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Story
May 13, 1948
Buckeye Valley News And Buckeye Review
Buckeye, Maricopa County, Arizona
What is this article about?
Article discusses the rarity of quintuplet births in the U.S., noting three cases in the last 12 years despite odds of one in 50 million, all premature and non-surviving, highlighting statistical coincidence.
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Birth of Quintuplets in U. S.
Is Possible Statistics Show
NEW YORK. -Despite the odds, some American mother most any day may have quintuplets who survive and grow.
By amazing coincidence, there have been at least three cases of quintuplets in the United States in the last 12 years. Two occurred only 20 months apart.
In each case, the quints were born prematurely and none lived more than half an hour. The chance that all five will survive is extremely thin.
What makes the births such a remarkable coincidence is that, by the rule that seems to apply to plural births, quintuplets would be expected once in about 50 million births!
With the United States' birth rate around three and one-half million annually, quints would be expected mathematically only once in 15 years or so.
The three cases of quints so close together, doesn't mean that this rule is wrong, or that it won't happen again soon. American quints could be born tomorrow, or not for 100 years.
For the coincidence that brought so many quints in so short a time does not mean the rules were out of order. They are not expected to be applied to any one given year or even a few years. But taken over decades they are valid. Then the rates do not seem to vary much.
Is Possible Statistics Show
NEW YORK. -Despite the odds, some American mother most any day may have quintuplets who survive and grow.
By amazing coincidence, there have been at least three cases of quintuplets in the United States in the last 12 years. Two occurred only 20 months apart.
In each case, the quints were born prematurely and none lived more than half an hour. The chance that all five will survive is extremely thin.
What makes the births such a remarkable coincidence is that, by the rule that seems to apply to plural births, quintuplets would be expected once in about 50 million births!
With the United States' birth rate around three and one-half million annually, quints would be expected mathematically only once in 15 years or so.
The three cases of quints so close together, doesn't mean that this rule is wrong, or that it won't happen again soon. American quints could be born tomorrow, or not for 100 years.
For the coincidence that brought so many quints in so short a time does not mean the rules were out of order. They are not expected to be applied to any one given year or even a few years. But taken over decades they are valid. Then the rates do not seem to vary much.
What sub-type of article is it?
Medical Curiosity
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Fate Providence
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Quintuplets
Multiple Births
Statistical Coincidence
Premature Births
Birth Statistics
Where did it happen?
United States
Story Details
Location
United States
Event Date
Last 12 Years
Story Details
Three cases of quintuplet births in the U.S. over the last 12 years, all premature with no survival beyond half an hour, defying statistical odds of one in 50 million births.