Page Twelve 



When the term "eugenics" was first used by Francis Galton, in 

 1883, he defined it as the "study of agencies under social control that 

 may improve or impair the racial qualities of future generations, either 

 physically or mentally." The question has been raised in several 

 countries as to whether the world war has not so depleted the finest 

 racial stocks that they are in danger of extinction. It is therefore very 

 appropriate that a second congress of eugenics should be held at this 

 time. 



According to the preliminary announcement, the Congress will be 

 divided into four sections, of which the first will be concerned with the 

 results of research in the field of pure genetics in animals and plants, 

 and with the study of human heredity. The second section will consider 

 factors which influence the human family, and their control. In this 

 connection will be brought forward facts of improved and of unimproved 

 families and of the persistence, generation after generation, of the best 

 as well as the w^orst characteristics. In the third section will be presented 

 the topic of human racial diiTerences, with the sharp distinction between 

 racial characteristics and the unnatural associations often created by 

 political and national boundaries. Racial mixtures will be considered 

 in relation to human history. Also the topics of racial differences in 

 disease and psychology will he taken up. The fourth section will discuss 

 eugenics in relation to the state, to society and to education. It will 

 include studies on certain practical applications of eugenic research and 

 on the value of such findings to morals, to education, to history, and to 

 the various social problems and movements of the day. 



The announcement also states : "It will be the design of the Congress 

 to advocate no revolutionary changes, but to discuss the whole subject 

 of pure and applied eugenics fairly and temperately in such a manner as 

 will make clear the beneficent effects of the application of eugenic stand- 

 ards among men and women, as w^e have long since learned to apply 

 them to the improvement of races of animals and plants. The spread of 

 eugenic principles must be through education of proper sentiment con- 

 cerning the responsibility of parenthood. In a world where artificial 

 civilization has interfered with the order of nature there is need for the 

 revival of eugenic ideals in marriage. 



" In each .section the Congress will present carefully worked out facts 

 and the immediate and practical conclusions to which they lead. Special 

 stress will be laid on the results of experimental and statistical research. 

 The importance of the intellectual, sociological, and economic aspects 



