TWINS AND TRIPLETS

Evening Star, Issue 20022, 13 November 1928, Page 13

TWINS AND TRIPLETS

AM ALL-ROUND INCREASE A BIRTH RATE PROBLEM Twins and triplets arc being born in greater numbers all over Grout Britain and Europe, and there is_ a general tendency toward multiple births in all parts of tho civilised world. This, says an English wrilor, is a startling fact which is puzzling; biolo gists and eugenists, who aro unable to account for tlm phenomenon. One theory which is favoured by the medical profession is that the present increase in tho births of twins and triplets is Nature's answer to tho prevalent practice of birth control, and another school of thought believes that it is a natural result of tho human wastage of the World War. It is certain that either theory may bo right on tho general hypothesis that a tendency to balance or oven up wastage or surplus in population in any given community exists in all forms of life. Wars have always been followed by an increased birth rate, and overpopulation is inevitably followed by war or pestilence or both. In London alone tho increase in muititplo births has been phenomenal. An official at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital said recently: “1 have never known such a year for twins.' Each year more are born at this hospital, and it looks as if 1928 will hold the record.” ,

BRITISH EUGENISTS PUZZLED. Tho City of Loudon Maternity Hospital and tho General Lying-in Hospital report that there has boon a steady itp crease in multiple births at both institutions during the last live years. Birth statistics show that the same state of things exists all over Europe and tho United States, and in Italy last year there were three eases in which women gave birth to four children, and all lived. Scottish returns show that there has been a marked in. croaso m tho birth of twins ail over the country. . J British eugemsts aro unable to give auy definite reason lor what they describe as “ this strange lapse of humanity.” They refuse to discuss theories, and point out teat, as there aro only two kinds of twins, ‘‘fraternal ” and “ incidental,” tho first being hereditary, and tho second purely accidental. tho incident of war or the practice of birth control can have nothing to do with any increase in their numbers. HEREDITARY TENDENCIES. Whereas fraternal twins are often of different sex, and develop different facial and mental characteristics, incidental twins are always of tho same sex and remain much tho same, mentally and physically, throughout life. If the majority of tho twins now being born in such large numbers are incidental (or accidental) tho eugenists cannot explain it at all, though others might coll it “an act of ,Go ; d.” U, on the other hand, tho twins aro fraternal, the eugenists can only point to the fact that they are the result of hereditary tendencies acquired and multiplied during tho over-populated Victorian era, and suddenly given expression in tho present generation. The tendency to be the father or the mother of twins can bo handed down through either sex, though one or even two generations may be “ skipped ” before the tendency develops. A former Winpolo street physician, now engaged in research work, thinks that the increase of multiple births is perfectly natural. “ Mothers are better housed and better fed than they wore fifty or oven twenty years ago,”

ho says, “ and this is hound to bo reflected in tho birth rate. MAKING UP A SHORTAGE.

‘‘Again, tho limitation'of families practised widely uow may actually have the effect of stimulating multiple births. When the family additions came steadily at tho rate of ono a year tbo multiple birth was not common. Now, when long intervals elapse, Nature seizes tho chance afforded by multiple births to make up tho shortage.

“Do 1 think there will be a falling off in physique when multiple births become common? No, 1 don't. The number of abnormal children in multiple births is infinitesimal—after all, wo regard tho Siamese twins as superfreaks solely because such monstrosities are extremely rare. “ I have had scores of twins under my observation and one set of triplets, and they were all healthy, happy, normal children, without trace of delect, either physical or mental.” In tho meantime Britain’s normal twin'population, which is one in every 7,000 births, is vapidly approaching thosd of Russia and Ireland, which arc computed to bo tbo highest in the world. A STRANGE PROSPECT. There is ono disturbing aspect of the world’s twin problem which is occupying tho serious attention of scientists. Tho twins now being born aro particularly healthy and vigorous, and 75 per cent, of them live and show every sign of attaining maturity. If only half these children are fraternal or hereditary twins they will inherit theso tendencies and pass them on to their children’s children, who will in turn pass them on to succeeding generations. Thus wo are faced with tho prospect of a future world full of twins, when multiple births will bo the rule rather than the exception.

Over-population in a world in which disease has been conquered and war has been abolished will then bo tbo most stupendous and insoluble problem which our grcat-great-grandcliildren will bo called upon to face.