THE INHERITANCE OF FAMILY TRAITS 85 



alluded to. Despite the conservatism of the courts, despite 

 the fact that scientifically ascertained general principles usu- 

 ally weigh less than precedent, the treatment of the criminal 

 has made progress during the past century. It is stated that 

 ''Mackintosh speaking in the English House of Commons so 

 late as March 2, 1819 said 'I hold in my hand a list of those 

 offenses which at this moment are capital, in number two 

 hundred and twenty three' " (Johnston, 1887, p. 106). Phys- 

 ical severity, frequent floggings, chaining to the floor, unsani- 

 tary surroundings, insufficient and improper food were the 

 elements of a treatment by a society that was exasperated 

 into severity by the realization of its impotent ignorance- 

 Only slowly has the idea of hospitals for insane criminals 

 spread; but though several states maintain great institutions 

 of this sort they stiU receive a quite insufficient proportion 

 of those convicted of crime. 



A few pictures of the youth with hereditary criminal in- 

 stincts may properly be quoted here. 



1. 0. L., female, father and mother both intemperate 

 and degenerate, and always on the verge of pauperism. The 

 patient is cruel to animals and children; thus, she put a cat 

 on a red hot stove, threw knives and stones at playmates, 

 wished to have a small baby to strike and kick; and helped 

 drown a comrade in a bath tub. She is very untruthful and 

 a chronic thief; has fits of temper when she screams, tears 

 clothing, and pifUs out her hair; is in a state of chronic re- 

 bellion against the constituted authorities, a trouble maker 

 and inciter of mischief. She talks fluently, is sly and cunning, 

 vain as to her personal appearance and boastful to attract 

 attention. Age 16, This person has committed the crimes 

 of wanton cruelty to animals, petty larceny, truancy, assault 

 and murder. She is a moral imbecile. 



2. 0. K., male, entered a school for feeble-minded at 9, at 

 the time of the description is 11. He has a bright, knowing, 



