 per cent, of the men would reach their destination. Of the remaining 10 per cent, six would die from exhaustion and four recover. On the other hand, only 75 per cent, of the women would complete the march, but none would