Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-11-13
SisIO ann 8arO en-.
M From the Farnel's CIV aIe
Agricultural Physiology.

ttfTS n WV r u ST0-7-1o'
We are indebted to the Dirie Far, |
n'sr for the means Of presenting the
following articles, from the Ru,GI NeU
Ygr4sr on asubject of peculiar interest
to stock breeders ED. Farmers Ga
zette
HENRY s RANDALL, LII. d.:
Dear SH Your editorial in the Ru-
raj Of March 9TH, on "The Effect of
Blood in Reproduction" relates to
subject of SO much importance in its
bearings on the improvement or deteri-
grafton Of farm stock generally, and es,
peeially on Fbysicul, physiological, men
tai and moral changes in the coustitu-
ton of Inau, that | trust you will
now extend the discussion. One small
volume only has ever been published
on Agricultural Physiology 10 the Eug
lish language, to my knowledge, and
that has never been re printed in this
country. Hence, American farmers
have had very limited advantages for
studying the influence paternal cells o on
the Qua Of the mother aud on mascu-
line constitutions, whether these maacu.
line cells are healthy or unhealthy, pure
bred or mongrel.
You truly remark, in substance, that
to inject the blood of one breed of sheep
into the veins of another, cannot posi-,
bly, change the breed or system of the
latter But this fact hardly touches
the question of provocative e" blood, >"
or the properties of reproductive cells,
which have separate and distinct orr
gin, and peculiar functions 10 the aui.
NAL economy. live in a State where
many tarmes raise mules, others horses,
and some both, pretty extensively.
Both are growing on my farm Sup>
pose | breed nlly to jack for her
first foal, while young and growing
Can she carry in her system the vital
force of male not of her own breed.
race or even species, eleven months,
and ncurish its hybrid offspring as part
and parcel of her own body, and not
have the protracted nliugIirg of equine
and asinine cells affect her own organic
purity? The vital force of the ass is
quite as strong as that of the filly's pro,
geuitors; aud these forces meet aud
mlngle, not onl y in the embryo and foe
tus, but In every part of the growing
mother Why then should it surprise
any one that the innoculation is perma.
nent, and that the mare becomes there.
after hybrid in constitution i? 3 Fer
the sake of reaching tie :fath, with all
due care aud caution, let US assume that
her deterioration is an open question. -
In after life when this full grown mare
Is bred to good horses, we fnd that she
gives birth, not to good colts, but those
that have through life the large. ugly
heads, and ears, and the small, narrow
teet'of the mule. Now what is the lie,
gitimate inference? Is it not that the
procreating cells of vigorous, braylng
mule have found indus in her system
and grown there like healthy buds graft
cd into another tree This mare may
give being to fine mules but, as fol
raising supetior colts, her "blood" i.
ruined forever.
Consumptlve fathers very naturally
have consumptive children. Ii the un
happy propagation of this great scourg'
were limited to offspring, the injury in
ficted on the human family would b,
considerably less than it really is.
consumptive husband may have u wifi
who was free from the least faint o
phthisis when married. Can she remain
SO after she is the mother of children
who inherit the malady of their father
Unquestonably not, except by accident
All equally exposed to the virtue o
smallpox, or other contagious disease
are not equally attacked-but the en-
tire escape of some does not prove tn
absence of poison and danger.
What | have said of consumption
may be affirmed of hereditary insanity
SYPHILIS, scrotula, and Il score of othc
deep-seated maladies There are mau
reasons Go which no allusion can no,
be made,) why civilization, when un
directed by the light of physiologca
science, tends powerfully to brce
dooRwardS-to the constant deteriora
ton of our species Everywhere III
people need more physiological light
aud one familiar with this subject froI
long study and extended observation
might take pleasure in writing for thei
benefit. =
Very respectfully, d. LEE