92 HEREDITY 



CHAPTER XII 



HEREDITY AND "PHYSICAL DEGENERATION" 



Of late we have heard much of the " state of the 

 national physique " and " physical degeneration " or 

 " degeneracy." Royal Commissions have been 

 hinted at, and, in the course of time, some bright 

 statesman may even contemplate the advisability of 

 doing something to counteract a grave and increas- 

 ing evil. 



But it first behoves us clearly to understand what 

 the evil really is. The term " progressive degenera- 

 tion " has been largely used in the recent discussion 

 of this subject, and plainly contains a reference to 

 heredity as a factor in the problem. Even wise and 

 serious students have inclined to the popular view. 

 Dr. William Hall, of Leeds, for instance, who has 

 long worked at the subject, was at one time inclined 

 to believe that heredity, as shown in the difference 

 between the Jewish and Gentile children whom he 

 examined, might be an important factor in the pro- 

 duction of this so-called " physical degeneration." 

 But Dr. Hall has now entirely altered this opinion, 

 and his change of view may be regarded as extremely 

 significant. Dr. Hall found that the infinitely 

 superior feeding and environment and parental care in 

 general of the Jewish children abundantly accounted 

 for their great physical superiority to their Gentile 

 playmates. 



Now if it can be demonstrated that " physical de- 

 generation" is a misnomer as applied to the poor 



