76 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



Dr. Saleeby is not quite as clear as he might be; one infers 

 from his article in the Contemporary Review that he approaches 

 the problem from the Neo-Darwinian standpoint, but he does 

 not mention that his entire thesis is raised upon a foundation 

 which is itself a veritable quagmire. Of course those who are 

 convinced by the Neo-Darwinian theory of heredity do not 

 themselves consider it a quagmire, but one would expect that 

 they would at least make it clear that the whole principle 

 is in dispute. In all scientific discussions, and especially in 

 those which are carried on for the enlightenment of the general 

 public, it is essential to maintain a sharp distinction between 

 the peculiar tenets of any mere school of thought and the 

 unanimous declarations of science. It may be as well, therefore, 

 to repeat that although a considerable number of isolated facts 

 are known with certainty, there are no known general laws of 

 heredity ; and it is this which makes many discussions on 

 eugenics quite unprofitable. 



Consider one of the most obvious instances. Either acquired 

 characters are heritable or they are not. Most biologists now 

 hold that they are not heritable, but some authorities — scholars 

 thoroughly versed in the facts — still believe in the reality of use- 

 inheritance. The matter is therefore in doubt. Now how is it 

 possible to discuss profitably such a question as the racial effects 

 of compulsory military service unless we previously know 

 whether acquired characteristics are inherited or not ? Some of 

 the popular advocates of conscription (in peace-time) have urged 

 that their scheme would improve the race, without apparently 

 realising that they were assuming the truth of a theory of 

 heredity which has ,the great weight of professional opinion 

 against it, and even in the Eugenics Review 1 there is a loose 

 reference to the subject by a writer who does not trouble to 

 explain whether he is a Neo-Darwinian or a Neo-Lamarckian. 

 It must be admitted, I think, that military training is beneficial 

 to the individual, certainly physically, and in most respects 

 mentally as well. If, therefore, acquired characters be trans- 

 missible, even in a small degree, the benefits of conscription 

 would affect the race, would be cumulative, and the improvement 

 in a few generations would probably be marked. But if, on the 

 other hand, use-inheritance be a figment, then conscription 

 would benefit each generation, but would have no direct racial 

 1 T. G. Chambers, Eugenics Review, January 191 5. 



