716 General and Applied Biology 



is no substitute for good inheritance. The two parts to the solution of 

 the problem of racial improvement are ( 1 ) the best possible inheritance 

 (2) and the best possible environment in which specific inheritances can 

 develop to their maximum. 



The problems of preventing racial degeneration, let alone the question 

 of racial improvements, are more numerous and extensive than can be 

 treated here. With differences in birth rates between those with un- 

 desirable qualities and those classified as desirable, it becomes a major 

 problem if we are even to maintain our present level of racial develop- 

 ment. 



II 



III 



IV 



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• 



1. * 



Fig. 352. — Pedigree of webbed toes (zygodactyly). Black symbols indicate 

 persons possessing the trait. Squares represent males; circles, females. /, II, III, 

 IV represent four generations. Note that Individual Ilh was married twice. 



o 



II 



II 



Hj# 



3 ^-^y 



n. 



€MJ^. 



Fig. 353. — Pedigree of diabetes. Black symbols indicate persons having the trait. 

 Squares represent male; circles, female. I, II, III represent three generations. 



Some of the methods of eugenics which might be employed profitably 

 are as follows: (1) An attempt to increase the number of offspring of 

 parents who possess higher types of mental and physical traits. (2) The 

 prevention of those with certain types of undesirable traits from propa- 

 gating their kind by the rather simple process of sterilization. This is 

 practiced to a greater or lesser extent in about thirty states and in many 

 countries. An alternative to sterilization is complete segregation during 



