EUGENIC METHODS 23 



with the word " stockyard," we see that they must be 

 repudiated altogether in human affairs. The farmer may 

 kill off his inferior stock ; whilst no one advocates putting 

 both the unwanted kitten and the inferior baby into the 

 tub in the backyard. To argue against such proceedings 

 is a waste of time. Compulsory marriage is equally out of 

 the question. It is true that both infanticide and the 

 subjection of women have been common enough in many 

 countries and in all ages; but they will never be reintro- 

 duced into civiHzed countries. A highly developed moral 

 sense and great freedom of choice are two of the most 

 precious attributes of man, and the necessity for preserving 

 them rules out these stockyard methods. 



The main lesson learnt from a study of domestic animals 

 is, in fact, that the descendants of good stocks are always 

 on the whole naturally superior to the descendants of 

 inferior stocks. This is true of all animals, man included. 

 And from this it follows that, in order to improve the 

 breed of our race, we should now take such steps as would 

 result in aU who show any natural superiority producing 

 a greater number of descendants than at present, whilst 

 making -all who are definitely inferior pass on their natural 

 inferiority to as few as possible. 



As regards the superior stocks, a reduction in the number 

 of deaths amongst them would, of course, increase the 

 number of their descendants. We may, however, be sure 

 that efforts will continually be made in this direction. The 

 special aim of eugenics is, therefore, to increase the size of 

 the families of such stocks. As to the inferior types, we 

 cannot, as we have seen, reduce the number of their 

 descendants by the simple expedient of murder. All that 

 can be done is to lessen the size of their famihes. 



It has often been urged that our scientific knowledge is 

 not now enough to make it right to take any practical steps 

 in the directions above indicated. Certainly further 

 knowledge should be sought in all directions. But we do 

 know that human beings differ from one another at birth 

 to a very considerable extent. We also know for certain 



