The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-09-17


/ be hoped from such children? And YET
who can blame them? They have de
/ served fair start in life, and yet avari
cious parents have cruelty and fearfully
| defrauded them. A terrible account
must all such parents render in that
| great day when the books shall be open
ed, and judgment rendered according to
ones deeds.
| 1t IL law of our natures that physical
virtues and defects are transmitted from
parent to child. Physiological science is
full of facts thorough beyond question
that good sound constitution, or its
opposite, or physical characteristics of
any kind. which belong to the parent,
tendencies to disease, are likewise inher-
tied. 1t is just as true law, although
the world has been slow to recognize it,
that mental and moral qualities, be they
good or bad, are likewise transmitted,
and yet woe be to those parents who en-
tail a career of crime upon innocent
children. l am uttering no iddle whim
when / assert this; it is the sober teach
| ings of medical science. l have an
abundance of incontrovertible facts with
which to sustain my position. Ifyou are
thoughtful men you have only to open
your eyes and you see proof everywhere
about you. We may learn lessons some
times even from barbarous people. 1t is
4 e I.
criminal they do not only inquire into
the facts of the crime itself; they exam
inc most minutely into the temperament,
complexion, and physical state of the ac-
cused; into the most trihing events of
his former life; into everything that can
throw any light upon motives or jim
pulses also into the state of his parents
and ancestors.
Those who have a curiosity to know
whether mental vigor may be transmit
ted, can have that curiosity fully gratified
by the many facts given by Francis Dal-
ton, in his work on Hereditary Genius. "
We have had two Foxes. two Pitts; two
Coleridges, two Herschels two Sheri-
dams and whole Kemble family. Mira
beau, the father, contained, so to speak
| Mirabeau the tribune The family of
Aeschylus numbered eight poets. The
father of Torquato Tasso had the gift,
! as his son had the genius of verse.
/ Thorwaldren the ural of Canora, was the
son of poor sculptor. Raphaers father
was himself a painter. The mother of
Vandyke had talent for painting.
Parnigiano was of a family of painters;
SO was Titician, so was Horace Vernet.
The father of Mozart was a violinist.
Beethoven was the son of tenor singer.
whole:host of composers have eminated
from the family of Bach.
If there be any one thing in proof of
which facts are very numerous, it is the
tendency to drunkenness which is inher-
tied by children of drunkards Gall re-
lates the case of Russian family where
the father and grandfather had both
died from the effects of intoxication, and
the grandson manifested from the age of
five years, the most decided taste for
strong liquors. A writer in the Psycholo-
gicaL Journal says: 1.-THE most startling
problem connected with intemperance is,
that not only does it effect the health,
morals and intelligence of the offspring
of its votaries, but they also inherit the
fatal tendency, and feel a craving for the
very beverages which have acted as
poisons in their systems from the very
commencement of their being" Inproof
of his statement he gives the following
facts: "Mr. ]. was habitual drunkard;
his wife also had stomach complaint
for which she took spirits. Her medi-
cine was never neglected. Both died
confirmed drunkards, and all their child
rem died likewise. They said, we can't
help it; We inherit a strong love for rum
or gin. One bound himself by a heavy
penalty, but after some months absti-
nence, broke out saying that the craving
was actual torture, and he could not help
himself. Mr.. B., of Yorkshire, and his
wife were scarcely ever sober; the lady
died early, of delirium tremens, but the
husband fingered longer. Out of large
family of children, only one escaped the
taint. The oldest son, an inveterate
drunkard, committed suicide; all the
others came to an untimely end The
only daughter was on one occasion
brought home by the police in state of
intoxication. The shock was too great
for the old man, and he did not survive
it,
Says living writer who has made this
subject matter of careful investigation,
Il have never seen patient cured of his
propensity, whose tendencies to drink
were derived from the hereditary pre-
disposition given him by his parents. "
Mr.. Collins stated before Parliamenta-
ry Commission that the 'drunkard's ap-
petite never becomes completely extinct,
but adheres to man through life" DIR.
Hutchins, speaking ofthis same inherited
appetite says: 81 have seen only one
case completely cured, and that after a
seclusion of two years. In general it is
not cured"
have spoken of drunkenness because
facts are SO numerous. l might have
spoken, as well, of almost anything else
Suicide runs in families-is transmitted
So with insanity. Says DR.. Maridesly
"the more exact and scrupulous the re
searches made, the more distinctly is dis
played the influence of hereditary tain
in the production of insanity"
Persons who are suffering from anv q