t8Section II.L. Querton,
as soon as possible to the masses of the people the individual conditions,
fully understood, which alone permit a favourable and healthy procreation.
In a word, it is necessary, by every means and as soon as possible, to
organise a great movement in order to show to the greatest number of human
beings the absolute necessity for a conscientious, i.e., an enlightened pro
creation. We must bravely approach the civilising of the reproductive
instinct, which alone has remained in a barbarous state amongst all the so-
called civilised nations from the earliest times.
Then only, when societies have fulfilled this duty, will they have the
right to investigate what they ought and can effect against those for whom
future offspring would be recognised as fatally disastrous.
Finally, it is fully understood that researches relating to selection in
the human species must be pursued in a parallel manner, as is now done
with such fruitful results for animals and vegetables in Genetics, and in
throwing light upon the constantly increasing conquests of this other science.
PRACTICAL ORGANIZATION OF EUGENIC ACTION.
(Abstract.)
By Dr. Louis Querton,
Professor at the University of Brussels.
Now that many studies on the physiology and hygiene of reproduction
of man have been made, and many investigations on degeneration have
been conducted, we may face the problem of the betterment of the race,
from a practical standpoint.
If the eugenic action cannot yet strive directly against hereditary trans
mission of anomalies, it can fight successfully against the causes of
degeneration which act during the development of the individual.
Physical and social environment influences these causes, which, on account
of their growing complexity, create more and more obstacles to the normal
evolution of the individual, while at the same time they force him to acquire
greater and more varied aptitudes.
To thwart the prejudicial action of the environment on the development
of the individual, the systematic organization of this development seems
to be of first importance.
