THE HERITAGE

White Ribbon, Volume 18, Issue 9, 1 October 1946, Page 2

THE HERITAGE

In the “Southern Cros-,” of August Mill, in the series entitled “Having a Haby," an article appeared under the heading, “Your child cannot inherit acquired characteristics.” Highly scientific terms are employed in the statements made to establish the truth of this, and to the casual reader it would seem to mean much more than it really does. Unless real knowledge as to the ensuing specially typed subheading, “Drunkenness acquired,” were brought to bear on the article, it would be fatally easy for the conclusion to be drawn that a drunken parentage could not affect the child, unless he were brought tip in, and subjected to, the influences of surroundings which had produced the drunkenness of the parent. This is a terribly dangerous idea for anyone to hold. The apparent suggestion is that there need be no apprehension as to the development of the child, if he is removed from the immediate environment.

That this is untrue is clearly and terribly certain. The writer of the articles does NOT in tact, say this. Care is taken to avoid the actual laying down of the principle. “Drunkenness," it says, “cannot be inherited.” The whole issue is blurred in this sentence. What is “drunkenness"? It is the state, or habit* of being drunk. Of course, a “state" or “habit” cannot be inherited. The iirst is a temporary condition, and the second comes as the result of practice.

Think, for a moment, of the children of, say, musical parents. They cannot be born musical performers. The son of a sailor is not born a sailor, and the child of a thief is not born dishonest. Hut no one can say that such children are not likely to exhibit, at an early age. the right trend in the direction of becoming musical artists, mariners, or thieves. While no suggestion is made that this follows in every, or even in a majority of cases, we claim that a sufficient weight of evidence i s at.iil.iMe t ll pr<>\e that very*<>ft<n does happen that the musical parents’ child shows, at an early age, his musical bias; that the little lad of the sailor loves anything connected with a

Dial, and will in many cases, “follow 0 the sea”; while the dishonest streak of a thieving parent will show up unmistakably i" his poor offspring. The article referred to makes a point of the power of environment, but says no word to warn mothers and fathers of the dread possibility of inherited TENDENCY.

It used to be thought that tuberculosis was an inherited disease. Research has shown that it is passed on by infection, and that the same source of infection is responsible for the appearance of the disease in those of the same family. Hut, research has also shown that a very marked tendency towards its development is found among those of a family in which it has occurred. That this mav be

guarded against is a thing for which we have reason to be thankful, but the fact remains that while one person can be exposed to infection and suffer no ill effects, it wotdd be dangerous in the extreme for another, because of the predisposition. \\ hat is true of tuberculosis, is even more true of the drinking danger. It is the absence of this fact that makes the article under consideration something to deplore. Of all the dangers which can beset the unborn child, there is not one so much to be feared and dreaded as that of the drinking TENDENCY. , A litle while ago 1 heard of a child, a little girl born of drunken parents. Her mother died at her birth and she was taken away from the home and brought up in surroundings where drink was never used. She had never seen or tasted it in her life. At the age of seven she was in the street when someone accidemallv broke a bottle of brandy, the contents of which ran out on the pavement. An eyewitness said that the child lav down and lapped up the liquid. My authority for this story is unimpeachable. W hat about this child’s inheritance? Other instances are told bearing out the truth that an INHERITED TENDENCY can be transmitted.

(»od forbid that we should appear to imply that there is no help to be found tor such children as are likely to have this dread thing to face in their lives. Environment, training, example, and above all else, the love of Christ, are set against the evil power, and in main cases, triumph. Hut let no man or woman imagine that indulgence in drinking habits can be relied upon to pass over the unborn children without danger of many kinds. Of the physical dangers, too much cannot be said. Dr. Eraser Harris says: "Possibly one of the most fruitful sources of the birth of infants who will later become imbecile is in the alcoholic sperms of the father.”

Dr. Watt Eden says: “I do not think it can be disputed that alcoholic consumed by the mother will pass into the foetal circulation.”

In the case of this deadly peril, a factor should be noted vvlucli differentiates it from the inheritance of such other tendencies as those mentioned above. In the musical, sea-faring, thieving possibilities there is not the avtual, material, physical effect Wrought about by the use of alcohol. Here is a definite thing; who>e effects are as marked as if they were written down. How can anyone who lias the vvellUing of the child, or of the nation, at heart, write or say anything t*» lessen the vigilance of the parent? That the sins of the fathers are still visited upon the children is a natural law which operates as it has evci' done. Ry all means, let every effort be made to save the innocent victims, but let us

see to it that no words of ours shall lull the guilty parent into a false sccurit v.

The subject is too vast for full investigation here. Insanity, deformity, imbecility. and the tendency »o disease tell tbe tale to all who will use their eyes and brains. God grant that the truth mav lie made plain for all to see. —M.C.