396 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 



has a simple faith in such a relationship it certainly affords 

 a strong and fine motive for right living. The facts admit 

 of a somewhat different interpretation, without, however, 

 weakening the moral obligation. 



There are good reasons for believing that the germ-cells 

 which are found in the mature individual are descended 

 from cells set apart at a very early stage for their peculiar 

 purpose. Their ancestors have never been anywhere but 

 in the gonads. They are thus comparatively unaffected 

 by accidents that befall other parts of the organism. The 

 assertion is current that "acquired characters are not in- 

 herited." This is evidently true of gross mutilations. It 

 is certainly comforting in time of war to be assured that the 

 devoted young women who marry the pitiful wrecks of 

 battle do not sacrifice the coming generation by their 

 course. Their children will be such as the same parents 

 might have had if the fathers had never suffered wounds. 

 The germ-plasm has been protected as a priceless treasure. 



To injure the offspring the hurtful influence must be 

 brought to bear directly upon the tissue thus set aside. 

 Such an injury would seem to be a possibility if the agent 

 should be a chemical agent transmitted by the body-fluids. 

 This is generally held to be a condition realized in the case 

 of alcohol. The poison being admitted to all parts of the 

 system can find access to" the ovaries and testes. It can 

 definitely damage the all-important reproductive elements. 

 It is the common tradition that the result is an inherited 

 craving for liquor, a fatal weakness in the presence of this 

 temptation. But this is not borne out by the facts. The 

 injury to the stock may appear in the form of epilepsy, 

 feeble-mindedness, or in still other ways. 



What is maintained for alcohol is believed to be true of 

 the poison of syphilis. Here, again, is a chemical agent 

 which is not confined to a particular region of the body but 

 is widely disseminated. There is abundant evidence of the 

 shocking deterioration of stock under its influence. If we 

 now return to the earnest question of the young man, we 

 can obviously say with all possible emphasis that the two 



