ACQUIRED CHARACTERS 



continually milder, and if the crossing is continued the 

 degenerative tendency may entirely disappear. 



"The interesting question, answered by Morel in the affirma- 

 tive, Whether hereditary insanity exists as a clinical form, 

 must remain an open one. 1 



"According to my experience, hereditarily degenerative 

 insanity is only a particular case of degenerative insanity 

 in general. 



" With regard to the above question, stress must be laid 

 upon the difference between mere hereditary predispositions 

 (latent tendencies) and hereditary disease, i.e. where the factor 

 of heredity acts with a determining and injurious effect on 

 the mental and bodily development and constitution of the 

 individual. 



" Insanity in cases of mere hereditary predisposition differs 

 from cases which are not hereditary in no way except by its 

 appearance at an earlier age, and in consequence of trivial 

 accessory causes, its more sudden outbreak and more rapid 

 recovery, as well as its more favourable prognosis. 



" In the stages of transition to hereditarily degenerative 

 insanity the forms become more serious and more organic, 

 and certain symptoms of degeneration (stupor, impulsive acts, 

 periodicity) become noticeable." 



I have repeated the observations of Von Krafft-Ebing 

 word for word, because they so often actually give verbal 

 expression to my own views, and because, as the reader will 

 find for himself, they supply in their details examples sup- 

 porting my views than which none better could be imagined. 



It might almost be supposed that I had based my remarks 

 on these instances. But I only read Von Krafft-Ebing's work 

 after my section on the inheritance of diseases was already 

 written. 



1 Cf. Emminghaus, Ally. Psychopath, p. 322. 



