Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-06-07
LIV { ST K.
RESPECTIVE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS.

plainly to the effect that, other things being
so nearly alike that no preponderance can
be decided on in favor of either. But this
is by no means a universal opinion among
writers on this subject, as may be seen by
the quotation in my last article from DR..
%Sturteyant, and as also appears in many OF
the works O. breeding. These divergent
opinions. however, are formed either from
Il misinterpretation Of facts or from pure
theory; and rs the primary facts, OF the
physiology Of generation have never been
discovered, and possibly never will be, it is
evident that any theory that does not con-
form to the great mass OF the facts i'll our
possession must be set aside as not only En-
tenablc, but productive Of positive injury.
Let US notice q few facts, then, which are
simple. positive and undisputad, and which
must be considered in deciding this point.
Among our own species it is no uncommon
thing to see in the same family some chill
lren which resemble the father, Others
which resemble tie mother, and still others
w IllCii ttJtJC3t w UI.A liStidiA 9SNf Wan
parents. With horses. cattle. sheep, pigs
aud dogs, and, in fact, every other species
of animals, the same results are Il matter OF
daily observation. Even S~tonehange adj
.mits that no rule can be laid down ,On this
point, and gives Il considerable number Of
cases showing that either the sire or dam
may be prcpotent, though in his 6 axions .
ihe appears to favor the opinion that the
mother eXerts the most influence, but, as
we shall see directly. it is only a theoretrl
cal deduction. Gayot and Samson, the best
authorities on this subject in France, give
cases to show that there is no balance OF
power in favor of either of the. parents, buI
so common are these facts, they are no
worth reproducing.
/ have said that opinions opposed to these
facts We're either matters OF pure theory, OF
dependent on false Interpretation of facts.
Now let us see it this is not true. WhO
knows whether it requires that the strongest
and most active spermatoZoids must fertll
ize the ovUm in order that the qualities o.
the sire be transmitted? Or, who know:
that any other tAan the strongest and laos
active can eXent an influence GA the ovum
or even ttlat any others can reach and entel
it? 1t is all q matter OF speculation, ant
there is not u positive fact to support rht
theory.
Stonehenge says: "The influence of thu
male upon the embryo is partly dependen
upon the fact that he furnishes u portion 0
its substance in the shape of the sperna-cell
but also in great measure upon the effec
exerted upon the nervous system OF tn
mother by him. Hence the pEeponderanc
4ot one or other OF the parents Wall, i'm grea
measure, depend upon the greater Or les
strength of the nervous system in each.
How does he knew this? Where are hi
facts to show that the male exerts any in
buence on the nervous system OF the temal
that is felt by the embryo? Dare he affirm
that il the i~mpregnation is artificial, and
the parents should never sec each other {
case which ! think is supposable), the of
spring would resemble the male any les
than if the ilppregnation were natural?
The same author, in another so-ealled az
ION, says: AS the food of the embryo Ell
tirely depends upon the mother. it may b
expected that the health CT the offsprin
and its constitutional powers will be NOR
jim accordance with her state than with tha
of the father; yet since the sire fnrnishe
one-haif Of the original germ, it is not Sill
prising that i'll eXternals and general ckal
acter there is retained a fac simile, to a Gel
tain extent. of him." This again is pur
theory, and we may be excused for askin
for some facts to show that the constitr