The Swedes have always been
noted for their fecundity. Olaf Rudbeck says that from 8 to 12
was the usual family number, and some ran as high as 25 or 30.
According to Lord Kames, in Iceland before the plague (about
1710) families of from 15 to 20 were quite common. The old
settlers in cold North America were always blessed with large
families, and Quebec is still noted for its prolificity. There is
little difference in this respect among nations, woman being
limited about the same everywhere, and the general average of the
range of the productive function remaining nearly identical in
all nations. Of course, exception must be made as to the extremes
of north or south.
Ancient and Modern Prolificity.--Nor is there much difference
between ancient and modern times. We read in the writings of
Aristotle, Pliny, and Albucasis of the wonderful fertility of the
women of Egypt, Arabia, and other warm countries, from 3 to 6
children often being born at once and living to maturity; but
from the wonder and surprise shown in the narration of these
facts, they were doubtless exceptions, of which parallels may be
found in the present day. The ancient Greek and Roman families
were no larger than those of to-day, and were smaller in the
zenith of Roman affluence, and continued small until the period
of decadence.
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