Hereditary descent : its laws and facts, illustrated and applied to the improvement of mankind : with hints to woman; including directions for forming matrimonial alliances so as to produce, in offspring, whatever physical, mental, or moral qualities may be desired : together with preventives of hereditary tendencies / by O.S. Fowler.

  • Fowler, O. S. (Orson Squire), 1809-1887.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hereditary descent : its laws and facts, illustrated and applied to the improvement of mankind : with hints to woman; including directions for forming matrimonial alliances so as to produce, in offspring, whatever physical, mental, or moral qualities may be desired : together with preventives of hereditary tendencies / by O.S. Fowler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    Grt^ai infii (roin Icms-loveH families. 'J'he woniPn of our nation This point bears somewhat upon a point agitated by the Gcnejal Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, namely, whcMher a widower should be allowed to marry his first wife's sister. Such a marriage, probably, violates no physiological or mental law, and is therefore right; and, to boggle their brains, and divide the churches, and waste so much wind and ink on a matter not wrong in itself, and productive of no evil consequences, is to be wise in non-essentials. The marriage of other near blood relations is governed by the same laws, and attended with the same evil consequences, which follow the marriage of cousins; and the nearer the re- lation of parents, the worse for the offspring. SECTION VII. SUMMARY; OR CONCLUDING INFERENCES AND REMARKS. Fust: All great men arc from a long-lived parentage. ^^ asliington's mother was found at worlc bi Jier garden when «ighty-two; and died at eighty-five. Franklin's parents were aged. O'CoimcIl is from a very long-lived stock, and in liis prime now when he is past sixiy. Charles G. Finney's father lived to be about S4, and mother above SO; and a brother of his father is now ahve. and considerably above *^\h De Vritt Clinton's ancestors were long-lived, and also disiingnished for talents. Those who settled New England were generally long-lived, and to that cause, m no inconsid- erable degree, is to be attributed our national greatness and talents. John Guiucy Adams' great grand father lived to the age of 93, and father 91; and* so of Dr. Bowditch, Car- lyle, Dr. Johnson, Webster, and a host of others. Nor do I know a disti:iguished man who is not Indeed, that very condition of physical strength already shown to be absolutely necessary to sustain a very powerfid brain, also gives and accompanies longevity. Secondly: Every thing depends on the women of the na- tion. As thcij are, so are future generations; and nothing