SELECTION OF SIRE. 20/ 



of the vexed problem than any of the others who have 

 attempted to reach it. 



Another theory is, that the influence of the previous 

 sire is due to maternal impression, consequently is purely 

 mental. 



This cannot be accepted. Puppies in utero are in 

 every sense parasites and therefore beyond such influ- 

 ence. Again, if the phenomena were due to maternal 

 impression all the members of a litter would likely be 

 affected, whereas as a rule only one member exhibits 

 influence of the previous sire. 



Still another theory is, practically, that developing pup- 

 pies in iitero modify the tissues and cells of the mother, 

 and such change is more or less permanent and affects 

 subsequent offspring. 



To believe this is to accept that a woman can be so 

 modified in her physical texture by the impress of her 

 husband, conveyed to her tlirough the growing fcetns, as to 

 stamp the children by a future husband with the individu- 

 ality of the former. Bearing in mind always that the 

 child in titero is simply a parasite, and that while the 

 developing tissues of the child may in a general way 

 be influenced by the mother's condition and by poisons 

 circulating in her blood, it is absurd to suppose that the 

 parasite ovum can have a transforming and metamorphos- 

 ing influence upon the already developed tissues of the 

 mother. Moreover, were this theory sound the influence 

 would be universally applicable instead of exceptional, as 

 it clearly is. Again, were the influence transmitted 

 through a change in the maternal make-up it would 

 affect all members of a litter, and not, as is usually 

 noted, only one or possibly two. 



This theory, therefore, is vague, unsatisfactory and 

 opposed to reason, and one might as well say that a hus- 



