The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-14
BETTER METHODS USED
Eugenics Department OF Kansas
Free Fair Takes an Important
Part on Big Program.

Win larger STAIR than ever before
and much better methods than have
been used, the eugenics department. of
the Kansas Free fair is this year TAX
ing an important place among the d.
visions of the fair.
The work of classifying families in
the Filter Families contest is done in
little white house across from the
Arts building. One enters a hallway,
with four booths on each side. There
is an atmosphere of sanitation and
cleanliness everywhere, from the
whitewashed rafters to the floor
which has the appearance of being
freshly scrubbed Two stiffIy starched
nurses appear and disappear, looking
intensely busy.
The applicant is first given a blank,
on which he is told to write his par
ents names, those of his wife's par-
ents, his wife's full name, his own,
those of his brothers and sisters, the
names of his Wife,s brothers and sis
tiers, and the names of the children in
the family. He is asked for various
kinds of information regarding all
these individuals There are twelve
successive sheets to be filled out and
when that is complied with, the ex-
aminers have & full account OF the
history and development of the family
for three generations.
He is then given a series of ex-
aminations, which begin with the ner-
vous and mental tests, which record
the nervous reactions. Then comes
the structural examination, in which
the same tests that are given to ath-
leteS are applied. The medical ex-
aminations are then given, with full
laboratory tests OF each adult In
telhgence tests are given and finally
the eyes, ears. nose throat and teeth
are gone over. A separate booth is
given over to the examination OF
babies.
There are five classes in this contest.
which is known as the Filter Fam
lies For Future Firesides'' contest
They are: Single adults, seventeen
years and over. man and wife with
child, man and wife with from two to
four children, and man and wife with
five or more children.
To the family who receives the
highest score in the contest Governor
Allen presents a bronze trophy Every
grade A individual receives a bronze
medal from Senator Capper.
The highest grade ever made by
any family was made by the family
of Ford Robinette OF Topeka, two
years ago The score was SIS. Last
year another family came within a
fraction of the record however. The
largest family ever examined was
that OF a man, his wife and eight
children. who were tested last year.
Each member of the examining
staff has had previous experience in
this work, according to Dr. Florence
Brown Sherbon, who with Mrs. Mary
T. Watts of Audubon Ia. directs the
work Every member, with the ex-
ception of DIR. May Belle True, has
been member of the examining staff
in the previous two years during
which the department has funstioued
Our objective is to perfect our
methods" said DR.. Sherbou I'VE are
not aiming towards the exa mination
of great numbers this year, but rather
fewer families, while we perfect our
technique. We have worked our forms
over in the light of our two years past
experience. and when we feel we have
them all to suit US, then, wen broad
cast them
The examination Of the individual
has reached a high level in the past
few years. thanks to the life fnsur-
ance companies in particular, she said.
but this is the first attempt, so far as
can be ascertained, to exa mine the
family as a group. Only when the en-
tire family is considered can the in
dfvidual be@ helped constructively, be-
cause until then he probably does not
understand fully the influence family
and heredity may have for him as an
individual
stock breeders have always under
stood this. but unfortunately, human
ity at large does not. and must be
taught by long process of iIlustra-
ton" DR.. Sherbon said.
In connection with the eugenics de-
partment is a collection of charts il
lustrating the principles of heredity,
which has been brought to the fair
by Prof r. W. B. Robertson of Kan
sas university. He has with him also
a group of guinea pigs and turkeys.
with which to demonstrate MendePs
law Of color distribution It Is a most
exhibit.