The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-03-16

The Matthews Case One Which should
be Carefully Studied From Scientific
viewpoint

Testimony in the case of DR.. Mat
thews, strangely abnormal criminal
at Durham, y. c.. revives the old and
bewildering subject OF cutting of
strains. stocks or breeds afflicted with
disease likely to be transmitted TO
progeny. We are told that the physi-
clans and experts in nervous disor-
ders, put on the stand and given the
history Of DR. Matthew's immediate
ancestors and family. described them
Is "a block of neurotics or highly ner-
vous people, made up of epileptics,
idiots, imbeciles and lunatics" In
such conditions il is hard 10 see how
the man or woman born of such stock
could avoid developing some abnormal
trait In this special case the man
became a dope fiend of the worst kind
and finally murdered his wife under
the most revolving circumstances. Civ
ing her hyopdermic injection OF
strychnine while he knelt at her bed
side pretending 10 be at prayer. The
worst of such cases is that the more
intelligent and highly educated the
individual the more plausible and at
tractive and, therefore the more dan
gerous. The law, through its awkward
and inadequate machinery. trusts TO
jury TO decide, under instructions of
the judge, what no human being can
decide-the degree of responsibility in
such circumstances. But on general
principles, take a man and woman in
tensely nervous and excitable. both
addicted to the immoderate use of
drugs, or intoXicants. or combination
of them! What chance has the child OF
such couple for healthy. happy and
normal life? The pitiless facts of
science indicate that from its birth it
is doomed, at least seven cases in ten,
to some disease of the brain or nervous
system, to some destructive addiction
or TO criminal or abnormal impulses
becoming stronger with age made
more acute as the intellect is develop
ed and the brain is aroused.
1t is hard TO see or understand how
the law can deal with such matters eS-
pecially in view of the mysterious and
apparently erratic operations of hered-
ity; for it is an ascertained fact that
trait or tendency may lie dormant
through generations and then develop
suddenly by the phenomenon known
as breeding back, inheritng appar-
emily directly from remote ancestry.
The law forbids the marriage of a
lunatic, but it cannot interfere with
that considerable class of people whose
eccentricities and nervous disorders
and evil habits of life bring them to
the very verge of lunacy while they
keep clear of actual legal declaration.
1t is a subject demanding the most
profound study of scientists and law
makers
Pending some solution from these.
the one practical remedy and safe
guard is in the vigilance of parents and
guardians and the instruction of young
men and young women on such sub
jects. If the marriageable people of
both sexes could have impressed on
them the frightfuI consequences likely
to result from unions in which one or
both parties may transmit some such
horrible inheritance as appears in this
Matthews case. and if parents would
take good care to inform themselves of
family histories before consening to
marriage. or permitting it, vast disas-
ter would be avoided. AS it is, fathers
and mothers allow their sons and
daughters to mate with all kinds and
complications of disease. weakness and
defect. AS a consequence they are re-
sponsible for bringing into the world
in hosts, generation after generation,
mental and physical deformities, weak
nesses, degenerates and born crimi-
nals.-News Leader.