DANGER OF INBREEDING. 201 



gave them the name of "The Worcester County Hog." I sold 

 some of them to go to Martha's Vineyard, and the State 

 Lunatic Hospital had some of the hogs, and have the same 

 breed now. 



I have been very much interested in the lecture of Dr. 

 Sturtevaut this morning. I would like to know how far this 

 in-and-in breeding can be carried. I have had a little experi- 

 ence in in-and-in breeding with stock. At the time the 

 meeting of the Board was held in Springfield, ten years ago, 

 I had been trying some experiments, and the testimony of 

 Dr. Loring and Prof. Agassiz strengthened my faith in the 

 practice of breeding mother to son, with a view to getting a 

 perfect animal. I have*, in some measure, bred in one family 

 in that way, and the result has been a better development, a 

 more perfect animal, and a larger growth. Now, if there are 

 any dangers incident to this practice, if the animals are likely 

 to run out, so that they will not breed at all, I would like to 

 get that information. But, certainly, I have produced as fine 

 animals in that way, according to my best judgment, as by 

 any other method I have followed. 



Mr. Flint. It may be well to state, in order that those 

 who have not thought very much on the subject, may 

 understand it, that the method of inbreeding, to which Dr. 

 Sturtevant alludes, is not what would be called very close 

 inbreeding, for the reason that a son has only half the blood 

 of his mother, and a daughter has only half the blood of her 

 father. The closest inbreeding would be a full sister and 

 brother. That would be, of course, rather a risky operation 

 to undertake. Mr. Dillon, of the Agricultural College, may 

 be able to state a fact, — which is only an isolated fact, to be 

 sure, but it has a bearing upon the method to which Mr. 

 Stone has alluded, — that is, the breeding of a son upon his 

 mother. The result in one case has proved very unsatis- 

 factory. I do not see why it should. I think Mr. Stone is 

 right in what he has said, and, so far, he has seen no ill 

 result ; but in the case to which I refer, for some reason, the 

 result was not satisfactory. 



Mr. Dillon. I do not attach to the fact to which Mr. 

 Flint has alluded, any inference against inbreeding. In that 

 case, a Brittany cow — a very excellent animal, and, certainly, 

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