THE INFLUENCES OF NUETUKE 101 



Human occupations often produce modifications. Are 

 these not handed on at all ? There is very little hint 

 of any such thing. Overwork on a mother's part may 

 prejudice her child ; this is admitted by all. But an 

 arrest of development or a general debility induced by 

 defective nutrition is very different from the transmission 

 of a particular individually acquired modification. In 

 connection with occupations it must be kept in view 

 that the son often follows his father, and may soon have 

 the occupational modification impressed upon him. 

 Moreover, particular constitutional types may gravitate 

 towards particular occupations, and of the inheritance 

 of particular kinds of constitution there is no manner 

 of doubt. 



Habitual drunkenness on the part of a parent or of 

 the parents may produce modifications, and may be 

 followed by dire results in the offspring. Is this not 

 evidence enough of the transmission of modifications ? 

 Certainly not to those who wish to think clearly. (1) 

 There is some evidence that thorough poisoning of the 

 body may cause deterioration of the germ-cells of either 

 parent ; (2) the intemperate habits of the parent may be 

 the expression of an inherited lack of control, and it is 

 this lack that is transmitted to the offspring, where it 

 may find the same or some other expression ; (3) drunk- 

 enness on the mother's part may mean serious enfeebling 

 of the general vigour of the child during the period of 

 ante-natal partnership ; (4) some children get alcohol 

 as part of their food from the days of suckling onwards. 

 The question is not easy. A belief in the transmission 



