CHAPTER X 
EUGENICS 
Eucenics is defined as ‘ the study of agencies under 
social control that may improve or impair the racial 
qualities of future generations, either physically or 
mentally.’ Sir Francis Galton, the pioneer of this 
study, may well be regarded as one of the foremost 
figures in recent science. His claim to this regard is 
based upon a pre-eminence in many different branches 
of knowledge—a claim which those to whom his work 
is as yet unknown will find substantiated with all 
becoming modesty in his recently-published ‘ Memories 
of My Life.’ Much of Galton’s work in other fields 
may be forgotten, overshadowed as it is by his founda- 
tion of the science we are about to describe. It will 
be for future generations to discover that niche in the 
temple of fame which is fitting for the man who first 
pointed out a feasible direction in which humanity 
might set about its own improvement, instead of 
resting content in the vain expectation of being im- 
proved vicariously. 
We have neither the mathematical equipment, nor 
have we here the space, to enter into the statistical 
inquiries upon which Galton’s conclusions are mainly 
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