Some factors affecting marital distances in the Outer Hebrides.

Some factors affecting marital distances have been studied in two Outer Hebridean islands, Harris (843 marriages) and Barra (444 marriages), over the period 1855-1990. In each island marital distances fell before 1900, but then rose to their greatest values after the 1950s. Fisherman generally married at the shortest distances and men in land-based occupations at the longest. The depression in the fishing industry during the 1880s and early 1890s was associated with reductions in marital distances, especially among fisherman. In the different regions of Harris, marital distances were least in the south-east, where settlement was most dense, and greatest in the south-west where it was most sparse. When the association between marital frequencies and inter-settlement distances was studied, it was found that for Harris there was, overall, a trend to endogamous and short-distance marriage. However, this trend was only slight during 1955-90. For Barra a similar trend was found before 1955, but thereafter there appeared to be virtually no connection between marital frequency and inter-settlement distance. Thus the only constraint on marriage was the spatial distribution of settlements. In this situation the chances of random mating with respect to distance are maximised. Application of 'Central Place' theory suggested that only since 1946 can any tendency be detected to regard Tarbert in Harris or Castlebay in Barra as Central Places, at least as far as marriage is concerned. In each island the tendency appears to be limited to the settlements closest to the Central Place.

Religion and fertility in the Outer Hebrides.

Estimates of fertility in Protestant Barra and Catholic Harris, islands in the Outer Hebrides, over the period 1856-1985, show that in both islands fertility declined, although marital fertility was generally greater than in Scotland as a whole, and illegitimate fertility was less. However, in Barra during 1966-75 there were pronounced rises in all the indices; illegitimate fertility showed the smallest rise. The publication of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae may have played a part in this change in fertility, although other, probably local, factors must have been acting, as the first rise in numbers of births occurred before the publication of the encyclical. Other than this transient rise, the religious difference between Harris and Barra had little effect on changes in fertility over the whole period. Indices of proportions married showed declines until after World War 2, followed by steep increases. The marked decline in fertility in both islands may be due in part to this low nuptiality. In addition, a trend of occupation away from traditional crofting and fishing towards more skilled mercantile and professional employment may have played a role.

PIP: Fertility-related data from 1855-1985 were analyzed to compare estimates of fertility in the most southern island of the Outer Hebrides, Barra, with those of an area of the most northern island called Harris. The predominate religion in Barra was Protestant and that in Harris was Catholic. The latter part of the 19th century and/or early 20th century witnessed an increased growth in the numbers of children aged 0-4 years (1916-1925 for Harris and 1896-1905 for Barra), of women in the reproductive period of life (peaking in 1901 for Harris and in 1922 for Barra), and in number of births per decade (1861-1901 for Harris and Barra). Thereafter, these numbers fell consistently in both islands until relatively recently. Marital fertility tended to be higher and illegitimate fertility tended to be lower in both islands than in Scotland as a whole. In Barra during 1966-1975, marked increases in all indices occurred (e.g., total fertility = 0.430 vs. 0.210 in 1956-1965 and 0.167 in 1976-1985). Illegitimate fertility increased the least (0.016-0.110). The release of the 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae reaffirming the strong traditional Catholic attitudes towards family limitation, may have contributed to this temporary rise in fertility. Further examination suggests that it may have played a limited role, since the first increase in numbers of births took place before its publication. Thus, other, probably local, factors may have accounted for this rise. Overall, the religious difference between Harris and Barra contributed (at most) little changes in fertility, other than the transient increase. The proportions of married couples fell considerably over the years until after World War II at which time they increased greatly (e.g., prior to 1936 in Harris, 0.371-0.323, 1936-1945 and after 0.346 and 0.369-0.539, peaking in 1966-1975 at 0.702). This low nuptiality may have accounted for some of the strong decline in fertility in both islands. The shift from the occupation of traditional crofting and fishing to more skilled mercantile and professional employment may have also contributed to this decline.

Aspects of neonatal death in St Kilda, 1830-1930.

Neonatal death (mainly due to tetanus) was common in St Kilda until 1891. Two aspects of this phenomenon are studied; factors which predicted death, and the impact of neonatal death on family building. Maternal age appeared to be a predictive factor for death of the first child, but only in children of high birth order were other factors, particularly the number of previous neonatal deaths, important. The first birth interval appeared to be determined mainly by the date of the first birth, independent of neonatal mortality levels. For later intervals, the neonatal death of the previous child appeared to be the main determining factor.

PIP: Two researchers analyze vital event records and parish registers to identify determinants of neonatal mortality and the effect neonatal death had on family building during 1830-1930 in St. Kilda, the most remote island of the Outer Hebrides off the northwest coast of Scotland. Before 1892, more than 50% of the infants born on St. Kilda died from neonatal tetanus (8-day sickness). Even though various sponsors sent nurses to St. Kilda to introduce antiseptic delivery techniques, the islanders did not accept these techniques until the minister became a man-midwife. The total number of known births during the period was 176. 1891-1892 also experienced a major change in the distribution of neonatal deaths by birth order. Before 1892, neonatal death was more common among early and late birth orders, while, after 1892, birth order appeared not to be related to risk of early neonatal mortality. Neonatal death could be predicted rather reliably for the first birth, but not the second or third births. Age at marriage for first births, maternal age at birth and the number of previous neonatal deaths for all birth orders, and the preceding birth interval for fifth births were significant predictors of neonatal death. The date of the first birth, regardless of neonatal mortality levels, determined the first birth interval. As for later birth intervals, the neonatal death of the previous child was the leading determinant of neonatal death.

Caries experience in Mediaeval Scots.

Dental caries prevalence, distribution, and site of attack was investigated in a Scottish Mediaeval population. The findings supported previous reports, which suggested that caries prevalence in Scotland was lower than in contemporaneous English populations. Attrition of the occlusal surface of the teeth with accompanying alteration of the anatomy of the interproximal space is suggested as the principal reason for the differences in the pattern of distribution of caries between this and modern populations.

Caries experience in the permanent dentition of late mediaeval Scots (1300-1600 a.d.).

Dental caries prevalence, distribution and site of attack were in broad agreement with previous reports for Mediaeval Scots, namely that caries was principally a disease of adult life and showed a different location distribution from that of modern caries. The findings reinforce evidence that caries prevalence in Scotland was lower than in England at that period. It is suggested that reliable estimates of caries prevalence can best be made by noting: (i) individual caries experience, (ii) lesion location by tooth type and area of attack, (iii) the number of carious teeth of each type as a percentage of teeth of that type present.