Seasonal Variation in the Births of the Mentally Deficient

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Abstract
A study of the admission of mentally defective children to the Columbus State School indicated that the admission rate was higher for those born in the winter months than in the summer. The critical 8th to 12th week of gestation, when damage to the organizing cerebral cortex could affect the behavior of the child, occurred in June, July, and August. It was further found that the conception rate in hot summers was higher than that in cooler summers. These findings support the hypothesis that inadequate dietary intake during pregnancy, as a result of heat as well as substandard enconomic conditions, is an important factor in the development of neuropsychiatric disabilities. The study indicates a fertile field for public health workers; a concerted effort centered on women in the child bearing period could be extremely rewarding in breaking the vicious cycle of suboptimal prenatal conditions and the later occurrence of developmental disorders.