(_g_) Feeble minded. Aid given to Institutions for the feeble minded are
open to the suspicions that they may eventually promote their marriage
and the production of offspring like themselves. Inquiries are needed to
test the truth of this suspicion.
(_h_) Grants towards higher education. Money spent in the higher
education of those who are intellectually unable to profit by it lessens
the sum available for those who can do so. It might be expected that aid
systematically given on a large scale to the more capable would have
considerable eugenic effect, but the subject is complex and needs
investigation.
(_i_) Indiscriminate charity, including out-door relief. There is good
reason to believe that the effects of indiscriminate charity are notably
non-eugenic. This topic affords a wide field for inquiry.
III. Other influences that further or restrain particular classes of
marriage.
The instances are numerous in recent times in which social influences
have restrained or furthered freedom of marriage. A judicious selection
of these would be useful, and might be undertaken as time admits. I have
myself just communicated to the Sociological Society a memoir entitled
“Restrictions in Marriage,” in which remarkable instances are given of
the dominant power of religion, law and custom. This will suggest the
sort of work now in view, where less powerful influences have produced
statistical effects of appreciable amount.
IV. Heredity.
The facts after being collected are to be discussed, for improving our
knowledge of the laws both actuarial and of physiological heredity, the
recent methods of advanced statistics being of course used. It is
possible that a study of the effect on the offspring of differences in
the parental qualities may prove important.
It is to be considered whether a study of Eurasians, that is, of the
descendants of Hindoo and English parents, might not be advocated in
proper quarters, both on its own merits as a topic of national
importance and as a test of the applicability of the Mendelian
hypotheses to men. Eurasians have by this time intermarried during three
consecutive generations in sufficient numbers to yield trustworthy
results.
V. Literature.
A vast amount of material that bears on Eugenics exists in print, much
of which is valuable and should be hunted out and catalogued. Many
scientific societies, medical, actuarial, and others, publish such
material from time to time. The experiences of breeders of stock of all
kinds, and those of horticulturists, fall within this category.
VI. Co-operation.
After good work shall have been done and become widely recognised, the
influence of eugenic students in stimulating others to contribute to
their inquiries may become powerful. It is too soon to speculate on
this, but every good opportunity should be seized to further
co-operation, as well as the knowledge and application of Eugenics.
VII. Certificates.
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