Marsha wrote, presumably half-facetiously,
<< I often wonder how long the earth would have continued to be populated if
5% of its infants each year were unable to receive enough milk starting when
humans
 first appeared! >>

Considering how much of human history the infant mortality rate was above 5%,
I'd have to say that the earth's human population would get along just fine,
in terms of self replacement; it would just be sadder than it is now.

The problem with that 5% number as I see it is not that it is impossible but
merely that it seems to be wrong, or at least unfounded.  Since it undermines
confidence, a wrong or unfounded # is an especially meretricious argument --
but that has nothing to do with human continuity...

Elisheva Urbas
NYC

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