OF USE INHERITED? 



profoundly 1 1 important, in fact, are the moral, 

 social, and political conclusions that depend on 

 the answer to this inquiry, that, as Mr. Herbert 

 Spencer rightly says, it " demands, beyond all 

 other questions whatsoever, the attention of 

 scientific men." 



It is obvious that we can produce important 

 changes in the individual. We can, for example, 

 improve his muscles by athletics, and his brain 

 by education. The use of organs enlarges and 

 strengthens them ; the disuse of parts or faculties 

 weakens them. And so great is the power of habit 

 that it is proverbially spoken of as " second 

 nature." It is thus certain that we can modify 

 the individual. We can strengthen (or weaken) 

 his body ; we can improve (or deteriorate) his 

 intellect, his habits, his morals. But there 

 remains the still more important question which 

 we are about to consider. Will such modifica- 

 tions be inherited by the offspring of the 



