"A critical notice of Brown on "the age at menarche

The Age at Menarche" (Brit.J. prev.soc.Med., 20, 9-14, 1966) and on the meaning of the word biology are un- conventional, but at least they are his own.His opinions of what I believe, and his reports of what I have written, are so erroneous that in the interest of your readers they demand correction.Writing of the causes of the trend towards earlier menarche, Brown says: "Tanner . . .discounts explanations which rely on ordinary environmental agents, such as improved nutrition, poor social conditions, and increased psychosexual stimulation.He seems to prefer semi-cosmic causes: alterations in world temperature, the breaking- down of genetical isolates, and the selective effect of the reduction of bacterial infections".In fact, when discussing causes of the trend, I wrote (1962):"Nobody knows for certain why the secular trend has occurred.Better nutrition and generally improved environmental circumstances are usuaLly given the credit, and with considerable reason

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• The Age at Menarche

  Perry Brown, P E Brown•Journal of Epidemiology and…•1966

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