32 THE METHODS AND 



that here is a contribution of the first im- 

 portance to the physiology of disease. 



There is no lack of utility and direct 

 application in the study of Genetics. I have 

 alluded to some strictly practical results. If 

 we want to raise mangels that will not run to 

 seed, or to breed a cow that will give more 

 milk in less time, or milk with more butter 

 and less water, we can turn to Genetics with 

 every hope that something can be done in 

 these laudable directions. But here I would 

 plead what I cannot but regard as a higher 

 usefulness in our work. Genetic inquiry aims 

 at providing knowledge that may bring, and 

 I think will bring, certainty into a region 

 of human affairs and concepts which might 

 have been supposed reserved for ages to be 

 the domain of the visionary. We have long 

 known that it was believed by some that our 

 powers and conduct were dependent on our 

 physical composition, and that other schools 



