The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-06-18

ings, from generations Of bad blood, slav-
ish work and resulting short life. AS soon
vironment of this country they develop
amazing vitality, great longevity ana N
creased intelligence. The theory that IS
now generally gaining ground IS t9at
man does not inherit a disease itself, but
a constitution susceptible to some part1cu-
lar disease. That is. that the child of CON n
consumption, but that he is likely to fall
victim to environment favorable to the
development Of that disease. Ii the mi
crobes of consumption get a chance to get
at him they are likely to affect him more
seriously than they would affect a man not
born, of consumptive parents: But II they
veiopment-then do not believe that this
consumptive of itself. We look at men
descended from consumptives very sharply,
of course. But 1 do not believe that after
the first remove consumption need be fear
ed. l base this opinion on the absolute
fact that men more than one remove from
consumptive antecedents do not die of con-
argument. DR.. Curtis and went over all
our people with consumptive antecedents
not long ago and proved this. 1 will even
go farther than this and say that I be-
lieves consumptive tendencies in the very
next generation can be overcome. generally
by proper care and proper nourishment.
age on either or both sides shows that up
to thirty the mortality is generally in excess
OF the average: Between thirty and thirty,
nVe 1t decreases; between thirty-fiVe and
forty it is only slightly in excess and after
forty it is not possible to prove any effect
whatever-assumng that the man is well
nourlShed. l know of young man whose
mother was in the last stage of consump
ton when he was born and who died i'm
1aeuiately after giving him birth. AS
toward the disease, but the family physl-
clan placed him on a diet of cod liver oil
and had him kept on it for thirteen years.
taking 10 ali
receive other preventive attention. That
young man is now twenty-one years old
and I do not know a finer specimen of
physical manhood.
Il don't think consumpi!ve parentage in
duces death more when the subject is
properly nourshed and surrounded tran
improper nourlshment ald surroundings do
In those with no consumption i'll the family.
Bright's Diseases and Cancer.
''Concerning Bright's disease my opinions
are less well formed. We do not know as
much about 1t We do about consumption,
and there is more less doubt about
hereditary tendency in it. I don't believe
any man is born with every organ equal
to every otner organ, and, OF course, like a
chain, he is only strong as his weakest
spot. But if that weak spot is carefully
guarded and strengthened. L do not see
why he should particularly fear hereditary
tendency. The great thing ia to know
where the weak spot is, and then to find
out how to strengthen it. There are men
born with tendencies to die of kidney dis
ease with lung disease, with brain disease
every day who cont do 1t. l know of five
brothers mat died of Brights disease along
ABOUT sixty or seventy OBrignts disease
rarely kills young people, you know, and l
am carefully watching their progeny. Only
one, 50 far, has developed any apparent
tendency toward Bright's disease. People
should remember that their hereditary ten
dencies are of very much less Importance
than their manner of living. Heredty is
a pretty good thing, after ALL for, while we
can overcome its unfavorable influence if
we go about it in the right way. also
can turn its favorable influence to the
greatest advantage and increase it and de-
Veiop it. Cancer is almost exception to
this rule il it affects a vital organ of di-
ton: Cancer of the stomach, of he liver,
of the intest tines is very likely to be trans
mitted-likely enough, at any rate to make
the person born of parents thus affected
of trouble. But cancer of other parts of
the body-eXternal cancer-is not, | think,
very often passed on from one generation
to another. | take very little stock in the
probability Of transmission to the th'rt
and fourth generations. ] think the
chances of it are SO small as scarcely to
great enough to warrant fear. In such
cases there is likely to have been two or
three injections of healthy blood in the
stances as well as in others.
An Amazing study.
One of the most interesting opportunities
to study the effect of hereditary influence
ever offered to men of science exists Low
in New York. in the person of a tWo-year-
old boy baby. This child is arousing no end
OF interest discussion and anxiety among
thinkers, and is kept in surroundings likely
to bring out whatever lesson his little life
may teach to the fullest possible extent.
Ihe case is, perhaps, additionally interest
ing because the unusual development is not
looked for i'll his BODY, but in his mind. he
is the son OF DR.. and Mrs. Meyer, the form
ef Just convicted OF poisoning one man, ana
with indictments hanging over him charg-
ing him with causing the death of several
others, and the latter to be brought to trial
rI,4 l.1S IN, h4.eA
murders were the results of plots long con-
templated and slow in contamination. 1t is
supposed that they had been going on for
years, ana the fact that both father ana
mother entered into them shows undoubted
criminal tendencies on both sides. Criminal
antecedentS have, moreover been traced on
the fathers side What the mothers an
cestry was is not known. The plot which
resulted in the death of the man for whose
murder Meyer has just been convicted began
ahCut Il year before the child's BIRTH and
was in active execution during the mothers
entire time of pregnancy. During all those
months she is supposed to have been watch
ing with the most intense anxiety for the
effect Of the deadly drugs on her husbands
victim and to have been filed to a greater
or less extent with the murderous sentiment
herself. Thus. not only must there be
hereGh.ary tendency toward murder in the
natal influence tended strongly in the same
direction. 1t is this alost unprecedented
co0blnatlon that makes mis- case so absorb
lnSly interesting to students of these things.
And the opportunity for observation of his
development are perfect. Both father and
mother are prisoners, and thus he becomes
official charge.
He is a most precoCiouS child-aS was to
be expected, because of the intense mental
strain under which his parents labored be-
fore his brth--and demonstrates the pos
session of a strong will already. His tenn
per is not good He speaks readily, even
knowing several words of foreign languages
which he has picked up after hearing once
spoken, and is imperiOuS in his commands
to his attendants. If his desires are not
1E3tantly carried out he at sets to
work to make trouble like a little fury. al
though every influence possible has been
brought to bear to calm his temper. OF
course it cannot yet be told whether or not
he will develop a desire to take human life,
but whatever way he turns out the study
of his case by competent scientists cannot
fail to contribute much to the worlds
knowledge of the law of heredity and the
reality of prenatal influence.
EDWARD MARSHALL.
Every Man Should Read This.
If any young, old or middle-aged man SUI
fering from nervous debility, weakness
lack of vigor from errors or excess will en-
close stamp to me / Will send him the
prescription of a genuine certain cure free
of cost. No humbug, no deception. Will
also furnish remedies if desired. Address
MIR. Thomas Barnes. Marshall, Mich.
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