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Homo-culture or, The improvement of offspring through wiser generation By: Martin Luther Holbrook |
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[Illustration: THE THEORETICAL BABY AT 18 MONTHS.]
HOMO CULTURE; OR, THE IMPROVEMENT OF OFFSPRING THROUGH
WISER GENERATION.
BY M. L. HOLBROOK, M. D.,
EDITOR OF "THE JOURNAL OF HYGIENE," AUTHOR OF "HYGIENE
OF THE BRAIN," "HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE MEMORY,"
"ADVANTAGES OF CHASTITY," ETC., ETC.
A New Edition of "Stirpiculture," Enlarged and Revised.
NEW YORK:
M. L. HOLBROOK & CO. LONDON:
L. N. FOWLER & CO. 1899.
Copyright by
M. L. Holbrook.
1897.
Entered at Stationers' Hall.
PREFACE.
During all ages since man came to himself, there have been enlightened
ones seeking to improve the race. The methods proposed have been
various, and in accordance with the knowledge and development of the
time in which they have appeared. Some have believed that education and
environment were all sufficient; others that abstinence from
intoxicating drinks would suffice. A very considerable number have held
the idea that by prenatal culture alone the mother can mould her unborn
child into any desired form. The disciples of Darwin, many of them, have
held that natural and sexual selection have been the chief factors
employed by nature to bring about race improvement. No doubt all these factors have been more or less effectual, but the
time has come for man to take special interest in his own evolution, to
study and apply, so far as possible, all the factors that will in any
way promote race improvement. In the past this has not been done. We are
not yet able to do it perfectly, our knowledge is too deficient, lack of
interest is too universal, but we can make a beginning; greater
thoughtfulness may be given to suitable marriages; improved environment
may be secured; better hygienic conditions taken advantage of; food may
be improved; the knowledge we have gained in improving animals and
plants, so far as applicable, may aid us; air, exercise, water,
employment, social conditions, wealth and poverty, prenatal conditions,
all have an influence on offspring, and man should be able, to some
extent, to make them all tell to the advantage of future generations. Whatever the conditions of existence, man is able by his intellect to
modify and improve them, and make them favorably serve unborn children. Herbert Spencer says: "On observing what energies are expended by father
and mother to attain worldly successes and fulfil social ambition, we
are reminded how relatively small is the space occupied by their
ambition to make their descendants physically, morally and
intellectually superior. Yet this is the ambition which will replace
those they now so eagerly pursue, and which, instead of perpetual
disappointments, will bring permanent satisfactions." If the chapters included in this volume should help to arouse in the
minds of readers, and especially the younger portion of them, some
healthy feelings relating to the improvement of offspring it will have
fulfilled its aim. Two of them have been given as lectures before societies, the main
object of which was the discussion of subjects bearing on evolution and
human progress, and they are included in this volume because they have a
close relation to the main subject, but the others were written
especially for this work. While there may appear in a few cases a slight amount of repetition, the
author trusts the reader will not consider it as unpardonable... Continue reading book >>
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