366 Life and Jjetters of Franch Galtmi 



Oravmr IUnet$m. Gout, rheunintigm, consumption, Hpitting of blood, struma (scrofula), 

 cancer (and other forms of tumour), bronchitis, a.sthnia, jxinilyNis (state whether of Ixitli legs 

 or of one side), epilejwy, insanity, lu^art Kliwase, dropsy of iitMloiiien, general dropsy (Hright's 

 diMMe), diabetes, stone, goitre, fistula, the peculiar liability to bleed seriously from slight 

 cttta, etc." 



It will be noted that Galton omits such thintjs as the tendencies to zymotic 

 diseases which undoubtedly run in families, or tiiose to hereditary eye diseases 

 such ivs cataract, retinitis pif/»icntosa, etc. He does state that malfbrmations 

 which are extremely hertnlitary should l>e included. 



Then follows a brief but useful list of sources from which family information 

 may be obtiiined and he concludes ivs follows: 



"Whatever may be the value of these i-esulte, the facts incidentally obtained during the 

 course of the inquiry will form a .separate document much prized by the family. The scientific 

 importance of each investigation will, however, be soon appreciated by the author of it, for bin 

 reaearches will lay bare many far-reaching biological bonds that tie his family into a connected 

 whole, whose existence was previously little suspected. Few, if any, have seriously studietl the 

 (acta of heredity without being impressed with the conviction that no man stands on an 

 isolated basis, but that he is a prolongation of his ancestry in no metaphorical sen.se, and 

 I shall be surprised if the compilation of these registers docs not extend tliis conviction very 

 widely." (p. 13.) 



We now turn to the Life- IliMorif Album. The firet edition ajipeart'd in 

 1884 and bears on the title-page the words: "Prepared by direction of the 

 Collective Investigation Committee of the British Medical Association. 

 Exlited by Francis Galton, F.R.S., Chairman of the Life-History Sub- 

 Committee." 



The original proposal seems to have been the return at fixed periods of 

 the records in the Album to the Collective Investigation Committee. I think 

 this proposal was not carried out, for I know of no publication of results from 

 Life-History Album data ever being issued. The foreword to the owner of 

 the book concludes with Galton's words from the Fortnightly lieview article 

 of January, 1882 (see our p. 358). 



"The life-histories of our relatives are, therefore, more instructive to us than those of 

 strangers ; they are especially able to forewarn and to encourage us, for they are prophetic 

 of our own futures." 



The second edition of this work appeared in 1902 and there has recently 

 been a reissue by the Cambridge University Press for the Galton Laboratory 

 Publications. The second edition bears the sub-title "Tables and Charts for 

 recording the Development of Body and Mind from Childhood upwards with 

 Introductory Remarks. Rearranged by Francis Galton, D.C.L., F.R.S." 



In the prefjice to the second edition Galton refers to the enthusiasm in 

 the production of the work of the late Dr Mahomed, who had firmly persuaded 

 himself that a work of the kind would be favoured and promoted by medical 

 men throughout the country ; and this idea led to its being produced under 

 the auspices of the Collective Investigation Committee of the British Medical 

 Association. Dr Mahomed 



" made it a further condition tliat my name should appear a.s e<litor, I Ixiing known at that 

 time to be much occupied in such matters. To this I agreed with some reluctance, for I wished 

 to Uar the entire responsibility or none at all. So a small uommittoe of medical men was 



