INTRODUCTORY. 5 



transmission applies to all Nature's creatures, to the 

 highest as to the lowest, to man as surely as to the 

 inferior animals. Young men and women should he 

 told of those diseased conditions, as insanity, epilepsy, 

 scrofula, drunkenness, which are more certainly trans- 

 mitted from parent to child, and be impressed with 

 a lively sense of the terrible responsibility resting 

 upon those who, themselves bearing such brand of 

 unfitness, continue their kind, bringing immense suffer- 

 ing upon the earth, which would never have existed 

 had they exercised discretion and self-denial. 



When this is done, when men and women can no 

 longer plead ignorance, and are able to appreciate even 

 in part the gravity of these questions, it is surely not 

 too much to hope that some at least will pause before 

 calling into existence creatures foredoomed to sorrow 

 and suffering and ultimate extinction. 



I grant that most attempts at interfering with the 

 instincts of man have proved futile. In these matters 

 passion and desire are permitted to dominate reason in 

 the vast majority of cases ; but that is no reason or 

 excuse for silence. The truth concerning the tremen- 

 dous issues at stake should be proclaimed, though we 

 know the great many, will ignore our most earnest 

 warnings. The duty of the teacher, which is to instruct 

 and forewarn, is not the less clear because of the un- 

 willingness of the people to hearken to the truth. I 

 have been told that teaching upon this subject must 

 prove absolutely fruitless; that men and women will 

 be led by their instincts in the selection of husbands 



