Human Physiology. 

 CHAPTER VII. 



HEREDITARY TRANSMISSION. 



Laws of Breeding Plants and Animals Darwin on Marriage Hereditary 

 Transmission of Peculiarities of Race Mixed Characters Transmitted 

 Law of Hereditary Vices Qualities given by each Parent Influ- 

 ences during Gestation Blood or Race Inherited Diseases and Moral 

 Predispositions Fruitfulness and Longevity Ante-Natal Impressions. 



THE farmer who wishes to improve the quality of his wheat 

 carefully selects, year after year, the earliest, heaviest, finest 

 heads for seed, and is equally careful in the choice and prepara- 

 tion of soil, time and mode of sowing, and all the conditions 

 that aid in making a good crop. The gardener gathers his 

 seeds from the choicest varieties of plants, year after year, and 

 so brings them to perfection. He grafts or buds the most beau- 

 tiful roses, or the most delicious fruits into the most vigorous 

 stocks, and a wise agriculturist will not waste time, soil, manure, 

 and labour on poor seed, or ugly flowers, or harsh and unde- 

 veloped fruits. 



In the same way breeders of birds, dogs, sheep, horses, select 

 the choicest specimens of every variety, and bring together males 

 and females which have the qualities most desired. By this 

 means we have all varieties of dogs, horses, sheep, and cattle 

 brought to the highest perfection. Setter, pointer, retriever, 

 foxhound, greyhound, inherit not only the forms and colours, 

 but the dispositions and educated or modified instincts of their 

 progenitors. What an animal has gained by training is in- 

 stinctive in its descendants. Sheep are bred for wool or for 

 mutton ; or the two, by proper crossing of stocks, may be 

 united. Wise breeders leave nothing to chance in these mat- 

 ters. Ten guineas are paid to secure the breed of a favourite 

 greyhound, and twenty to fifty for the use of favourite stallions. 



