Abstract
Gradually increasing height of inductees was observed quite early in Central Europe and this trend has lasted up to the present (van Wieringen, 1972; 1978). In the Nordic Countries the mean height of inductees began to increase about 1850–1870 (Udjus, 1964), but there is hardly any increase at the present time in Sweden (Lindgren, 1976) or in Norway (Sanitetsnytt, 1978). According to recent evidence, secular trend is going on in Finland (Bäckström and Kantero, 1971). Because of the lack of a current survey of secular trend in Finland, the purpose of this study was (1) to determine the history of secular trend in Finland during the last two centuries, (2) to find out whether changes are still taking place and (3) to determine the changes in body proportions. For this, the south-western province, Varsinais-Suomi (Finlandia propria dite) was selected because of its oldest historical background and relatively unchanged population. Previously published studies (Westerlund, 1900; 1912; Kajava, 1926; Arho, 1934) and official military statistics (puolustusministeriön lääkintaosaston kertomukset 1929–1942) were available, besides own studies (Dahlström, 1981).
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References
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Dahlström, S. (1984). Secular Growth in Finland According to Conscript Data in One Province Between 1768–1778. In: Borms, J., Hauspie, R., Sand, E.A., Susanne, C., Hebbelinck, M. (eds) Human Growth and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0743-4_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0743-4_19
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