CHAPTER IV 



THE ROOTS OF EMPIRE 



The part played by malaria in the natural and political history 

 of man — The part played by consumption — The world's 

 greatest tragedy — The part played by disease in the fortunes 

 of Anglo-Saxons — The part played by disease in the fortunes 

 of other races — The building of an empire. 



Biologists have sought far and wide for evidence 

 in favour of and against the transmission of acquired 

 characters. All manner of unpleasant experiments, 

 generally difficult for the ordinary man to repeat, 

 have been made on all kinds of strange animals. 

 Guinea-pigs and white rats have been great 

 sufferers. Had the experimenters turned to man, 

 the proper study of mankind, their labours would 

 have been needless. Had they considered the 

 non-transmission of the effects of disease and sur- 

 gical operations, a useless chapter in vivisection 

 would not have been written. Had they considered 

 the aptitude of man's physical and mental acquire- 

 ments, and their non-transmission, they would not 

 have asked for proofs more convincing. 



