PHYSICAL DETERIORATION. 



many cases belong to the feebler and less resisting of 

 the community, the race will not become more robust. 

 In fact, it is probable that, as a race/we shall thereby 

 suffer, for the banishment of the disease will enable 

 the feebler members of the community to live, and in 

 larger proportion contribute to the progeny of the 

 future. That this is actually the case will shortly be 

 pointed out. 



Leprosy an Exterminator of the Unhealthy. 



But there are other microbes which, in addition to 

 the production of blood changes, have a profound and 

 lasting effect upon many of the tissues of the body. 

 Such are the microbes of leprosy and syphilis. 



The terrible ravages that the microbe of leprosy is 

 capable of effecting are appreciated only by those 

 who in Norway or elsewhere have visited those death- 

 houses now fortunately to be found in but one or two 

 parts of Europe. Yet, even in this case, strange to say, 

 the germ cells do not seem to be reached by this loath- 

 some disease, and it is not transmitted from parent to 

 child. 1 A disease of mediaeval, not of modern, 

 Europe, we need not discuss its action on racial 

 change more than to say that, hideous as are its 

 aspects, it must be looked upon as a friend to human- 

 ity ; for, while the microbe of typhoid fever will attack 



1 Report of Leprosy Commission in India, 1890-1. 



