Race Hygienieal Studies on the Dwellers in a Mountatinous District

Race Hygienical Studies on the Dwellers in a Mountainous District IV.

Abstract

The following results were obtained on the physical development of pupils residing in mountain villages in the Aizu district, Fukushima Prefecture as compared with that Of those in cities and agricultural villages of the same district.
1. The height development of pupils in mountain villages was inferior to those in cities and agricultural villages, the tendency being conspicuous among female pupils at the lower grades. Although the pupils at the 3rd grade of junior high schools exceptionally surpassed again in height of the female pupils, no such a tendency was seen in the weight of the body and the girth of the chest. No remarkable difference was observed in the weight of the body. As regards the girth of the chest, pupils in the mountain villages was superior contrarily, the tendency being conspicuous among female pupils at the higher grades.
2. As regards the height, the weight of the body and the girth of the chest, the male pupils were superior to the female pupils in case of the lower grades, whereas the female pupils preceded the male pupils in case of the higher grades. The age at which the female pupils surpassed in height and weight the male pupils was belated in the mountain villages than in cities and agricultural villages. However, with regard to the girth of the chest, the age at which the female pupils surpassed the male pupils showed no difference by geographical distribution.
3. The Rohrer's index was the highest in the mountain villages, being followed in the order of agriculturcal villages, and cities. The index decreased both in male and femals pupils in proportion to the increase of age. However, the increase of the index on the part of the female pupils in the junior high schools seemed attributable to earlier maturing age of physical development in the female pupils as compared with the male pupils.
4. The results of the investigation on the weight at 'the time of birth was carried out to clarify the reason for tne inferiority of physical development of the pupils in the mountain villages. It was found that the average values in the mountain villages were rather superior to the standard values. When the investigation was made on the weight of the body of sucklings and infants in the mountain villages, the increase of the weight was decreased gradually since 4 months after the birth, attaining the maximum around the 12 months the birth. Lastly, it was also found that the commencement of ablactation was exceedingly delayed in the mountain villages. In view of the abovementioned facts, the geographical difference of physical development seems to be initiated from the weaning period