Several recent studies have examined the relationship between an individual's date of birth and date of his or her death [1, 2]. In the most recent contribution, Kunz and Summers note, on the basis of analysis of material in several archival sources, a significantly higher number of deaths occur during the first quarter after one's birthday than during the quarter preceding the birthday [3]. The present note is a brief historical addendum to this material.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HuntleyF. L., Sir Thomas Browne, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, p. 168, 1962.
2.
PhillipsD. P.FeldmanK. A., A Dip in Deaths before Ceremonial Occasions: Some New Relationships Between Social Integration and Mortality, American Sociological Review, 38, pp. 678–696, 1973.
3.
KunzP. R.SummersJ., A Time to Die: A Study of the Relationship of Birthdays and Time of Death, Omega, 10, pp. 281–289, 1979–80.
4.
BlofeldJ., Bangkok, Time-Life Books, Amsterdam, p. 88, 1979.
5.
BrowneT., The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, KeynesG. (ed.), Faber and Faber, London, Vol. I, pp. 169–170, 1964.
6.
BlighE. W., Sir Kenelm Digby and His Venetia, Sampson Low, Marston, London, p. 73, 1932.
7.
Who Was Who in America with World Notables, 5, Marquis Who's Who Inc., Chicago, 1973.
