66 



A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE 



The diagram shows the increase of the family in each generation within the 

 investigated district. In generation V are already found 888 individuals, which 



is evidence of an unusual vita* 

 DIAGRAM i ity< Generations VI and VII 



INCREASE OF THE FAMILY IS EACH GENERATION. 



are, as we find, much fewer in 

 number, amongst other things 

 because they are not yet com* 

 plete. Future investigations of 

 the family, if such ever take place, 

 will show if any of these gene* 

 rations become so numerous as 

 the fifth was. It is possible, 

 that this will not be the case, 

 because the family is now poorer 

 than formerly, and much dete* 

 riorated, circumstances which in 

 no small degree tend to disperse 

 the same, that is to say, cause 

 removal, and emigration. Farmers 

 who must leave their old home* 



steads, have generally no desire to remain in their native district. 



In addition to this, nativity in many places in this district has decreased. 

 In all probability other more robust families settle down, and perhaps are 



in their turn supplanted later on. We know very little of this social*biologic 



process: development of families, their life, struggles, and ultimate decline. It is 



like an unknown country, which must be explored. 



We now pass on to investigate more closely the pathological conditions of 

 the family, by aid of tables 3 and 4 which give an essential idea thereof. We 

 find (table 3) that amongst 1,909 progeny, not less than 394 (= 20.6 %) were 

 defective, in some way, 150 (= 7.9 %~) of these were very defective. Amongst 



TABLE 3. 



THE DIVISION OF THE MATERIAL INTO DIFFERENT GENERATIONS. 



