iv PREFACE 



recognized. In any case it will not be amiss to point out the 

 fundamental difference between the modern eugenical and 

 the contrasted or ''euthenical" standpoints. As a matter 

 of fact the eugenic teachings that we think of as new are 

 very old. Modern medicine is responsible for the loss of 

 appreciation of the power of heredity. It has had its atten- 

 tion too exclusively focussed on germs and conditions of 

 life. It has neglected the personal element that helps 

 determine the course of every disease. It has begotten a 

 wholly impersonal hygiene whose teachings are false in so 

 far as they are laid down as universally applicable. It has 

 forgotten the fundamental fact that all men are created 

 bound by their protoplasmic makeup and unequal in their 

 powers and responsibihties. 



As indicated, it is the aim of this book to incite to further 

 investigation. Some space is devoted to the eugenics move- 

 ment — a movement which it is hoped will, in this country, 

 for the present, take mainly the form of investigation. To 

 this movement the Eugenics Record Office (a branch of the 

 work of the American Breeders' Association) is dedicated. 

 The Eugenics Record Office wishes to get in touch with all 

 persons interested in the eugenics movement. It invites 

 every person who is willing to do so to record his heritage 

 and place the record on file at the Record Office. ''Drop a 

 postal card" at once to the Eugenics Record Office, Cold 

 Spring Harbor, New York, and ask for the blank schedule 

 they furnish. It is understood that all data deposited in 

 this way will be held as confidential and be used only for 

 scientific purposes. The data received are carefully pre- 

 served in a fireproof vault and indexed so as to be avail- 

 able to the student. Specifically, the Record Office seeks 

 pedigrees of families in which one or more of the following 

 traits appear: — short stature, tallness, corpulency, special 

 talents in music, art, literature, mechanics, invention and 



