Selective Breeding 37 



Sir George Newman ^ makes the following 

 observation, — *'If we are to grow a sound and 

 healthy race of men we must begin where all 

 true breeding begins, at the source. If we per- 

 mif, ourselves to favor and provide for the un- 

 guided propagation of a population of poor phy- 

 sique or of persons marked from birth with the 

 stigmata of alcohol, venereal disease or mental 

 deficiency, we shall sooner or later discover that 

 we are building on false foundations, and with- 

 out taking sufficiently into our reckoning the 

 laws of heredity, of transmission, and of ante- 

 natal infection. ' ' 



It does not need a biologist to tell us that 

 reproduction will yield the best results when 

 parents are in the full vigor of life. They 

 should not be too young nor too old, although 

 these terms are often relative, as there are 

 very marked differences in individuals as re- 

 gards the phenomena of youth or age. Beyond 

 this it is difficult to lay down exact laws. With 

 reference to statutes regulating the age of 

 marriage, seventeen states have none, but in 



1 An Outline of the Practice of Preventive Medicine — Min- 

 istry of Health. 



