THE CULTIVATOR. 
169 
« WALKER ON INTERMARRIAGE.” 
A thorough bred man! An improved woman! (is 
there not a savor of blasphemy in this last implied pos¬ 
sibility ?) are expressions to which the public ear has 
not yet become accustomed; yet from present indica¬ 
tions, they will ere long become familiar as household 
words. The human races will be classified in “Herd 
Books;” volumes will be written to develop the princi¬ 
ples of physical perfectibility in men and women; and 
itinerant lecturers will find in it a source of gain, equal¬ 
led only by the high mysteries of Phrenology and Ani¬ 
mal Magnetism. Unlike these sciences, however, the 
branch of natural science under discussion, has some¬ 
thing in it directly tangible ; and as the means of im¬ 
provement, of which it is proposed that men shall avail 
themselves, are shared in common with the domestica¬ 
ted races of animals, the influence of the projected sys¬ 
tem has been, or may be. readily submitted to the test 
of actual experiment. 
There can be no doubt that so far as his physical 
properties are concerned, in his modes of propagation, 
nutrition, growth, and the general formation of physical 
character, man is strictly and purely an animal. With 
that which constitutes his peculiar glory and excellence, 
the immortal mind,—the subject under discussion has 
nothing to do farther than the reflex influence of the 
body on the mind is to be taken into consideration. In 
the development of his bodily powers; in the obviating 
the tendency to deterioration ; in counteracting the causes 
that promote hereditary debility and disease ; in short, 
on all the points that strengthen, develop, improve and 
perfect the physical man, and give beauty of form and 
goodness of constitution, man is to be treated as an ani¬ 
mal. 
We indeed imagine it will be found rather more diffi¬ 
cult to carry out the system of improving the race in 
man, than it has been in animals; passions and prefer¬ 
ences, inclinations and volitions, in the first case are to be 
encountered, which do not exist, or are more manageable, 
in the last; still this cannot furnish an argument against 
the improvement of animals, or the animal part of man. 
Lawrence long since observed, that “ if men, in the af¬ 
fair of perpetuating the race, were as much under man¬ 
agement as some animals are in the exercise of their 
procreative functions, an absolute ruler might accom¬ 
plish in his dominions almost any idea of the human 
form.” No monarch has>, however, dared so far to inter¬ 
fere with the natural rights of man, as the above sup¬ 
position would imply; yet accident has furnished the 
strongest of evidence that the physical conformation or 
personal qualities of the human race, are governed by 
the same laws that predominate in the animal. As this 
subject is only incidental to the main object of this pa¬ 
per, a single instance in proof must suffice. It is well 
known that the Fredericks of Prussia, have had a ma¬ 
nia for tall men, and that the regiments of guards have 
for years been selected with reference to this point. In 
the favorite regiment, there is not a man under seven 
feet in height. These regiments are quartered in the 
city of Potsdam, and have been for fifty years. Forster, 
an accurate observer, speaking of this fact says: 
“ A great number of the present inhabitants of that place, 
are of a very high stature, which js more especially striking 
in the numerous gigantic women. This certainly is owing 
to the connexions and intermarriages of these tall men with 
the females of that city.” 
We have said that volumes would be written on this 
topic; and one that may be considered the first of the 
multitude to be called forth, is now lying before us, in 
the book the title of which is placed at the head of 
this article. It is idle to deny that Dr. Walker has here 
given to the public an interesting volume, and one which 
will find an extensive perusal. Some of the views he 
has presented are novel, both in their announcement 
and application, and should they be eventually sustain¬ 
ed, will prove of great service. We think, however, 
there is too much charlatanry for a book of science; 
too much quackery for a university bred M. D.; and, 
notwithstanding the care of the American editor, who 
has evidently expunged some of the most offensive pas¬ 
sages, and clothed others in less exceptionable language, 
too many passages bordering on indelicacy for a book 
intended for popular reading. This latter defect is, 
however, probably unintentional, and rather belonging 
to the nature of the subjects treated, than arising from 
any disposition to offend the feelings of any. 
In his development of the laws that govern the in¬ 
crease of the human race, and in establishing his prin¬ 
ciples for the physical improvement of mankind, Dr. 
