Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 69.djvu/268

264 Jews: During 1897 there were recorded 115,344 Jewish births, of which 66,03G were males and 49,308 were females, or 133.91 boys to 100 girls. But a careful study of these figures brings forth strong suspicion as to their accuracy. Thus, when we examine the various provinces we find great variations. In Taurida the ratio was only 106.15 boys to 100 girls; in Cherson, 112.15; in Poltava, 112.87; while in Wilna it reached 177.47; in Grodno, 170.62; in Minsk, 165.45. In general, it can be stated that in the southern provinces the excess of males is not much larger among the Jewish population than among the christians, while in the northwestern provinces the excess is very high. That climatic conditions are not the cause is shown by the fact that among the christians the excess of males is not much more pronounced in the northwest than in the south. In Wilna it was only 110 and in Grodno 112. Two provinces not far distant from each other, like Wilna and Curland, show great differences in the proportion of male births among the Jews—172.8 in the former and only 115.4 in the latter. Climatic conditions can not therefore be considered.

If the excess of males were really as large as the above figures would seem to indicate, we should expect that the number of male infants below one year of age would also be excessive among the Jews. But from the census statistics of 1897 it is shown that it was only 104.21 boys to 100 girls below one year of age. The higher mortality of male infants is not sufficient to account for the loss of so many boys during the first year of their life.

The only plausible explanation for this apparent excess is that a large number of female births are not reported to the authorities by the midwives and rabbis, who are expected to register each birth. The birth of a boy in a Jewish family is accompanied by important festivals and ceremonials, while the birth of a girl, particularly among the poorer classes, is not considered of any special importance and is not attended by any ceremonials. It is very dangerous in later life for a boy who has not been registered at birth: he can not obtain a passport, and may be drawn into military service unjustly. All this brings it about that practically all the boys are registered, while a large number of female births is missing from the registry books. That this is the true explanation is seen from the fact that in 1893 the proportion of male births was 145.9 to 100 females, while in 1899 it was only 130.6, indicating a more complete registration of female births in recent years.

If the excessive proportion of male births was a racial trait of the Jews it would be expected that the same phenomenon should be observed among Jews in other countries. But this is not the case. In Warsaw, Poland, the ratio was in 1897 only 106 boys to 100 girls.