Eugenics Record Office. BULLETIN No. 10A - DNA Patent Database ...

THE SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE’S WORK. 49
Not only those concerned with the education and welfare of the
deaf, but also the advisors and teachers of the blind are discouraging
cacogenic marriages. Such at least is the testimony of Dr. Campbell,
of the Ohio State School for the Blind.
That persons of even less than average intelligence are liable to
bring unfortunately endowed children into the world is evidenced by
the testimony given the committee by several men, five or six out of
a total of thirty, who were cross-examined and who were sterilized in
the Jeffersonville (Indiana) Reformatory.
They expressed their satisfaction with their sterile condition, and
said in substance that they were glad that they would not curse the
world with “criminal children.”
The following extracts from letters written by intelligent persons
demonstrates the fact that such persons are susceptible to eugenic
education:
Letter number one:
I am an “albino,” thirty-seven years old and single; the chief reason I am
not married is I am unwilling to bring into existence another life to labor under
the same disadvantages as I. I write this not in a grumbling, but simply a plain
statement of a plain fact.
Letter number two:
My husband used to drink hard, and died of tuberculosis last October.
Both his father and mother drink hard * * * and all of the family on his
side drink. Now what I would like to know is, will my two children, a girl of
18 months and a boy of 5 years and 6 months, inherit their father’s health and
characteristics, or will they inherit my health, as I was the strongest both
mentally and physically?
I would like to know, as it has often worried me when I think of my
children; if they should be like their paternal grandmother and grandfather I
am sure I would rather the Lord would take them now while they are both
innocent children. * * *
Letter number three:
The male’s grandmother, on his father’s side, died from heart disease, and
the female’s mother had a very serious case of valvular heart trouble, * * *
I should like to know as to whether heart diseases are inheritable
or, if there is only a tendency, may this be effectually warded off?
I shall very sincerely appreciate reliable advice you can give me on this
matter. Perhaps it may assist in securing a freer expression for me to state
that the parties interested broke the engagement on account of the above considerations,
the facts being not known when the engagement was (entered into.
The following extracts from a letter, and the pedigrees that if
describes, are presented in order to illustrate the fact that many persons
upon being educated as to their own and their prospective marriage
mate’s hereditary qualities, will, if hereditary defect be found,
forego a contemplated marriage; or, if already married, will forego
the privileges and comforts of parenthood if it be established that their
offspring would be defective or degenerate.