[The natural increase of the Catholic population of Quebec before 1850: historiographic and quantitative perspectives].

"The author presents a critical evaluation of the different estimates of birth, death, and marriage rates in French Canada before 1850. He examines critically the sensitivity of these estimates to changes in the nature of the prevailing conceptual framework. In particular, the impact of the 'natalist' tradition and of the 'demographic transition hypothesis' on these estimates is noted." (summary in ENG)