Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-06-05
fflisrrllallrons Artltlrs.
HEREDITARY INFLUENCE.

curious and interesting article IN the q
Westminster RecieW. The author re-
marks in the outset, that though the an
swers hitherto proposed are deficient in ;
the primary requisite of comprehending
Rll the phenomena, nevertheless answers
abound. Every cattle-breeder, who ri
ses to the height of a theory, has his the
ory on his ample matter, and acts upon
Il in the breeding of cattle and poultry.
Every village gossip, every Mrs. Camps,
has her facts and her opinions, which, in
expansive movements, she delivers with
Great confidence. Every physician has
bs theory, especially with reference to
,be transmission of disease. Even the
man of letters is not without his gener-
aization in the transmission of genius:
4An men of genius he tells you, have
had remarkable mothers;" in support of
which generalization he counts off upon
his fingers the illustrations which occur
to lin, perfectly heedless Of the mass of
cases in which the mothers have not been |
remarkable.
COnstancy in the transmission of struc-
tme and character from parent to off
spring, is law of nature, but offspring
do not always closely resemble parents;
and it is clear from the diversities of fam
lies do not resemble them in equal de-
grees. So that when the rule of con-
stancy in transmission is laid down, a
rider must be put upon it, to the effect
that this constancy is not absolute, but is
accompanied by law of variation. 1t
is the intervention of this law (argues
the writer) which makes hereditary in
fuence problem; without it, heritage
would be as absolute as the union of acids
with bases.
Some singular instances are quoted in
support of this theory. Plutarch speaks
of family in Thebes, every member of
which was born with the mark of spear
head on his body; and ar Italian family
had the same sort of mark, and hence
bore the name of LGnSada. Haller cites
the case of the Bentivoglie family, in
whom slight internal tumor was trans
mitted from father to son, which always
swelled when the atmosphere was moist.
Again, two celebrated Roman families
indicate analogous peculiarities; to which
may be added the well-known " Austrian
lip" and Bourbon nose" All the Bar
ons de Vessins were said to have pecu-
liar mark between their shoulders; and
by means of such mark the postum
nous legitimate son of one of the Barons
was discovered in London shoemaker
apprentice. Parents with an unconquer-
able aversion to animal food, have trans
mtted that aversion; and parents, with
the horrible propensity for human flesh
have transmitted the propensity to chill
dren brought up away from them under
all social restraints. Sir Henry Hol
land relates as an example of hereditary
blindness the case of a family, wher'
four out of FIVE children, otherwis'
healthy, became totally blind from amau
rosis, about the age of twelve; the Wis
ion having been gradually impaired u
to this time. What adds TO the singu
larity of this case, is the existence c
some family monument long prior in date
where female ancestor is represente
with several children around her, the il
scription recording that all the numbe
were blind.
So too, in the fact of individual heri
age, would logevity appear to depend
There are limits which neither the "spt
eies' nor the individual can be said
pass; no man has been known to liz
two hundred years; but the number
years which each individual will reac
without accident, is term dependir
neither on the" species" nor on his ow
mode of life, but on the organization i
herited from his parents. Temperanc
sobriety, and chastity, however desirabl
Doth in themselves and in their effec
will not insure life; intemperance, har
snip and irregularity will not prevent
man from living century and half
Ihe facts are given to prove both prop
sIhons- Longevity is an inheritauce.-
Like talent, it may be cultivated Ii
talent 1t may be perverted; but it exi
independent of all cultivation; and
cultivation viii create it. Some m
naFe talent for long life.
That all great men owe their genius
'helr mothers, is an idea which will 4
Dear cofrontation with the facts; thou
"neh the paternal influence is not cot
,gracted, it is generally transmitted.
ihas the wit Of the Sheridans is prov
"A DldiiV safd f. 4 r