Walker has drawn largely from well established facts 
in the breeding of domestic animals; and in return has 
applied what he considers a new view of an original and 
fundamental law of organization, to the explanation of 
many difficulties inherent in the commonly received 
systems of breeding. For ourselves, though we do not 
consider the Dr.’s “ philosophy of crosses” perfectly sat¬ 
isfactory; yet such is the importance of a correct under¬ 
standing of the matter to every breeder of animals, and 
such the extent of application that may be given to his 
primary laws, should they be found consonant with fact, 
that we propose giving them a pretty full statement and 
examination in our columns for the benefit of those who 
may not happen to obtain the volume it«elf. 
In the first place, Dr. Walker maintains that the phra¬ 
seology adopted by breeders, as well as the hypothesis 
on which it is founded, is both false and absurd. We 
hear breeders talk of half, three-fourths, or full-blooded 
animals, but Dr. Walker says this is all an error. 
“ According to this hypotltesis, the sire and dam equally im- 
art blood to their progeny: the filly produced by an Arabian 
orse and a cart mare has one half Arabian blood; the filly 
produced by the first one and an Arabian, has three-fourths 
blood,” &c. * * * “ Blood is certainly very easily divided ; 
and it serves the purpose of this hypothesis very well. But 
why is the blood the material pitched upon ? Chyle or urine 
would have answered the purpose just as well.” * * “The 
fact is, that blood is a groom’s term, invented by ignorant 
fellows who wanted to look knowing, and from these high au¬ 
thorities it has been borrowed, to the end of obscuring the 
whole history and truth of breeding.” 
In contradistinction of this theory of the sire and 
dam imparting their qualities to the progeny in the man¬ 
ner understood by the terms full, half, or three-fourths 
blood, Dr. Walker introduces the new theory that the 
organization of the progeny is by halves, one parent 
giving the locomotive, and the other the nutritive or vi¬ 
tal system, and this invariably, where the breeds or 
races are of the same variety. As on this asserted fact, 
the Dr.’s whole theory is based, we shall give his enun¬ 
ciation of it in full: 
“ I. Law of selection , where both parents are of the same va¬ 
riety. 
“ 1. Organs communicated by one Parent; the Anterior 
Series. 
“ In this case, one parent communicates the anterior part 
OF THE HEAD, THE OSSEOUS OR BONY PART OF THE FACE, THE 
forms of the organs of sense, (the external ear, under lip, 
lower part of the nose, and eye-brows being often modified,) 
AND THE WHOLE OF THE INTERNAL NUTRITIVE SYSTEM, (the Con¬ 
tents of the trunk or the thoraic and abdominal viscera, and 
consequently the form of the trunk itself in so far as that de¬ 
pends upon its contents. The resemblance to that parent is 
consequently found in the forehead and bony parts of the face, 
as the orbits, cheek-bones, jaws, chin and teeth, as well as the 
shape of the organs of sense, and the tone of the voice. 
“2. Organs communicated by the other Parent—the Poste¬ 
rior Series. 
“ THE OTHER PARENT COMMUNICATES THE POSTERIOR PART OF 
THE HEAD, THE CEREBEL, SITUATED WITHIN THE SKULL, IMMEDI¬ 
ATELY ABOVE ITS JUNCTION WITH THE BACK OF THE NECK, AND THE 
whole of the locomotive system, (the bones, ligaments, and 
muscles or fleshy parts.) 
“ The resemblance to that parent is consequently found in 
the back head, the few more movable parts of the face, as the 
external ear, under lip, lower part of the nose, eye-brows, and 
the external forms of the body, in so far as they depend on 
the muscles, as well as the form of the limbs, even to the fin¬ 
gers, toes, nails. 
“ Explanation of the accompaniment of particular organs, 
in each of these two series: 
“It is clear that the whole nutritive system, chiefly contained 
within the trunk, is naturally connected with the senses of taste 
and smell, which are the guides to the supply of its wants as 
to food and drink; and therefore the senses [organs of sense?] 
contained in the face and (consequently the observing facul¬ 
ties dependent on those faculties and contained in the fore¬ 
head,) ought to accompany the nutritive system. 
