Eugenics in race and state.

  • International Congress of Eugenics
Date:
1923
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Eugenics in race and state. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    355/534 (page 339)
    MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHONEUROSES 339 other individuals in whom a certain disproportion exists among the differ¬ ent parts of the body. The latter, who possess morphologic disharmonies, in excess or in defect, present also in special manner that neurotic diathesis which is responsible for their diminished degree of resistance to the physical and psychic surmenage of life. To promote a proportionate morphogenesis by improving the morphologic characters of the race, and by correcting the morphologic disharmonies of the individual during the period of development, is a problem of mental hygiene which eugenists must earnestly consider. We must reduce the number of extreme macrosplanchnic and extreme microsplanchnic subjects if we want to improve, together with the qualities of the body, the qualities of the mind. This end may be accomplished; 1. By avoiding marriages between two individuals possessing the same morphologic defect or excess, such as between two extreme macrosplanch- nics and between two extreme microsplanchnics. Nature has provided man with some inborn attractions or repulsions, sympathies and antipathies which seem to be directed toward this end. 2. By correcting during infancy and childhood such states of partial or total hypo-evolution and hyper-evolution of the soma which the study of the physiologic age of the subjects may reveal. The correction of such evolutional deviations will be accomplished, .within the limits permitted by the laws of heredity, through a better understanding of the means to treat the disturbances of the endocrine glands. Morphologic anomalies are usually the expression of morbid conditions and of states of dysfunction of the endocrine glands during the prenatal life and during the period of development of the organism, and shoiild be given attention at the proper time, because they are accompanied by nervous anomalies. 3. By keeping these abnormal morphologic types away from such oc¬ cupations and experiences which require physical over-exertion in the case of microsplanchnics and emotional strain in the case of macrosplanchnics. Had this precaution been taken during the last world conflict, in connec¬ tion with the measurement of intelligence of the recruits, the number of the so-called functionally disabled might have been eventually reduced. REFERENCES (1) Dana, C. L.: The somatic causes of psychoneuroses. J. A. M. A. 74:1139 (April 24), 1920. (2) Strecker, E. A.: Physical findings in the psychoneurosis. Arch, of Neurology and Psychiatry, vol. 6, no. 2, 197 (August), 1921.