284 C. G. CAMPBELL 



generally high standard of physical soundness and perfection will not still 

 be essential to its best prospects. 



In positing intellectual quality as the factor of prime importance, it is 

 sometimes assumed to have an inverse incidence to physical quality. The 

 occurrence of genius, for example, is popularly linked with a frail body. 

 This however has been shown to be erroneous, as the incidence of genius 

 and of high intellectual quality is no greater in physically weak than in 

 physically strong individuals. It is however true that physically strong 

 individuals tend to possess a greater potential capacity for effort and certain 

 temperamental advantages over those who are physically weak. It is a 

 common observation in educational institutions that those who are phys- 

 ically strong and sound as a rule outstrip their weaker companions. Hence 

 a high standard of physical strength and soundness always carries positive 

 advantages and no disadvantages. In two competing racial groups of 

 equal potential mental capacity but of unequal physical soundness, there 

 can be little question of which would have the better prospect of survival. 



Undeniably the prime and most important of physical qualities requisite 

 for racial survival is the general physical ability of the female element of a 

 population to bear offspring normally and in sufficient numbers; and it is 

 equally unquestionable that this stands at the head of demographic prob- 

 lems. Nature solves this problem in wild species in an unerring manner by 

 a rigid natural selection. Females that are in any essential manner de- 

 ficient in this respect succumb, and their weaknesses are not transmitted and 

 perpetuated. As a consequence the reproductive ability and capacity of 

 the surviving females in wild species tends to maintain its standard of 

 adequacy, and a deficiency in individuals is of uncommon occurrence. 

 Unless there is interference with the guidance of biological nature, it is only 

 extrinsic obstacles [that may menace reproduction in a species. 



It is to be observed that the more nearly the human species approximates 

 to the wild state, the more nearly is this condition attained. In the most 

 primitive tribes that we are able to observe, the women bear their offspring 

 with the minimum travail, the minimum necessity of assistance, and the 

 minimum traumatic complications. Consequently the maternal mortality 

 is low. As we ascend the cultural scale these factors all become less favor- 

 able, and the peak is reached in our own civilization. One of the most dis- 

 appointing things to discover is that with all the advance in medical 

 science, — in obstetric skill, pre-natal care, asepsis, trained nursing, and so 

 forth — and with a greatly reduced mortality in most disease, the maternal 

 mortality of child-bearing has not only had no such reduction in our civ- 

 ilization, but is greater now than it was a generation ago. 