“It is equally clear, that the whole locomotive system is na¬ 
turally connected with the cerebel, or organ of will, on impulses 
from which all the motions of that system depend; and there¬ 
fore the back head containing both the organ of will, and the 
osterior masses of the brain—the seats of aversion or desire 
y which will is excited, ought to accompany the locomotive 
system, not merely in the greater masses of the figure, but 
even in the muscles of the face.” 
On this basis, Dr. Walker has constructed his theory 
of Anthropology, or the physical improvement of the 
human race ; and to illustrating and establishing it, both 
by reference to man and animals, and showing its agree¬ 
ment with undisputed facts, is the Doctor’s book de¬ 
voted. We leave its physiological and phrenological no¬ 
tions, to those whose business it is to settle such mat¬ 
ters, and shall only consider it as relating to the breed¬ 
ing or crossing of animals ; as it is clear, if animals are 
propagated by halves, and that invariably, our notions 
and practice on the subject of improving animals must 
undergo essential modifications. 
One of Dr. Walker’s illustrations of the fact that the 
organization is by halves, is derived from the Ancon or 
Otter breed of sheep. This breed was derived as fol¬ 
lows :—An ewe produced a male lamb of singular pro¬ 
portions and appearance. His offspring by other ewes 
had in many instances the same characters as himself, 
viz : short crooked legs and great length of body. Some 
few of this breed have been introduced into this coun¬ 
try, and were valued as unable to jump over any fence. 
The Doctor says:— 
“ When both parents are of the Otter breed, their descend¬ 
ants inherit their peculiar appearance and proportion of form. 
When an Ancon ewe is impregnated by a common ram, 
the increase resembles wholly either the ewe or the ram. The 
increase of a common ewe by an Ancon ram follows entirely 
the one or the other without blending any of the distinguish¬ 
ing peculiarities of each. Where common ewes have had 
twins by Ancon rams, one sometimes exhibits the complete 
marks and features of the ewe, the other those of the ram. 
The contrast has been rendered singularly striking, when one 
short legged and one long legged lamb, produced at a birth, 
have been seen sucking the dam at the same time. As the 
short and crooked legs, or those of opposite form here indicate 
the parent giving die locomotive system, it is evident that one 
of the twins derived it from one parent, and the other twin 
from_ the other parent—the parent not giving it, doubdess com¬ 
municating in each case, the vital or nutritive system.” 
As a proof that the horse, in a cross, communicates 
his skeleton, or the locomotive system, Dr. Walker gives 
the following from Mr. Knight, the President of the 
London Institution: 
“ I have obtained offspring,” says Mr. K. “ from Norwegian 
pony mares, and the London dray horse, of which the legs 
are perternaturally short, and the shoulders and body perterna- 
turally deep, and the animal of course perternaturally strong. 
I felt my way cautiously in making such experiments, fearing 
I might subject die females to a very painful death; but I 
found the size of the foetus to be governed by the size and 
breed of the female parent.” 
An instance of a similar cross is found in the history 
of the Virginia horse, though in this case the male pa¬ 
rent was a poney. It may be seen at the 22d page of 
the 13th volume of the American Farmer. The writer 
says: 
“ In breeding, if the male is smaller than the female, the 
progeny will be compact, heavy bodied animals, with well 
proportioned extremities, not the most beautiful, but beyond 
doubt the heartiest and toughest animals in the world. It is 
to be observed that this kind of stock is produced only when 
the difference between the size of the parents is not excessive. 
I knew an instance of a very small, heavy made Canadian 
poney, which was brought into this region, that ruined much 
stock. The poney paced very well, and became celebrated 
in consequence of having been ridden by a young lady of 
good family, who fell into a rage of love with an olu man of 
some consequence among us, and eloped with him to his ma¬ 
jesty’s North American possessions. The girl was pursued 
and came back on this pacing steed, whereby he became as 
notorious as the feat of his former owner. He was about 13 
hands high, and was let to many of the lamest mares in the 
country—many exceeding 16 hands in height. In the stock 
thus produced, all die peculiarities indicated above, were aggra- 
vatedin a most unsightly and absurd degree. They were long 
bodied, lizzard legged, and squat, with diminutive extremities 
and immense frames (trunks ?) resembling nothing so much 
as the kind of dog called a bufl-fiste.” 
