The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-01


THE MARRIAGE or THE UNFIT.
The question whether the physician
will be justified in resorting to any
means BY which TO shorten Suffering
and make more easy the approach of
death suggests also the extent To which
he should interpose In the perpetuation
OF disease II II well known that the
marriage Of the unit Is one Of the most
potent causes for the failure Of the
human race to expand physically az II
has mentally.
The progress OF the human race has
been very great. but Its achievements
have been due TO "A minority, q large
proportion remaining almost stationary.
and far too many being but Q continue
tion Of diseased strain.
II would probably be better II those
who are physically UNFIT did not con-
vey 10 posterity the Disadvantages un-
der which they labor. and the theory Of
some writer's that society should inter-
pose for Its own sake between such ALL
ance sounds very well. II " argued
that society steps In and places out of
mischief those whose diseases take the
form OF violently Inturing others. but
that we permit TO roam at large those
who DO a. much harm. but do II under
the guise Of friendliness.
The practical difficuity Is tina. no man
or woman Is entirely free from some
defect. and the question In where the
line is to be drawn. The process Of re
finement might be logically extended
30 far that the race would become a,ten-
uated instead OF strengthened. Fully
as much harm II done by the union OF
two ili-assorted people al by merely
physical defect. The survival Of the 1T
test Is a law of nature, but there Is no
doubt that medical science has by It's
interference prolonged the life Of people
In . state OF civilization who would
have succumbed In more primitive
state. In barharisin the badly diseased.
the insane and the decrepit were killed.
or left TO perish. In civilization they are
protected and preserved In a condition
which enables them for a time to defy
death and ~ through all the forms of
a healthy life.
But II Il not merely functional dis
eases that unfit people for marriage as
q means to perpe;uatien of the species
With civilization has come class OF
nervous diseases from which our ruder
forefathers were exempt The nervous
activity which has done ~ much I'm ma
terial progress has enta!Ied a form OF
disease which oftsa appears in poster
lily ~ a serious disorder. II would hard
~ be claimed that because a man or
woman was highly sensitive the happ.-
nesa Of marriage should be denied them
Probably n such marriages were forbid
den nervous dis~ases would die out.
Probably the world would be happier IL
all people were phiegmaiie.. hu, such a
temperament Is Incompatible With the
mental conditions that exist particu-
iariy. Il may be said with truth, In this
country.
Interesting as the probabilities OF It's
effect of regulation Of such matters hy
law may be. they are of ne practical
value. The world as whole must i>s
governed by the Judgment 1T the people
themselves, The sins OF thu fathers
have been visited Upon the children
even unto the third and fourth genera
tons ever since the world began. and
there Is NO power GA earth which can
take away tine responsibility walsh each
generation mus, bear tor s,seis. There
are other Physiological. moral aud men,
tai considerations e. BE- taken sato as
count, and where some sain f1sisht b.
mad. by "a attemp, 10 regttlate prora-
Cation. greater evils might arfSa-~safaA
of which readily sGgggs; themselves
90 course, writer's on this suhsect
usually take up exsrerse sases. and NOT
nanatuTalls appeal s;rvngly e. an, Sease
that IL is an Injury 10 society To permit,
the eontinHance 10 rae of criminals
OF az the Insane. cr ~ ne orSa alcalls
diseased nut whlle those rxtsvn1a cases
are the most offensive they 90 uo. form
a very material proportion - TIE eoraa-
muntsy. and she question Is aow a reg
ulstion could he carried ost ara ~
whose authority. The physician wno
advocates this coarse wcai5 sax thag
the physician should be tae judge ana
ne probably should be. bat e weala no'
be much easier for hifn TRAN lsynsn