90 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



of Eugenics, especially when it is additionally re- 

 membered that, in regard to another disease, phthisical 

 persons tend to marry early. It is significant because 

 physical defects seem to be no hindrance to marriage, 

 but apparently, in this case, rather a recommenda- 

 tion. 



The last case that I have for your consideration is 

 one, it seems to me, of great importance, because it 

 is very significant in many features. It not only 

 affords us an example of hereditary transmission, 

 but it gives us a concrete case where social sentiment 

 and philanthropy having interfered, we can arrive at 

 a definite judgement as to the pernicious effects of 

 this interference. It is not an academic case that I 

 have laboriously hunted for in the Archives of the 

 Clinical Department of a great hospital, or in the 

 volumes of a library. It is a case of the present 

 time, that was reported in the Morning Post of May 

 25th, 1907 ; it is one that illustrates the proHfic 

 growth of unfitness when fed and watered by the 

 mistaken kindness of the fit. It appeared in an 

 appendix to the Ninth Annual Report of the Children's 

 Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. 

 It is written by the Medical Officer to that Board. 

 I ask you to note that fact, because medical men are 

 largely responsible for the birth and promulgation 

 of the modern sentiment which we are now con- 

 sidering. The general tone of the Report, especially 

 the last paragraph, implies the possibiUty of con- 

 verting inherent unfitness into fitness by a suitable 

 environment. The parents in this particular case 



