From the statistical data regarding the age at which the menopause occurs among the women of the various nations of Northern Europe, it appears that the latest average age for the cessation of menstruation is met with in Lapland, namely 49.4 years; next comes Norway, where the average age is 48.9; next Germany, where the average age is 47; next England, 46.1; next Russia, 44; and finally Austria, 42.2. In the four principal capital cities, the average age is: in London, 45.5; in Paris, 43.65; in Vienna, 43, and in Berlin, 47. Generally speaking, in southern countries the cessation of menstruation occurs at an earlier age than in northern countries, as the following comparison shows: northern countries: England (Tilt), 48 to 50; France (Courty), 50; North Germany (Mayer), 50; Austria (Szukits), 42; southern counties: Persia (Chardin), 27; Java, 30; various Asiatic races, 30 to 40.
In the case of 500 women of various nationalities in whom I was able to ascertain by personal observation the age at which menstruation ceased, I found that the menopause occurred:
| In the quinquennium | 35 to 40 in | 48 | women |
| In the quinquennium | 40 to 45 in | 141 | women |
| In the quinquennium | 45 to 50 in | 177 | women |
| In the quinquennium | 50 to 55 in | 89 | women |
| 455 |
Thus we see that in about one tenth of my cases, menstruation ceased between the ages of 35 and 40; in more than one-fourth, between the ages of 40 and 45; in more than one-third between the ages of 45 and 50; and in about one-sixth between the ages of 50 and 55. In 267, that is, in more than one-half of the 500, menstruation ceased between the ages of 42 and 51. In 28 women, menstruation ceased before the age of 35; and in 17, after the age of 55. In a very large majority of my 500 cases the women were of German or Austro-Hungarian nationality; next, in order of frequency, came Poles, Russians, women of various southern countries, Swedish women. In women of Slavonic nationality, menstruation ceased remarkably late as compared with women of German nationality.
Brierre de Boismont, Tilt, Courty, and various other observers, have published statistical data regarding the age at which menstruation ceases in women of different nationalities. Krieger, compiling from several authors, statistics relating to 2291 women (European) gives the following average results: menstruation ceased
| Between the ages of 35 and 40 in | 272 | women | 11.87 | per cent. |
| Between the ages of 40 and 45 in | 595 | women | 25.97 | per cent. |
| Between the ages of 45 and 50 in | 940 | women | 41.03 | per cent. |
| Between the ages of 50 and 55 in | 334 | women | 14.58 | per cent. |
| Before 35 and after 55 in | 150 | women | 6.54 | per cent. |
| 2291 | 99.99 |
We append a statistical table showing the average age at which menstruation ceases in women of different European nationalities:
| Germany. | Austria-Hungary. | France (Paris). | England (London). | Russia. | Denmark. | Norway. | Lapland. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | 824 | 256 | 178 | 500 | 100 | 312 | 391 | 34 |
| Average age at the cessation of menstruation | 47.0 | 42.2 | 44.0 | 46.1 | 45.9 | 44.8 | 48.9 | 49.4 |
| Observer | Magar | Szukits | Brierre de Boismont | Tilt | Lieven | Hannover | Faye and Vogt | Vogt |
2. The Age at Which the Menarche Occurred.
Until recently, it was generally believed that the earlier the age at which menstruation first made its appearance, the earlier also would the menopause occur; and that, on the other hand, the later the age at which the flow began, the later also would it cease. Virey summarized this opinion in the saying: prius pubescentes prius senescunt. This view of the matter is, however, true only in respect of the influence of climate upon sexual development. In a cold climate, a woman begins to menstruate late and ceases to menstruate late; in a hot climate the opposite conditions prevail. But if we make our comparison between women living in similar conditions as regards latitude and climate, we find that Virey’s saying is far from accurately describing the facts.