CHAPTER X 



EUGENICS 



EUGENICS is defined as ' the study of agencies under 

 social control that may improve or impair the racial 

 qualities of future generations, either physically or 

 mentally/ Sir Francis Galton, the pioneer of this 

 study, may well be regarded as one of the foremost 

 figures in recent science. His claim to this regard is 

 based upon a pre-eminence in many different branches 

 of knowledge a claim which those to whom his work 

 is as yet unknown will find substantiated with all 

 becoming modesty in his ' Memories of My Life. 

 Much of Galton's work in other fields may be 

 forgotten, overshadowed as it is by his foundation 

 of the science we are about to describe. It will be 

 for future generations to discover that niche in the 

 temple of fame which is fitting for the man who first 

 pointed out a feasible direction in which humanity 

 might set about its own improvement, instead of 

 resting content in the vain expectation of being im- 

 proved vicariously. 



We have neither the mathematical equipment, nor 

 have we here the space, to enter into the statistical 

 inquiries upon which Galton's conclusions are mainly 



284 



