BEEEDING IN-AND-IN, H^ 



relatives is fatal — fatal not only to the physical organization, 

 but to the mind among hmnan beings, and even to the 

 instinct among brutes. 



It was stated in the preceding Chapter that when 

 hereditary disease or a predisposition toward it, exists ir 

 either parent, there is always danger that it will be trans 

 mitted to offspring, and- that if the disease or predispositioi 

 exists in both parents, that danger is greatly increased. I 

 the parents be nearly related to each other,, the danger o 

 transmission is virtually converted into certainty, with ai 

 aggravation of the conditions and increased incurableness ii 

 the malady. Consequently when mankind degenerated fron 

 their original physical perfection — when disease entered th- 

 world and predispositions to it became engrafted in th 

 human system — the Divine Lawgiver made cohabitatioi 

 within certain degrees of aflSnity a crune by prohibitior 

 But if it was evil in itself {malum in se) why was it no 

 prohibited to the immediate descendants of our first parents 

 and why were not unrelated human beings created to avoi( 

 its necessity ? The peopling of the world in the secon- 

 generation at least, was necesscurUy , carried on betwee: 

 brothers and sisters, the closest possible relations. Can it b 

 supposed that, under the direct ordination of Omnipotenct 

 the human race originated in a crime against nature — in a 

 extreme violation of the fundamental laws which regulat 

 physical and mental well being? 



The brute, it is fair to assmjie, was started in its course c 

 procreation equally unrestricted, for it would understand n 

 prohibition; and it was created with habits which mus 

 constantly and necessarily lead to cohabitation and breedin 

 between the nearest relatives. Some varieties of birds, lik 

 the dove, are hatched in pairs, one of each ; sex, and wit 

 habits which would render the separation of those pairs, fo 

 procreation, the exception instead of the rule. Some varietie 

 of quadrupeds, like the lion, are born and brought up i 

 isolated families ; and having no aversion to breeding betwee 

 relatives, it would be most natural that those who thus liv 

 together should at maturity pair together. In herds c 

 elephants, wild horses, buffaloes, etc., particular male 

 dominate over the same herd for years, and make it thei 

 harem until they become enfeebled and are conquered b 

 some more youthful and more vigorous rival ^ probably 

 son — who in turn dominates, decays and gives place to 

 successor. In this course of things, the. father must b 



