114 THE FAMILY AND THE NATION 



unsoundness of body or mind in either of the two 

 pedigrees given above. 



Two pedigrees will now be given to illustrate 

 another feature of the problem before us, namely, 

 the partial extinction and lowering of the vitality 

 and ability of families by the introduction of an 

 unsound strain, whether the unsoundness be of body 

 or mind. 



In considering Pedigree III. it must be said that the 

 four individuals marked * each came of able, sound, 

 and fertile stock. But the value of these three factors 

 was almost entirely destroyed by marriage into the 

 unfortunate family whose characteristics are under 

 examination, in which unsoundness of body and mind 

 are both manifested freely, the first quality taking, as 

 one form, a high rate of infant mortality. 



Another short pedigree may be studied profitably 

 as illustrating the effect of marriages of different 

 varieties on a fairly homogeneous, sound, able stock. 

 Here we find that the specially marked ability of 

 the eldest and youngest members was in one case 

 rendered sterile, and in the other case crossed with un- 

 soundness that seriously diminished its effective value. 

 The interest of this pedigree would be greatly increased 

 if either the first or fourth member had chosen as a 

 mate a fertile individual of marked ability. It seems 

 probable that a family of unusually high ability would 

 have resulted from such a union. As it is, the first 

 group lost solidarity and position owing to various 

 peculiarities of mind and body, the second group 

 distinctly moved downward in the social scale, while 



