The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-05
Held ID THEORY
I0 TIE LAST
Dr.. Schenk'S Belief in Prede-
termination of Sex.
HIS FINAL ASSERTION
Advice to Parents of Children
As to CondnCt.

New York. oct 4-The New Yorl
World prints the following.
While Europe IS waiting for the post
humous book Of Prof Samuel Leopold
Schenk on Prenatal Influences for Hu-
manitys Sake the Sunday World cor
respondent Is enabled. by the courtesy OF
DR.. A KirchoT- who was an intimate
friend and co-worker OF the great scien-
list, 70 present a complete outline OF The
important work
Probably no announcement from sci
entilc man in recent years made 50
great a sensation IS that Of Prof. Schenk
that ne had discovered the secret OF sex;
that he could in fact bring 70 bear certain
influences which would make 1t possible
for parents 10 exercise selection
Dr. Schenk was the professor Of en-
bryology in the Royal and Imperial Uni
versity Of Vienna. and recognized as the
foremost authority on that subject in
Europe. No scientific man stood higher.
He announced his discovered after more
than a quarter Of a century Of constant
experiment and study.
He and his wife desired that all Of
their children should be boys and six
were horn 10 them. The Archduke Fred
erci Of Austria had seven daughters and
he was most anxious TO have a boy 10
keep an estate of $50 100000 from passing
70 a distant branch of the family. The
Archduchess placed herself uncer Dr.
Schenk's care and a son was born 70 her
IN July. 1898
This, coupled with other instances Of
the kind. made DR.. schenk the most
talked-of scientific man of the year.
Prof Schenk was so bitterly criticised
that he was compelled 10 resign from the
University. but his prestige increased
rather than diminished.
BY PROF. :. L. sCHENK
(Reported by Dr. a. Kirchor)
Ny theory about determining the sex
OF an unborn chiId-if it can be called only
q theory after my own experience of de-
string only boys in M family and having
six born 10 us-is really Of lesser import
ance- It is but one phase Of my study
and experiments.
While the sex OF a child is a matter OF
great moment 10 royal families and those
having entaued estates. il is comparative
II small consequence, aside from the
question Of mere sentiment. TO the world
al large But IL is of vast Importance
70 the human race that children shall be
well born. IN the sense that they shan
be brought into the world under the
best possible conditions
Nv hope is 20 arouse in parents and in all
men and women Of marriaseabIe age a
deep sense Of their responsibilities-the
responsibilities they owe their offspring.
themselves. society and future genera
tons
While 1t is true that the influence and
responsibility Of the mother IS the more
important part because IL never ceases.
the fathers influence upon the young life
that Of forming should not be undesesti-
mated. It is his duty 10 provide a happy
environment for his wife. to keep JOY and
content in he heart.
7 consider this 50 important that. in the
event Of the father being unable 20 prop
erly care for his wife, 70 furnish her with
reasonable comfort and pleasant sur
roundiugs 1t is the duty Of the state
TO interfere To- its own welfare as for
the sake Of The child Yet to be born.
Il IS no longer matter Of scientific
dispute that TO q certain extent at least.
food Influences character. II is recog-
nized ana acknowledged fact that the lar
vac Of bees can be made To grow into
either workers" or queens according
70 the kind Or food that is given them.
All bee larvae are fed on the same food
Tor the first three days Of existence !
After that different. more stimulating
Tcod Is given those that VIII become
queens '-food which causes certain OF
their orza1s 20 become fully developed.
while the same organs # those that are
70 become workers remain imperfect
and rudimentary. thus making the line
Of their DEVELOPMENT along the lines which
81 them TO carry out their mission as
toilers.
I-belleve that the broad principle ap-
plies to ;he human race. although other
more important Influences become active.
I hold that the character. traits and gen
erai usefulness Of the unborn child. as
vel as the sex Of its parents may wish
r. 10 have. may ~ determined by Civ
Ing 70 the expectsnt mother certain
whole. pleasant. elevating surroundings
and subjectine her 70 a certain diet and
treatment
Bur II the mother be not interested IN /
the future of her child. II she oppose tho /
sevelopnent Of IL or is merely passive,
ali efforts 10 have the child vel born
re likely 10 fail II IS necessary that /
ohvsicaI Intellectual and moral ideals be (
constantly before her
II is almost = law that the expectant f
mother shan have moods Of irritabnity +
when unusual or even abnormal things 4
-rpear 70 her and L as ~ the first i'm +
portance th.t she be treated wiki the /.
utmost Kindness and consideration. L Is +
49, these circumstances that the re-
.,onsibflitv q the father is especially +
zreat II is his solemn duty 70 bestow 4
mon her the most patient love and az Z
a,rfon. II the mother feels that evd .
! ending a place in her mind. that tenn .
,s- or envy or malice OF selhshness IS +
;, nffest. let her remember that her OF 4
.,ri,,r may have the stigma 81 these +
$50 The new life Is extremely s-s-
.a,tftie to Impressions, good and evil. and 4
- .o,,nda'fon II a chld's character IS I
orn,-d before il comes into the world
kindness q heart Is easily implanted 4
I, an unborn child. Ny own experience
,-ovez f. NJ associates are pleased 20 4
~ nlessant things Of ne. and ny Tife
--ose tenderhearte5 ard affectio1te- ~
curse We have our faults. some Of which /
,sr bows have inherited in a greater or
ezs degree. but in kindness they Ger
aintx excel their parents. They cannot
ass q begEsr or poor-oox without put
ing their hands IN their pockets, Or my |