Claudius F. Mayer: From Plato to Pope Paul / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 17. (Budapest, 1989)
life, influence of licentiousness, of music halls, and to the criminal propaganda of neomalthusianism. Since 1890, everywhere we heard much of "race decadenceand "race suicide". 423 Various organizations were established to study the causes of depopulation, and to find remedies for nation-wide increase in natality. 42 4 Popular writers tried to change the trend by extolling the virtues of motherhood and fecundity. 42 5 Many propositions 42 6 were made to provide privileges, tax exemptions, etc. to married couples with children. Abolition of celibacy was also urged to increase the birth rate. 42 7 Neither was the qualitative aspect of human population forgotten. It was found that the 19th cent, wars, not to mention the 18th ct. revolution, took away much valuable material for propagation, and a gradual degeneration ensued. War eliminates the strongest and healthiest of the population, leaving the weaklings at home to be fathers of the next generation. 42 8 Another dysgenic factor was found in charity, the great paradox of civilization. It induces decay because it saps the vital qualities of men and women. 42 9 Pauperism was felt the result of physical and moral degeneration of the individual to which charity was often a contributing cause. 43 0 In the 1830-ies, intensive study started on the sources of crime. Numerous scientific popular works illustrated the influence of heredity and environment in the genesis of criminals and defectives. 43 1 Many observations also accumulated that drinking of alcoholic beverages to excess caused constitutional and germ injuries, resulting in hereditary defects. 43 2 It was also discovered that in a non-homogeneous population the fertility rate of the components is different, which may cause deterioration of the basic national stock, and further problems. 43 3 Various measures were suggested for improving the health and quality of population, such as seclusion of the unfit (cripples, one-eyed), 43 4 their consumption in military service as far as possible, 43 5 use for servants of those unfit for marriage. Those who blamed modern civilization for the general degeneracy of mankind suggested a return to Nature, to the savages and wild animals. 43 6 To put a stop to pauperism, the only method seems to be to prevent the existence of children of pauper parentage, 43 7 and to cease charity at least periodically. 43 8 In France, with the cessation of the Napoleonic wars, and of the first Empire, more tall people remained at home, and took active part in the procreation of children. Consequently, the height of young people and the number of those fit for military service increased in all French departements by I860. 43 9 German studies also suggested that for future fathers a military service will decidedly have a favorable effect upon the weight, chest circumference, head size, and height of the offspring. 439/a During World War I, it was held possible in England that the less hardy may drift into the Army, and, e.g., the London "hooligan " may replace Tommy Atkins of the old type. In this event, frequent small wars would have a benificial effect in weeding out the unfit part of the population. 44 0 Just about this time (1918), for the improvement of the British race, a national stud-book was suggested, and mating of A-l males to A-l females was encouraged. It was thought that if an A-l race is wanted, it must be bred by selective breeding. 44 1 The environment may improve the individual phenotype, but it cannot improve the race. 44 2 21
