BLUE-EYED BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 5 February 1918, Page 2

BLUE-EYED BABIES

INFLUENCE OF THE MOTHER'S AGE. The influence of the mother's ago on her children is dealt with )>v Dr. ]?. J. Ewart, in an article in the "Journal of Hygiene." Dr. Eivart's investigations show that as the age of tho mother increases, tho average length of life of her children decreases; the likelihood of the children having many children of their own decreases; the offspring are moro likely to lie hoys than girls; and the intellectual grade of the offspring rises. Dr. Ewart also points to the curious fact that as the. mother grows older tho chances of her children being other than blueeyed increases. Whereas all children i arc born blue-eyed, the, eyes of a certain proportion tend to become darker as they grow, older. Of a large number examined 100 per cent, were bhieeyed at birtb ; 54 per cent, at 6 years; 38 per cent, at 13; 30 per cent, at 31 to 40; and 26 pel- cent, at 46 to 55. In children of young mothers this tendency of the eyes to become darker with age is delayed. ' Dr. and Mrs. Johnston (Carterton), who went to Auckland to meet their son, who returned 'last week by a hospital ship, havo been spending a few days in Wellington before leaving for the Wairarapa. Mr. and Mrs. Pilmer (Mastertoii) came to Wellington at the end of last Week to meet their son, who returned by tho hospital ship which arrived iu Wellington on Saturday. Miss Winnia Poulton (Makuri) camo to Wellington at the end of last, week to meet her brother, who was one of Saturday's returning soldiers. ■