356 Life mid Letters of Francis Galton 



Let me say exactly how affairs stand. (1) Eugenics Laboratory Memoir No. V has gone to press. 

 It is on the Inheritance of Vision and on the Influence of Environment on Eyesight. It is a 

 heavy bit of work and would have been stronger had we only been able to collect data ad hoc 

 of an accurate kind. But I think it definitely shows what ophthalmologists have doubted — the 

 inheritance of the various classes of eyesight, and further that environment, notably school 

 environment, is not the most important factor in shortsightedness. (2) Resemblance of nephew 

 and niece to uncle and aunt — will go to press in the next few weeks. (3) Brainweights of normal 

 and insane. This took a good many weeks' work, but the results are inconclusive. The data were 

 sent by Crichton-Browne, but they lack several needful points, e.g. information as to special 

 type of insanity, and the records filled in at Wakefield from the Asylum Case Books are not 

 accepted by C.-B. I am doubtful whether the results should be published, except to induce some 

 one to start de itovo. (4) Eugenics Laboratory Publication VI. Occupation of Father and Mother 

 in relation to the Physical Health of school-children. This is based on 20,000 Glasgow returns 

 provided by the Scottish Education Office. It will be ready by Xmas. (5) Eugenics Laboratory 

 Publication VII. Influence of physique (nutrition, tonsils, teeth, glands, etc.) on mental capacity 

 of children. Data for 30,000 London School-children from County Council. This also will be 

 ready by Xmas. (6) Treasury: 10 plates are now engraved, or ready for engraver. I hope to 

 have Part I out this month. This represents the last 18 months of work, and I want you to 

 see that the staff have been working really well, but that these heavy bits of research do not 

 come lightly to an end. Our not publishing anything for a year must not be taken as a sign of 

 inanition. 



By the by I got a few days ago about 50 folio sheets of pedigree and accounts of the 

 Lushington family! V. L. had asked a nephew to prepare it, but had not written to tell me 

 about his having done so. We have already some 20 pedigrees of distinguished families, with 

 perhaps 200 individuals in each. They will have to go on folding sheets, they are so gigantic. 



Nettleship has just found two albino dogs — brother and sister. We are now going to try 

 and discover whether we can create a race of albino dogs from these two. There have only been 

 very vague rumours of such things hitherto. They are from their photographs very beautiful 

 beasts, and I hope not too delicate to survive. 



I trust the winter quarters are going to be a success. Let me hear how you go on and what 

 problem you are turning over. Affectionately, K. P. 



I have nine biometric research students this term and my new Laboratory is full. It is the 

 first time I have had more students than I want on this side. A man came this afternoon for 

 admission wanting to do research work, and I took quite a lordly tone with him and told him 

 to go away for a fortnight and write a paper and I would take him if it was good enough for 

 publication. I have never been able before to pick and choose postgraduate workers — and this 

 man was a Cambridge wrangler! 



7, Well Road, Hampstead, N.W. November 30, 1908. 



My dear Francis Galton, I want to send you a hurried line to say that I hear from all 

 sides that Heron did exceedingly well at the Eugenics Education Society the other night. 

 I really think he ought to give a course of lectures on Eugenics next term and that it would do 

 him and the subject good. I feel sure he has a lot in him and only wants to be made to feel more 

 confidence in himself. I shall make an effort to hear Miss Elderton on Wednesday week. Can 

 you send me a line as to the enclosed difference in the Galton pedigree and that of the big Darwin 

 pedigree? Is it possible that James K — M — had issue that died early? 



I am sorry to hear about your cold, but I expect that the weather will be more fixed this 

 next month, and that a fixed temperature is what we all need. 



I have got Part I of the Treasury to Press and I think my talk at the Royal Society of 

 Medicine recently will help it forward. I hope you won't think Part I too medical, but I want 

 if possible to bring the medicals in the first place into line. Now one more point, do you know 

 the P — s or anybody connected with them ? There is a very singular inheritance in their family, 

 which they keep screened and I should like to get some clues if it were possible. 



Yours always affectionately, Karl Pearson. 



I was at Oxford last week, going through mice-work. Mrs Weldon comes up to work for 

 a fortnight in my laboratory and we hope to get clear on some points. The medal for the prize 

 is in hand. 



