The resources of a
country, so far as concerns population, become less as the period
of peace-disturbance is prolonged. Mayo-Smith quotes von Mayr in
the following example of the influence of the war of 1870-71 on
the birth-rate in Bavaria,--the figures for births are thrown
back nine months, so as to show the time of conception: Before
the war under normal conception the number of births was about
16,000 per month. During the war it sank to about 2000 per month.
Immediately on the cessation of hostilities it arose to its
former number, while the actual return of the troops brought an
increase of 2000 per month. The maximum was reached in March,
1872, when it was 18,450. The war of 1866 seems to have passed
over Germany without any great influence, the birth-rate in 1865
being 39.2; in 1866, 39.4; in 1867, 38.3; in 1868, 38.4. On the
other hand, while the birth-rate in 1870 was 40.1, in 1871 it was
only 35.9; in 1872 it recovered to 41.1, and remained above 41
down to 1878. Von Mayr believes the war had a depressing
influence upon the rate apart from the mere absence of the men,
as shown in the fact that immediately upon the cessation of
hostilities it recovered in Bavaria, although it was several
months before the return of the troops.
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