158 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



hereditary defect of mind and body which, stunted growth, 

 aided by artificial modes of life, are almost sure to entail. Un- 

 til within a few years, a wise and salutary law was in opera- 

 tion in the British Isles, which interdicted marriage until the 

 candidates had arrived at the age of twenty-one ; that law has 

 been set aside, and consequently the mass of the population of 

 the present day will not bear comparison with that of the past. 



One safeguard, therefore, against stunted growth and ill- 

 health is to avoid a too early use of the reproductive func- 

 tion. And herein we are not safe, unless proper selections have 

 been made, and faulty animals or persons rejected. 



I am persuaded that if husbandmen of these United States 

 could all view this important matter in its right light, a very 

 decided improvement would soon be the result ; the subject 

 will, however, eventually command the attention of all. 



Many persons urge that the offspring of blood relatives are 

 weak, nervous, deficient in intellect, complete idiots, etc., etc. ; 

 and that further intercourse in the same direction only makes 

 bad worse ; these are facts which cannot be controverted, yet 

 the weakness, nervousness, etc., does not occur from the rela- 

 tionship which exists between the parties, but is the result of 

 their defective constitutions. Many of the "^ousin " marriages 

 are entered into without the least regard to the rational theory 

 of selection and rejection ; the question is one of interest not of 

 utility. These blood connections are consummated merely to 

 retain property in families, and to satisfy the caprices of doat- 

 ing parents, superannuated uncles, and disappointed maiden 

 aunts ; and thus many an idiotic, or emaciated sprig of aristoc- 

 racy, unites his destinies with a fashionable cousin the very 

 counterpart of himself, both inheriting family defects of pre- 

 cisely similar character. Should they be blessed (cursed rather) 

 with offspring, may we not expect a miniature of the originals ? 

 " Without due attention to avoiding disease, it" will increase in 

 the progeny." 



Among the human species, therefore, where the objects are 

 of such immense importance to present and future generations, 

 the principles of Selection and rejection are entirely overlooked ; 



