Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-09

Berkeley, Cal, Sept "a graduate
deterioration is taking place in the
human race.
This deterioration is due TO:
Bottle fed babies.
'Indolence" of the better class of wom-
en- in rearing children.
Employment of large numbers of wom-
en- in office work.
Crossing of the races.
Inherited effects of alcohol
Modern environmental agencies of IN
dustry and city life.
These are the conclusions reached by
Dr. Samuel J. Holmes, professor of zOol-
ogy at the University of California, in
his latest book, The Trend Of the
Race" In this volume DR.. Helmes traces
the evolution Of the American people and
mankind and presents the results of in
, race.
CHILDREN BORN
, WITH DIFFICULTY.
Factors noted in tracing the deteriora-
ton include increasing difficulty in bear
ing children frequent inability Of women
to ncrse their children; the growing
/ frequency of suicide; decrease in stature
increasing dental Irregularities ana
tendency to badness; loss of use of ear
muscles and degeneration Of the little
toe.
ut is a fairly general opinion, when
has a considerable following In medical
circles, that the physique of modern civil
lized women has become rather serious
ly weakened in the last five generations
says DR.. Holmes "Our index of this is
the increasing difficulty experienced IN
bearing children. The ease with which
women Of primitive races bear children
has often been remarked upon. 1t is
not improbable that this matter has been
unduly exaggerated. Child bearing is
easier. however among women who are
used to moderate amount Of ply
abor.
Undoubtedly the life of modern vom-
en-. especially those of the more well-tO-
do classes, is not favorable to easy child
bearing. The employment of large num-
bers of women in sedentary occupations.
such as stenography, office work. etc
cannot fail to multiply the troubles OF
childbirth.
Another much discussed physical de-
feet of modern woman is her frequent
inability to nurse children. Those who
have live damong primitive peoples have
frequently commented on the almost uni
verssl ability of mothers to feed their
children at the breast. And among Eu-
ropeans the women Of previous genera
lions nursed their children much more
frequently than the women Of the pres
ent time.
MANY DIsINCLINED
TO NURSE CHILDREN.
"Nany women are disinclined, also,
to nurse their children for at least a
very long time in these days of artificial
substitutes for mothers milk. The fact
that the proportion OF women unable
to nurse their children is usually greater
in cities than in rural districts, points
TO the potency of enyironmental in
fuences for this change in natural con-
ditions'
The inherited effects of alcohol DR..
Holmes gives as one of the probable
reasons for the alleged degeneracy of
modern women. Increase In crime, in
Gliding murders and suicides, he de-
cleres, is also held to follow IN the
wake Of inherited degeneracies.
In this regard he says:
THE growing frequency Of suicide IS
often regarded as connected with the
alleged increase OF insanity and nervous
disorders ard hence as symptoms OF
racial deterioration 1t is also explained
as tie results of changing environment.
which is commonly held to be productive
years"
MODERN CIVILIZATION
EFFECTS ARE SHOWN.
Other effects of modern civilization on
the human race DR.. Holmes points out
as follows:
MANY physical characteristics Of men
are affected considerably by environ
mental agencies. The latter are especial
ly prone to influence strength, longev-
ity, rate of growth, the prevalence of
various diseases, ard to less extent
stature and weight. Conditions Of life,
especially in large industrial centers,
have changed in such a way as greatly
to affect the physique of a large part
of the inhabitants. The relatively low
stature of city jewellers is probably due
largely to this cause.
1T is not improbable that many dental
Irregularities and EMBELLISHMENTS are
the result of racial crossing. With more
or less Independent variability of jaws
and teeth 1t often happens that teeth are
unduIy crowded in small jaws or are
otherwise out of normal relations.
"Alcng with the deterioration Of teeth
there seems to be a correlative tendency
to the loss of hair. Badness is much
more common to us than among