ABNORMAL IMPRESSIONS. 255 



marks and maternal impressions, in the presence 

 of thousands of well authenticated cases, an hon- 

 est man should admit the facts and "reform his 

 creed." 



Perhaps about one person in two thousand has 

 some physical or mental defect that is the result 

 of an abnormal maternal impression. This being Abnormal 

 true, the great stress placed upon birth-marks by Impressions. 

 certain writers, urging mothers what to do and 

 what not to do, is, to say the least, an exaggera- 

 tion of this comparatively unimportant phase of 

 heredity. On the other hand, since they do occur, 

 as often as indicated, it is hardly consistent for 

 scientific men to flatly deny or to ridicule the 

 whole subject. 



If I merely desired to prove that abnormal im- 

 pressions do produce birth-marks, I might fill 

 several chapters with the recital of well authenti- 

 cated cases; but since it is my purpose to study 

 their cause and prevention and establish a basis 

 for experimental psychology, I shall simply give 

 a few cases that have come under my personal 

 observation. 



A Mrs. G was greatly frightened by a V 



large savage dog springing at her as she started 

 to enter a dark barn. In throwing her hands 

 down to resist the animal, she struck her limb. 

 Her babe, born some months thereafter, had the Frightened by 

 form of the vicious animal's face on the thigh, a *** 

 at the point where the mother's hand struck. The 

 form of the dog's face is slightly raised and is 

 covered with scattering canine hair, presenting 

 the same general appearance as the vicious ani- 

 mal. 



