Tin Determination of Sex

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1149, 19 November 1904, Page 3

Tin Determination of Sex

An Improbable Theory

Professor Lorni is alleged to have slated at St, Louis, where the International Congress of Scientists has been Meeting, that biologists are now sufficiently advuucod in their science to be ablo to oontro! the sex of newly-formed cells, and of saying whether or not tho nowly-geneiated body shall be rnalo or female. The statement, being o"ly reported in ono journal, apparently requiroß corroboration, which is not forthcoming.

The professor's name occupies an hon-. oumfclo place on the roll of American scientists, and any nmioiiiicouiont he makes, For this leason (says the correspondent of the Dui'y Telegraph) I sought out several biologioal experts in New York to-day, and asked their views on tho pro. bloui which Professor Sohonok fnilod to solvo, With ono accord they refused to express a definite opinion on Professor Loeb's tllegod staleinont until a full report of bis acnnl words has buu given. Columbia University is olosen for tho vacation, and I was unable to iiio Profossor Wilson,

Those who consented to speak, whilo declining to give the authority of their mimes, said tho statemont was apparently ncredible. Several discussed Professor Schenck's investigation of tho same problem, with tho object of showing how littlo is actually known of the subject. Professor Schenok really died a victim of his delusion that the diot of tho parents was the main determining cause of the sox of tho child. To quote one export; In the future all things are possible, but so fan-s iho present stale of knoWlcdgo goos ihoro ia mining to warrant the idea that the determination of sex is humanly possible, For all pratioul purposes tlm old housewife who recommended her daughter to tio a pieco of wool on her left litdo finger to seoure a boy, and on her right littlo ringer to seoure a girl, knew as much as wo do regarding the real point at issue. Progress has certainly been made in biological Study, but much more is required, btfore wo can solve the sex problem of humanity, which has defied thi> students of all the ages." After tho biologists, 1 saw Dr. Cragin, of the Royal College of Physieaus and Sur geous, and Dr, Mead, of ttio s-imo institution. Professor Leob was an old student of obstetrics under Dr, Cragin previous to undertaking studies in Europe. Both alluded to Professor Sclienok's mistaken theories as showing tho pitfall* into which the biologist may fall, Thoydid not say that future science would be unablo to discover tho scorot regarding tho determination of sex, but as medioal men they could Bay at present that they woro simply gmping in darkness on tho point,

(gl'rofossor Loeb's statement has filled to crento oxoiteuient in Amorica. Eeuiark* ablo discoveries have beon announced thore frequently within the last six months, and certain newspapers havo announced curoa for cancer, leprosy, and other diseases hitherto regarded as incurable, all of which have proved unfounded, Quito recently it was seriously stated tho groat problem of blenching negroes' skins 'vhito had been solved, This also has proved to bo a delusion,