In the case of Mr. Knight’s experiment, the legs were 
short like those of the female poney but large and thick 
like those of the male dray horse. In the Virginia ex¬ 
periment, the legs resembled those of the male; but 
in both cases the body or trunk was long and capacious. 
We imagine it would perplex Dr. Walker to bring both 
these cases to harmonize with his theory that organi¬ 
zation goes by halves invariably. 
Dr. Walker maintains that the point whether the male 
gives the locomotive or the vital halves of the organiza¬ 
tion, depends on the comparative vigor and ardor of the 
two animals ; if the male is young and vigorous, he 
generally stamps-his character on the offspring; if the 
reverse, and the vigor and volition is on the part of the 
female,' she gives that part of the organization depend¬ 
ing on the will, or that which belongs to the cerebel, or 
the motive half. There is some plausibility, and per¬ 
haps some truth in this theory; though those who doubt 
the principle of organization by halves, will doubtless 
be able to explain it satisfactorily on the commonly re¬ 
ceived system. We shall give some of the instances 
collected in support of this position, as valuable in them¬ 
selves, and affording useful hints to the breeder. 
“ Mr. Charles Colling put a short horn bull to a hornless 
Galloway cow; the cross was successful, and exists at present 
in most of the improved short horned cattle. I never heard of any 
of the produce being without horns, and I never saw one that 
could be distinguished from a pure short horned beast. Mr. 
Vansittart used a well bred short horn bull to well bred Here¬ 
ford cows; and the produce had all the appearance of short 
horned cattle. I used a well bred Hereford bull to common 
short horned cows; all the produce had the appearance of 
Herefords.” “ If a hornless ram be put to horned ewes, al¬ 
most all the lambs will be hornless, partaking of the character 
of the male more than the female parent.” 
As in Dr. Walker’s theory, the skin, nails, horns, wool, 
&c. go with the locomotive part, these facts agree very 
well with his system. On this point, Dr. W. gives a 
great variety of interesting facts, derived from crosses 
between asses and mares, between different varieties of 
dogs, birds, and even fishes. 
It will now appear clear to the reader, that if the 
theory propounded by Dr. Walker is true, our common 
system of breeding is absurd, since there can he no such 
thing as a division other than by halves, and that the 
breeding from crosses is mischievous. We prefer, how¬ 
ever, to give the opinions of men who have paid great 
attention to the subject, rather than the theory of any 
man, merely remarking that the impropriety of going 
beyond a first cross, is now generally admitted by the 
best breeders in England and Scotland. 
“ If I were to breed,” says Mr. Knight, “ from a female of this 
kind with a male ofsimilar origin, (cross breeds from a Hereford 
bull and Alderney cow) neither of them of course possessing 
permanent hereditary character, tire offspring would of course 
be extremely dissimilar to each other; some would appear 
nearly pure Herefords, and some nearly pure Alderneys, and 
if such mixed breed were to become the stock of a farm, some 
apparently perfect Herefords, and some perfect Alderneys 
would be produced during a long succeeding period.” 
Sir John Sebright, one of the most skillful and expe¬ 
rienced breeders, says he does not approve of the mix¬ 
ing two distinct breeds, and thinks that the efforts so 
made to secure the valuable properties of each, have 
never succeeded. 
“ The first cross frequently produces a tolerable animal, but 
it is a breed that cannot be continued. If it were possible, 
by a cross between the New Licestershire and Merino breeds 
of sheep to produce an animal uniting the excellencies of each 
or both, that is the carcass of the one with the fleece of the 
other, even such an animal so produced, would be of little 
value to the breeder ; a race of the same description could not 
be perpetuated, and no dependance could be placed upon the 
produce of such animals. They would be mongrels, some 
like the New Leicestershire, and some like the Merinos, while 
the most of them would have the faults of both.” 
We are inclined to believe this is a pretty correct state¬ 
ment of the results which have ensued from the efforts 
made in the United States by crossing imported animals 
with the native stock, and breeding froqa the progeny of 
these crosses. So far as our observation has gone, the 
produce from the first cross, say of a short horn, 
and a native cow, has been to give a valuable animal, 
but the going beyond this has. be$n beneficial only in ft 
