178 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



a male zebra and several young mares. Not only the 

 hybrid colts resulting from this union, but all the colts 

 afterward foaled by the same mares, from other stal- 

 lions, were striped like the zebra. 



In view of these facts, it is probable that the system 

 of the wife, at least, may be profoundly affected by 

 constitutional weaknesses, as well as by other individ- 

 ual peculiarities possessed by her husband. 



No person suffering with a contagious or infectious 

 disease has any right to communicate the same to an- 

 other. Indeed, it is the moral duty of every person so 

 affected to do all in his power for the protection of 

 others from the same cause of suffering. 



2. Persons having a marked hereditary tendency to 

 disease must not marry those having a similar tend- 

 ency. 



Every physician knows too well the powerful in- 

 fluence of hereditary causes in determining the length 

 of human life. Persons, one or both of whose parents 

 have died of consumption, are very likely to die of 

 the same disease, and frequently at about the same age. 

 The children of such parents are commonly feeble and 

 puny, and die early, if they survive infancy. AVhen 

 both parents possess the consumptive tendency, the 

 chance for life in the offspring is very poor indeed. 

 The same may be said of those suffering with cancer, 

 epilepsy, insanity, etc. Persons with a strong tend- 

 ency to any one of the diseases mentioned, should in 

 no case marry. If there is but a slight morbid tend- 

 ency, marriage may be admissible, but only with a 

 partner possessing robust health. 



3. Shoidd cousins marry? 



Writers have devoted a good deal of attention to 

 this subject, and we have been shown statistics, reports 



