528 uH- cr.AUK on consumption. 



were bestowed on matrimonial alliances, the disease which is so often 

 entailed on their offspring might not only be prevented, but even the 

 predisposition to it extinguished in their families in the course of a 

 few generations. In the present state of society it is needless to ob- 

 serve that the very reverse of this commonly happens ; and, from the 

 total disregard of the circumstances alluded to, the race often termi- 

 nates in the third generation. The children of dyspeptic persons ge- 

 nerally become the subjects of dyspepsia in a greater degree and 

 at an earlier age than their parents, and if they marry into families 

 of a strumous constitution their offspring are frequently found to be 

 scrofulous, and to die of consumption in early youth, and even in in- 

 fancy. I could adduce many melancholy examples of the truth of 

 this observation, but it is at least consolatory to know that the evil 

 may be obviated, and it is a duty which parents owe to their offspring 

 to endeavour to correct it. Members of families, already predis- 

 posed to tuberculous disease, should at least endeavour to avoid ma- 

 trimonial alliances with others in the same condition ; but, above all, 

 they should avoid the too common practice of intermarrying among 

 their own immediate relatives— a practice at once a fertile source of 

 scrofula, a sure mode of deteriorating the intellectual and physical 

 powers, and eventually the means of extinguishing a degenerated 

 race. ' There can be no question, ' says Dr. Mason Good, ' that in- 

 termarriages among the collateral branches of the same family tend 

 more than any thing else to fix and multiply and aggravate hereditary 

 predisposition.' It would also be well if persons contemplating mar- 

 riage were aware of the necessity of attending to their health, pre- 

 vious to, and after the adoption of this change of life. The dyspeptic 

 should have recourse to such means as would restore the functions of 

 his digestive organs, and should adopt and adhere to a regimen cal- 

 culated to prevent the recurrence of his complaint ; the gouty subject 

 should renounce the well known cause of his disorder ; but those who 

 are afflicted with organic disease, more especially with consumption, 

 should pause before they enter into a contract which can only entail 

 disease or unhappiness on all concerned. 



"The full extent of misery arising from injudicious marriages of 

 this description is comprehended by the medical practitioner only ; 

 he will therefore appreciate the justness of these remarks, although 

 he will acknowledge the difficulty of enforcing the necessary restric- 

 tions on the practical consideration of the public. 



" I am well aware that mankind in general are far too reckless to at- 

 tend to any precautionary measures on this subject, even although 

 perfectly satisfied of their expediency. Still there is a small pro- 

 portion in that rank of life to which the above remarks apply with 

 the o-reatest force on whom these cautions may not be wholly thrown 



away." 



The second section is on the prevention of disease in infancy, in 

 childhood, and in youth. Under these three heads excellent rules are 

 o-iven on the food, clothing, dress, bathing, air, and i-esidence of in- 

 fants, the exercise, clothing, education, &c., of children, and the 

 choice of a profession in reference to the particular constitution of the 

 individual. The following remarks on bed-rooms, and the place of 



