

Control of Heredity: Eugenics 295 



to the "Mayflower," it is incredible that all these should be re- 

 duced to a company no larger than that which came over on that 

 famous ship. 



Broman points out that most noble families of Europe die out 

 (probably the direct male line only is meant) after 100 to 250 

 years and generally do not live beyond the third generation. The 

 same is true of the families of great scholars, artists and states- 

 men. Possibly one cause of such declining fertility may be found 

 in too great brain activity, but there is no doubt that in many in- 

 stances it is due to luxurious living. On the other hand bodily' 

 fatigue and simple living favor fertility in both animals and men. 

 Wild animals brought into captivity where they have comfortable 

 quarters and an unwonted abundance of rich food are usually 

 infertile; and the conditions of life of the upper classes of society 

 are almost as unfavorable to fertility as is captivity with wild ani- 

 mals. It is evident that if we had fewer luxuries we could have, 

 and could afford to have, more children. 



But animals in captivity may gradually become adapted to their 

 new conditions so as to become fertile, and there is evidence that 

 man also may undergo a slow adaptation in this regard to condi- 

 tions of high civilization. Some royal families of Europe go back 

 six or eight hundred years, and in general if a family survives 

 the new conditions of affluence and luxury for more than three 

 generations it may become more or less adapted to the new con- 

 ditions. 



Birth Control. — No eugenical reform can fail to take account 

 of the fact that the decreasing birth rate among intelligent people 

 is a constant menace to the race. We need not "fewer and better 

 children" but more children of the better sort and fewer of the 

 worse variety. There is great enthusiasm today on the part of 

 many childless reformers for negative eugenical measures; the 

 race is to be regenerated through sterilization. But unfortunately 

 this reform begins at home among those who because of good 

 hereditary traits should not be infertile. Sterility is too easily 

 acquired;, what is not so easily brought about is the fertility of 



