EUGENICS AND EUTHENICS 261 



5. The Sociological Aspect of Eugenics 

 Human society, as its exists in these United States in this 

 twentieth century, is complex. How complex it is, is in- 

 dicated in some degree by the vast nmnber of laws that have 

 been passed and represent the rules of that society. These 

 rules apply generally to all people aUke. They tacitly assume 

 that all people are aUke; while admitting that there are some 

 who are different and who constitute special classes that 

 must be specially provided for. These special classes are of 

 eugenic interest. Although well defined at one extreme, at 

 the other they merge with the great mass of the population. 

 The individuals composing these special classes are not in all 

 respects distinct, but rather they are more or less pecuhar 

 in one or more respects. In fact the special classes which 

 are the concern of the boards and associations of charities 

 and correction consist of individuals with one or more traits 

 that are more or less disturbing to the social organization. 

 These individuals, or rather their traits — cause a disturbance 

 and an expense of time and money quite out of proportion 

 to their numbers in the community — they seem to be the 

 main hindrance to our social progress. Moreover, their 

 numbers seem to be increasing, hence it is a pressing need 

 of the day to find out what is the cause and cure of defect- 

 iveness and delinquency. 



The diversity of answers to such inquiry shows the depth of 

 our helplessness. Mental defectiveness is ascribed to mal- 

 nutrition of the fetus, to asphyxiation of the child during 

 the labor of birth, to adenoids, to infection with venereal 

 disease— despite the fact that (excepting mongohsm) it 

 usually occurs only in famiUes with the defect on both 

 sides of the house. Likewise criminahty is ascribed to pov- 

 erty, to bad example, to bad or inadequate education, despite 

 the fact of incorrigibility. Even when there is some relation 

 between the alleged cause and the result one feels that all 



