100 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



minal variation in heredity, which variation, how- 

 ever, fits into the environment, or the animal mani- 

 festing it would perish and the tendency proceed 

 no farther. 



Mutilations, such as dehorning cattle, cutting 

 off dogs' tails, binding the feet of Chinese girls, 

 circumcision, ear and nose-boring among savages, 

 continued many generations, have had no influ- 

 ence upon offspring. It is conceded that any 

 modification that does not affect the germ cells 

 has no tendency to influence children. 



The popular belief that moral qualities are 

 hereditary is due to the fact largely that heredity 

 and environment are not often separated. These 

 two influences combined are usually able to repro- 

 duce the moral character of the parents. It is often 

 believed that children of drunken parents are pre- 

 disposed toward inebriety. This is a case rather 

 different from the transmission of moral traits. 

 The popular belief is probably not well substan- 

 tiated, and other factors than acquired traits are 

 involved. " Intemperate habits of parents may 

 be the expression of an inherited psychopathic 

 disposition, and it is this which is transmitted to 

 the offspring." Children of drunken parents 

 grow up in a drunkard 's home ; often are fed on 

 alcoholic drinks from infancy. Moreover, there 

 are facts of heredity that make credible the idea 

 that a toxin or anti-toxin in the blood of the father 

 may have its effects upon the child. Alcohol has 

 an effect upon the whole nervous constitution that 



