Report on the Longevity and the Causes of Death in Mongoloidism in the State of Victoria

Abstract

The prognosis as to life in cases of mongoloidism is universally recognized as being notoriously bad. It would appear that the majority die in infancy and that many of those surviving this period succumb during the second decade. A small proportion reach the third decade, and a still smaller one survive till middle age. Brousseau in 1928 stated that few mongols reach the age of maturity, and that no mongol had reached old age. She stated that the oldest case found in medical literature at that time was a mongoloid female aged 57 reported by Langdon Down. In 1937 Tredgold stated that Langdon Down had then in his training institution at Normansfield 16 mongols over 21 years of age. Three of these were between 40 and 50, two between 50 and 60 and one male aged 63.