EUGENICS IN FRANCE 



A Review 



THE World War cost France A series of addresses delivered by 



about 3, 000, 000 citizens, count- members of this Socictc Francaise 



ing the deficit in births as well d'Eugcniqitc has now been published' 



as actual deaths. Indirect conse- in book form — the first book, so far 



quences such as the malnutrition of as I can recall, published in France 



infants, and the spread of diseases in the direct interest of eugenics. It 



in the civil population, will doubtless gives an extensive and trustworthy 



account for several hundred thousand i)icture of the state of that science 



more individuals lost to the nation, if among the French, 



not already, within the next decade Of the nine papers included, seven 



or two. will be new to most students. Of the 



It is natural enough, then, that remaining two. one is a reprint of the 

 eugenics should have an increased in- address delivered by L. Cuenot at the 

 terest for the French. The movement International Congress of Eugenics in 

 has never been influential in France, New York a couple of years ago ; the 

 for a number or more or less obscure other is a translation of an address on 

 reasons. The fact that French scien- practical eugenics by Leonard Darwin, 

 tists had little to do with the origin The other seven vary in character ; 

 of this science may in some measure several are thorough-going and admir- 

 explain the lack of interest which they able statements ; others are timid and 

 have shown in eugenics ; then, too. hesitant approaches to a point of 

 many French biologists have Lamarck- view that is. to most Americans, com- 

 ian leanings which do not predispose monplace enough. Thus it is some- 

 toward a conventional point of view. thing of a surprise to hear the late 

 Again, the respect for personal liberty Edmond Perrier. former president of 

 and freedom of opinion and action in the society, confess that "in a civilized 

 France is incompatible with some country, no one can dream of sup- 

 phases of eugenics, at least as popu- pressing individuals burdened by 

 larly represented. hereditary defects, nor of preventing 



For these and other reasons, eu- them from reproduction ;" while F. 

 genics as such has not played an im- Houssay supposes that the program of 

 portant part in the republic. There the movement must be a "war on de- 

 has been for some years an active fects, not on defectives." No one who 

 propaganda for more births, since for has grasped the import of modern 

 a long time the annual births in developments in genetics can fail to 

 France have exceeded the annual perceive that the only way to eliminate 

 deaths only slightly, if at all. But many defects is precisely to eliminate 

 this propaganda has been quantita- the defectives ; and that the way to 

 tive, and has paid little attention to eliminate the defectives is precisely to 

 that point of quality which is the prevent their reproduction. If many 

 crucial one in all eugenic measures. French eugenists hold such view- 

 The nation was one of the last to points as those just quoted, the pros- 

 organize a society of eugenics, and pects for an efifective campaign are 

 this organization has never been nu- slight, 

 merically strong. It is true enough that to favor 



^Eugenique et Selection, par E. Apert, L. Cuenot, le Major Darwin. F. Houssay, L. 



March, G. Papillaut, Ed. Perrier, Ch. Richet, G. Schreiber. Pp. 248, prix f. ir, net. Biblio- 

 theque Generale des Sciences Socialcs, Librairie Felix Alcan, Paris (108, Boul. St. Germain). 

 1922. 



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