FERTILITY 147 



decades, but in some years there has been an excess of deaths over 

 births, and this not only during the war. France, liowever, is 

 exceptional, for in other civilised countries, although tlie birth- 

 rate is decreasing, the population is still increasing ; and it is 

 already evident to those who have studied the question that, 

 unless something unconceived of occiu-s, this increase cannot be 

 continued much longer without a general lowering of the standard 

 of life, which will lead gradually to a struggle for existence grow- 

 ing ever more intense, and reacting in the worst manner possible 

 upon every phase of human activity. Indeed, some of the 

 attendant evils of over-multiplication are already making them- 

 selves felt ; we have only to cite the unemployment problem, 

 the difficulties due to overcrowding and the shortage of houses, 

 the encroachment of the towns upon the country, and the 

 consequent defacement of the countryside. 



Statistics show further that the birth-rate varies widely 

 among the different social classes. Speaking generally, the 

 wealthiest people have the fewest children, and as the income 

 decreases the size of the families increases, the unskilled work- 

 men having the largest number of children. Furthermore, the 

 greatest rates of reproduction are too often shown by the less 

 fit elements in society, and it is noteworthy that the birth-rate 

 of the feeble-minded is 50 per cent, higher than that of normal 

 persons, and that feeble-mindedness is an hereditary defect. 

 It is the object of the science of Eugenics, founded by Francis 

 Galton, to combat this evil, and to ensure, as far as possible, 

 that future generations should be recruited from those members 

 of the community who are the healthiest and most vigorous, both 

 mentally and physically. So far, however, as the population 

 question is one affecting variously the different levels of society, 

 it should not be forgotten, as Carr-Saunders has pointed out, that 

 " the reduction in the birth-rate may be that which economic 

 conditions demand, and that it may of necessity have to begin 

 with the upper classes." Though, therefore, he concludes, this 

 differential fertility as lowering the average quality of the popula- 

 tion is to be deplored, this may be less of a misfortune than if 

 there were no reduction in the rate of increase, for without such 

 a reduction economic requirements would not be satisfied. 



On general evidence the inference is drawn that the decline 

 in the birth-rate among those classes which show it is due largely 



