The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
Reported and Presented by DIR. Kfrch-
hon, the synopsis Being Practical
IL that Of DIR. schenck.
RESULT OF A SERIES OF TALKS
PRENATAL INFLUENCE on PART OF
FATHER As WELL AS MOTHER.
why Many Children Are Born with
NusicaI IncIinatfOns-TaIent and
Traits for the Unborn Child.
Correspondence. of the indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.
VIENNA, Sept. 1S.-While Europe Is
awaiting the late Professor Schenck's
posthumous work on Prenatal Influence
for Humanity's Sake" Dr. Kirchhon,
close friend of the late Vienna professor OF
embryology, enables your correspondent to
give a complete outline Of this important
work The synopsis here following Is
Schenck's own. the substance Of a series OF
talks he had with Kirchhoff. The latter
points out however that at the conclusion
of every conversation on Prenatal Infu-
ence for Humanitys Sake" Schenck
warned him not to make use of the infor-
nation until his book was about to appear
He seemed to be afraid that scientific old
fogies would call him a medical jules
Verne unless his theory was backed up by
elaborate argument and authenticated ex-
periments. The synopsis. as reported by
Kirchhoff, follows:
Ny theory about determining the sex Of
an unborn child don't know whether 1t
Is much Of a theory. since 1 wanted only
boys in my family and got six of the kind
the possibility TO determine sex Is really OF
lesser Importance Except to royal families
and the owners of entailed estates) than
the subject have in hand now, and which
will be published sooner or later under the
title OF Prenatal Influence for Humanity's
Sake" There will probably be a subtitle.
or motto. something like this: 1T is the in
alienable right of every child to be well
born" But even that does not exhaust the
scope OF the work under active prepara-
tions. / am determined to rouse in parents,
and In all men and women Of manageable
age, the sense Of their responsibilities-the
responsibilities they owe to their offspring.
themselves, to society and future genera
lions.
While the mothers responsibility for the
child she bears never ceases, the fathers
influence upon the young life that Is form
ing burst not to be uncerestimated. 1t Is
his solemn duty to provide q happy en-
vironment, to keep the mother joyous
hearted and contented, guarded from care
and free from excessive work and worry.
When he is unable to do so-wherever the
mother-to-be is outside Of the pale OF rea-
sonable comfort and moral. refining in
huences, and subject to trying circum-
stances. There the State must step In for
the sake Of the child to be born as well
as for the good OF society.
FOOD INFLUENCES CHARACTER.
That food influences character to a GER
tain extent, at least is beyond dispute.
Science long ago acknowledged the fact
that, for instance, the larvae Of bees can
be made to grow either into workers or
queens by being fed in certain, differ
ent manner. All bee larvae receive similar
food for the first three days OF their ex-
istence; but. IL IL Is intended TO develop
any OF them into queens. the bees tending
them supply such larvae with a different,
more stimulating food, after which certain
of their organs become fully developed,
while those Of the larvae which are to
grow into workers remain imperfect and
rudimentary. and at the same time they
acquire habits and traits which fit them
TO carry on their life as workers.
Applying this recognized principle to the
human race, hold that the unborn child's
destiny as to character and traits. talents
anu general usefulness, as well as the sex
the parents wish it to have, may be de-
termined by subjecting the expectant moth
er to a certain diet and by extending to
her certain treatment-that In, giving her
the advantage OF wholesome and pleasant
surroundings, OF everything liable to infiu-
ence her for good and for intellect, physi-
cal and moral advancement. This provid-
ed the mother Is not passive nature, for,
lest the mother take an active part in the
development. the father Cor the state as
Stunning his duties) may work in vain on
the lines alluded to.
Above all, IL Is necessary that the ex-
pectant mother be treated with the utmost
kindness and that she be, or try to be,
kind OF heart herself. II she feels guilty
of any evil tendencies OF temperament, or
otherwise. let II be her ardent wish that
such should not be impaired to her off,
spring. that the child she bears does not
inherit the stigma. As to the father, IL
Is his solemn duty to see to 1t that nothing
rouses his wife's undesirable traits. He
must try to forget them, and IL they do
crop UP. must smooth over any threaten
ing difficulty, even at the expense OF sacri-
ficing a self-made principle or cherished no.
tioE- Let both parents remember that the
rev life Is extremely susceptible to i'm
pressions. good or evil. and that the char
acteristics forming will govern the little
ones future.
KIND-HEARTEDNESS.
Kind-heartedness is easily implanted in
the unborn child. My own experimental
hope L may say 1t without fear OF being
charged with boastfulness-my own expe-
rience proves it. generally rated a
kOOu leitOW oy my associates ana TRENDS,
and my wife is of a most loving disposition.
OF course. we have. our faults, some OF
which one or another of our six boys in
herited TO a greter or lesser extent, but as
10 kindliness they certainly excel, though
say IL myself IL L had ten times my in
come the boys would spend IL all I'm charity.
They cannot pass by a beggar or a poor
box without putting their hand I'm their. or.
rather. my pocket IL beggar calls at the
door while we sit at the table they scram-
bic over each other to offer their plate 10
the poor brother Why? Because my wife
made II point 10 cultivate charity, self
abnegation and benevolence 10 the limit of
our resources. We were pretty poor then.
] dropped into literature but OF late years.
and, to follow out our experiment which.
indeed. was near to her heart, the good
mother OF my children became aImoner for
several rich society ladies who rejoiced at
the opportunity OF getting rid OF bother
some detail Poor women. they did not
know what their children missed.
In the same manner we inoculated In our
children certain social faculties 90 essen