64 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE 



became drunkards. Then degeneration appeared, and increased in an alarming 

 degree, on account of the numerous marriages which occurred between relations. 

 Now, a hundred years afterwards, the family is, as a whole, in such a miserable 

 state that, in many cases, there are signs of a veritable collapse. Alcoholism 

 and consanguinity still appear, but nothing like so often as before. There is still 

 great fecundity in the families. As a matter of fact, it is often the case that the 

 parents have 8 to 10 children. Fathers and mothers are not at all pleased atthis, 

 but wish to have smaller families. 



Preventative methods have not been resorted to, to any great extent, but 

 they have adopted the alternative of extending the suckling period as much as 

 possible, usually 2 years, in the belief that a fresh conception cannot then take 

 place. Experience shows, however that such an extended suckling period does 

 not prevent a new conception. 



Several of these women must therefore nourish, not only a child more than 

 one year old, but also an embryo. When 8 or 10 such periods have occurred 

 in a woman's lifetime, we can easily imagine what a miserable condition she is 

 in, though still under 40 years of age. To fortify themselves, they resort to 

 stimulating mediums, such as alcohol, but, chiefly coffee in large quantities. 

 The extended suckling periods, the frequent confinements, the great consumption 

 of coffee, have without doubt increased the miserable condition of these women. 



Yet it is to be noted, that several of the mothers, on account of degenera» 

 tion, have lost the capability of suckling the child, which is also a signi* 

 ficant fact. 



I also wish to mention that in my opinion, deterioration of the family has 

 been caused by the emigration to America and Australia, which has taken place 

 to a rather large extent, from that part of the country, during the last decennaries. 



In all probability it was the most robust persons who emigrated. The less 

 healthy who remained behind, generally married relatives as unhealthy as themselves, 

 and thus one cannot be surprised at the result. In addition to emigration, they rerno* 

 ved, of course, to other parishes. It is possible, that they, who have been fortunate 

 enough to escape the general collapse of the stock, may be the progenitors of 

 new families, who under favourable conditions would be regenerated. 



One and the same family can thus be good material for the study of both 

 degeneration and regeneration. 



On the other hand, there are naturally whole families who are on the upward 

 grade. A thorough study of such families may be as interesting, or even more 

 so, than an investigation of those which degenerate. As above mentioned the 

 male ancester lived from 1721 to 1804. In his time the family was rich and 

 respected. They have now lost the greater part of their former opulence. 



There are now distinct signs here and there, that the family is partially 

 degenerated. 



Marriages between relations occurred more frequently formerly, than now. 



In the family in question, one meets, to a rather great extent, dark types, 

 with a foreign appearance. Many years ago a blending of race occurred between 

 dark foreigners and fair Scandinavians. The dark types belong to certain family 

 branches are known as »the blacks*. My anthropological investigations show 



