218 HEREDITARY CHARACTERS 



nately lunatics seem to be frequently very prolific. Until 

 quite recent times lunatics were treated as criminals. They 

 were kept in chains and under most uncomfortable and 

 insanitary conditions. Such treatment made them worse, 

 and it can but rarely have happened that any lunatic im- 

 proved sufficiently to be set at liberty. At the present time, 

 we have gone to the opposite extreme. Lunatics are kept 

 under the best possible conditions, and are treated by 

 specialists. Indeed, in comparison with the sane pauper, 

 the mad pauper lives in great luxury. Not only this, but 

 as soon as lunatics improve up to a certain point, they are 

 set at liberty, and frequently have children. Thus the 

 present effect of civilisation is to preserve the mentally 

 unfit who were formerly eliminated. 



Lunacy and mental deficiency must be regarded more or 

 less as physical variations from the mean of the race. The 

 brain is so complicated an organ, that a very slight variation 

 would produce the most marked results. These cases must 

 therefore be considered in a different light to other diseases 

 and deformities. 



Many misconceptions with regard to the transmission .of 

 disease are prevalent. In the case of diseases caused by 

 micro-organisms, the ova or sperms may be infected even 

 before fertilisation takes place. In such cases the micro- 

 organisms enter the gametes from the body or soma of the 

 parent. Infection may also take place after fertilisation, but 

 before birth. 1 These cases are not cases of transmission of a 

 disease at all, they are cases of acquirements. 



The very common statement that the tendency to con- 

 tract a disease that is caused by some species of micro- 

 organism is hereditary, is putting the cart before the horse. 

 For instance, we as a race have gained a new character in 

 relation to the tubercle bacillus. In comparison with races 



and until the State is able to devise some suitable means for the permanent care 

 and control of sucli persons the ranks of the insane will continue to be filled and 

 to burden the ratepayer." (Annual Report to the County Council, by H. W Lewis, 

 Medical Superintendent of the Kent County Asylum, 1910.) 

 1 E.g. so-called hereditary or congenital syphilis. 



