28o A STUDY IN HEREDITY 



Comments by Dr Laing GORDON. 



8. I cannot agree that "the capacity for resisting temptation 

 to drink to excess " is of any importance in relation to heredity, 

 seeing that, " as a rule, men drink in proportion to their desires " 

 {see 9) ; surely it is the rule that man exercises his will to satisfy, 

 and not to oppose, his desires. 



12. While convinced of the truth of this important clause, 

 I am of opinion that the Committee might have made research, 

 with advantage, to ascertain for itself further facts bearing upon 

 this subject. 



13. This is a vague clause, and assumes much while proving 

 nothing. There is no proof that nations are temperate as nations 

 from any other cause than the survival of those with the least 

 capacity for enjoying the sensations produced by indulgence in 

 alcoholic drinks. 



I think that the meaning of some of the clauses might be 

 made clearer by a revision of the construction. 



H. Laing Gordon. 



Co7nments by Dr Archdall Reid. 



The Report is true in the main, but it contains some clauses 

 which rob the truth of its clearness and emphasis. As a result, 

 the Report is defective, both as a statement of fact and as a 

 literary production, and to that extent will fail to carry conviction. 



At the end of paragraph VI. it is stated that the view that 

 parental drinking injures the child was not strongly " supported 

 by any evidence tendered to the Committee.'' By that it is 

 implied that some evidence was tendered. As a fact, none was 

 tendered which I could accept ; there was nothing to indicate that 

 the usual confusion between post and propter hoc had not once 

 again occurred. On the other hand, overwhelming evidence was 



