Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/565

 BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIOLOGY 549

only, as breeders do, by restricting the output of offspring to indi- viduals who have varied favorably. But we have seen how vast are the acquirements of man. Therefore we can often greatly improve the individual by improving the conditions under which he develops. We have our choice then. Shall we improve the innate qualities of our race by eugenic breeding; or shall we improve the acquirements of the individuals of the race by improving their surroundings ; or shall we do both ? I think all people with any sense of duty to their fellow-creatures will declare that, if practicable, we ought to do both. We should bear in mind, however, that, were eugenic breeding possible, we could improve the race to an unlimited extent; whereas our power of improving the individual by placing him under better conditions is strictly limited. We should remember, moreover, that an improved environment tends ultimately to degrade the race by causing an increased survival of the unfit. Our power to benefit the indi- vidual physically by improving his acquirements is less than our power to benefit him mentally. Most civilized people develop under fairly good physical surroundings. Only in the slums of great cities, as a rule, is bodily growth much stunted and the indi- vidual enfeebled by insufficient nourishment and by bad hygienic conditions. There is every hope, besides, that, with the spread of knowledge and the awakening of the public conscience, the worst features of slums will disappear in the near future. If, then, we wish to improve the nation physically, it must be mainly by selective breeding. Since we are a strong and robust race, most people will agree that this is unnecessary as regards stature, strength, and stamina. But, as we have seen, certain types of men are unfit for existence under civilized conditions of life; for example, people susceptible to consumption or to the charm of alcohol. The experience of very many centuries has proved that it is impossible to abolish the. abuse of alcohol. Among civilized peoples especially, repressive measures at any rate, severely repressive measures actually increase the total amount of drunkenness. It will, I think, prove equally impossible to banish the tubercle bacillus. It is spread by the mere act of coughing. Improved hygiene will result in such a revival of people suscept-