[Secular acceleration of the physical development of Czech school children (author's transl)]

The presented contribution reports on the acceleration of physical development and pubescence of school children, based on anthropometrical studies dating of 1895, 1951, 1961 and 1971. Since 1895 the acceleration for the development has been recorded by .2 to 2.5 years. The acceleration of the growth of body height and mass was less during 1961--1971 than within the period of 1951--1961. The higher mean values found 1971 in children and youth of Prague suggest that possible secular acceleration in our adolescents has not been terminated so far.