The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-01
HEREDITY NOT
TO BLAME FOR
FEEBLE-MINDED
DIR. ]. z. w. walIin Tells Angus
tana Alumni Sterilization Is
Not Curb.

Heredity cannot be blamed for
the major portion of feeble-minded
children, according to theories ad-
vanced by DR.. J. E. w. Wallin,
Miami university, Oxford, Ohio, in
his address to the Augustana Alum
nj association at it's annual ban
auet yesterday afternoon. DR.. Wal
lin is a member OF the class Of 1897
which celebrated its 18th annivers-
airy yesterday.
He has become famous in the
field of psychology and his special
ty is the study OF mental inferior
ity, as well as abnormality In
school children. For IL years he
conducted a clinic for the board OF
education in St. Louis and during
that time examined 7S2 school chill
dren and has also Investigated the
history of 1,200 relatives of these
children. The result of these ex-
aminations has led him to draw
conclusions that are directly oppos-
ed to the common accepted theory
that eeble-mindedness can be trac-
cestors.
DIR. Wallin's findings have Great
ed a stir among scientists and lead
ing educators His address, given
yesterday. was prepared for the an
3 nual meeting OF the American asso-
citation for the study of the feeble
minded held in st. Louis, May 20.
DR.. Wallin said that the accepted
theory about the transmission of
feeble mindedness through heredity
has been based upon the study Of
insane people and others confined
in the state institutions, while his
conclusions were based entired Oh
the study of public school children,
and that no clear-cut evidence
could be found to support the ac-
cepted theory.
By his new theory the great
cause of feeble-mind edness is a
toxic condition of the parents prior
to the birth of the child. In max
ing this statement, DR.. Wallin said
that it was in opposition to the &C
cepted theory that germ plasm in
its embryonic state could be modi-
fed.
vestigations on animals have shown
that the old theory is untenable and
that toxines or poisons in the body
of the mother change the condi-
ton of the offspring and that this
modification could be transmitted
by the law of heredity. The speak
er mentioned in particular, the eff
feet of alcoholics as well as the Sc
erection of the glands of the body
as agents that affect the child in
its prenatal condition.
The final conclusion advanced by
the famous scientist yesterday was
that I'VE could not depend upon
the sterilization of the feeble-mInd-
ed person or the prevention of mar
riage of the UNIT as proven
tive for the production of feeble
minded children. Scientists must
adopt the plan of disinfection of
the parents by means of anti-tox-
ines and serums.'
The address yesterday was heard
by the 400 members of the Alumni
association and their friends who
were seated at the banquet table
in the Augustana gymnasium. Pres
4UelJ GuSLdN A AnQTGen lnITOuuc-
ed DR.. S. G. Youngert, toastmaster.
The class of 1922 was formally
welcomed into the association and
Eugene Lothgren responded to a
welcome, claiming that it is the
largest class Augustana had ever
graduated, and the average records
of it's scholarship the highest il
the history of the institution. DR.
G. A. BrandeIle responded for the
class of 1882. which held its 40tt
anniversary yesterday.
Rev. p. Martinson, St Charles
spoke for the class of 1892, which
was having its 30th anniversary
with rs per cent of its members
present. DR.. S. j. Cheleen, Mime
apohs, spoke as representative Of
the class of 1902 and reported tina,
only three of the class were pres
ent, Carl Backman. manager foI
the Redpath bureau. Chicago, spoke
for the class of 1912 at its 10th re
union. The program YESTERDAY
was enlivened by several selections
from the band, the Wennerbers
chorus and the Oriole club. Prof
o. l.. Nordstrom, president of the
Alumni association, was chairman
of the committee on arrangements
Alumni from several states were in
attendance.