Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-02
Alexandria 6azsttf.
EVENING, JAN. 2, 1897.
BLOOD MARRIAGES.
Authorities Seem to Diner as TO Whefhs
They Prove Injurious.


They Prove Injurious.
The resulA of blood marriages
have been differently regarded by
various authors. Esqutrol attributed
Co them predispositton to insanity
among the descendants. Meniere af-
firms that in the majority Of cases
deaf mutes owe their inhrmity to
the ties of relationship between
their parents. Lucas thinks that
these marriages are cause Of de-
generation in the human race; that
{hev produce mental dullness, bru-
tality, insanity, impotence etc.
Liebreich states that consanguintty
Is frequently the cause of pigmen
tary retinitis among the descend
ants. Raynaud ranks consanguinity
among the conditions which may
produce albinism- Luys seemed to
have proved also, says the writer,
the injurious influence Of consan-
Rulu6OQS lutlI1ldSCo.
On the other hand, says the writ
er, others have boldly declared
themselves in favor of these mar
riages and state that they are not
tall injurious-that generally they
give good results. 1t is not astonish-
ing then, lie says, that in the face of
such extreme opinions other au-
thors, such as Levy, Bouchardat,
Voisin, Darwin, Lacassagne, Ballet
and others, should view the ques-
ton from both sides and affirm that
these marriages are productive Of
both good and evil results, accord
ing to whether the contracting par
ties are exempt from or affected by
constitutional diseases. With such a
diversity of opinions, continues the
writer, it is difficult for physicians
to decide when they are consulted
by patients in regard to the subject.
NJ. Perrin recently made a study
of the question under consideration
and gives his conclusions as follows:
First of all, among the numerous
affections attributed to marriages of
consanguinity, idiocy, insanity and
epilepsy are due generally to hered-
ity, but in few cases consanguim-
ty Of the parents may certainly be
the cause,
AS to cvnvulsions in the young,
the cases are so numerous that it Is
impossible to attribute this affec-
ton to the influence Of consangulm-
ty. 1t may have & share In the pro
duction of deaf mutes, but 1t Is not
an invariable factor. With regard
to affections of the sight, the infu-
ence exercised by consanguinity has
been ascertained, and in albinism
has been distinctly proved. Concern
ing sterility, NJ. Perrin thinks this
cannot be attributed to consanguin-
ity alone. He has further shown
that certain congenital deformlties
have been SO frequently observed In
children whose parents were per
fectly healthy that in these cases
we are forced TO admit the theory
of consanguinity alone.
On the whole, says the writer, we
NAV conclude that if under certain
circumstances consanguinity and
heredity are two astrological factors
which combine in the same family
to bring about the same morbid re-
suits it is none the less true that In
some cases oonsanguineous mar
r1ages among healthy persons may
exercise an unfavorable influence
on the children. M. Perrin, says the
writer, advises physicians not to
dissuade their patients from mar
rage if there is no diathesis, no he
redltary disease, and if they are In
good health and have strong consh-
buttons; on the other hand, Is Is not
well to encourage them, he says, be-
cause even in the best conditions the
children of such marriages have
presented irremediable defects But
If the physician discovers the least
trace of physical or mental affeo-
lions he should exert all his indu-
ence to prevent such marriages, for
they could only be productive Of de-
plorable results.-New York Med
ical Journal