174 PLAIISr FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



follow the prescribed rules, we are not sure tbat more 

 good than harm would be the result. Hence, we shall 

 content ourselves with calling attention to a few facts 

 of great importance respecting the conditions which 

 imperatively forbid marriage, and which cannot be 

 violated without the certain entailment of great suffer- 

 ing. 



1. Persons suffering ivitli serious disease of a 

 character communicable to others hy contagion or by 

 hereditary transmission. 



Many people wonder why it is that diseases are so 

 much more numerous and varied in modern times than 

 in the earlier ages of the race. There has been an 

 evident increase of diseases within a few centuries. 

 While there are, undoubtedly, numerous influencing 

 causes, one which cannot be overlooked is the heredi- 

 tary transmission of disease, which preserves those 

 disorders already existing, and adds new ones which 

 originate from new exciting causes. By this means, 

 the human race is undoubtedly being weakened, human 

 life shortened, and diseases multiplied. Compare the 

 average age of human beings of the present day, less 

 than forty years, with the longevity of the early mem- 

 bers of the race, who lived more than as many score 

 of years. Some mighty deteriorating influence has 

 been at work; and we hazard nothing in the assertion 

 that the marriage of diseased persons, and kindred 

 violations of the laws of human hygiene, have been not 

 unimportant factors in producing this most ai3palling 

 diminution in the length of human life. 



Among the diseases which are most certain to be 

 transmitted, are pulmonary tuberculosis, or consump- 

 tion, syphilis, cancer, leprosy, epilepsy and some other 

 nervous disorders, some forms of skin disease, and 



