INFERIOH STOCKS 33 



doctors have given careful thought to such questions. If 

 more people would ask advice as to whether or not they 

 ought to have children, more doctors would study the 

 problems of heredity so as to be able to give a sound 

 opinion in regard to parenthood. 



In giving such advice, the doctor ought to bear many 

 things in mind. A point often forgotten is that good 

 quahties must always be weighed in the balance against the 

 bad. When the relatives of a diseased person are generally 

 high-minded and healthy, this fact should teU in favour of 

 parenthood being justifiable in his case. Even to think of 

 making the necessary sacrifice is an indication of the 

 possession of a high character. Definite defects should 

 appear in several near relatives, and should, as far as can 

 be judged, not be such as are directly due to external 

 conditions, if a person sound in mind and body is to be asked 

 to make this great sacrifice. If the doctor is in doubt, it 

 may be right to recommend a marriage which should result 

 in no more than one or two children. 



When eugenics comes to be more studied, it will be 

 possible to give advice with greater confidence than at 

 present on some of the points considered in this chapter. 

 Even with our present knowledge it is, however, un- 

 questionable that great benefits might be conferred on 

 future generations by the voluntary renunciation of 

 parenthood by the diseased and by such as are very likely 

 to be the carriers of the hidden seeds of disease. 



