328 THE PRESENT EVOLUTION OF MAN — MENTAL 



traits acquired under the influence of alcohol are also 

 not transmissible. But as regards the evolution that 

 has been produced by alcohol, just as regards the 

 evolution that has resulted from disease, we have 

 abundant reason to conclude on a posteriori grounds 

 also, that no part of it has resulted from the accumu- 

 lation of acquired traits; for were the acquired effects 

 of alcoholism transmissible, i. e. were that part of the 

 craving for alcohol, that increase of it which results 

 from the indulgence in the poison, transmissible, then 

 races that have had the most extended experience of 

 alcohol should, of course, crave most for it, and be the 

 most drunken. The contrary, however, is the case, for 

 races that have long been familiar with it are con- 

 spicuously temperate, whereas races which have had 

 little or no familiarity with it are conspicuously intem- 

 perate when opportunity is afforded for indulgence. 



The evolution against alcohol has therefore resulted 

 solely from the accumulation of inborn variations through 

 the survival of the fittest. To prevent any misappre- 

 hension it should be noted, however, that alcohol, like 

 disease, has not directly, but indirectly only, been the 

 cause of evolution. It has been a factor of elimination, 

 not, of survival. , Those individuals whom it has greatly 

 affected have tended, other things equal, to perish and 

 leave no offspring, whereas those whom it has affected 

 little or not at all, have tended to survive and continue 

 the race. In this it differs from a beneficial agency 

 such as food, which, since it is a factor of survival, not 

 of elimination, is a more immediate cause of evolution. 



Even more than disease alcohol has been supposed 

 to furnish a case of the .transmission of acquired traits. 

 Among the vulgar, who commonly repudiate the theory 

 of evolution, the belief is universal that an indulgence 

 in alcohol by the parent tends to result in a craving for 

 it in the offspring greater than would otherwise arise. 



