Facts and opinions relating to the deaf from America.

Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts and opinions relating to the deaf from America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    conditions for the formation of a race of deaf-mutes lias been brought about. ' This goes without saying on the principle of the transmis- sion of hereditary tendencies, and certainly it cannot be a wise system which fosters such marriages. ' If such marriages should continue through several genera- tions I should regard it as almost certain that a deaf-mute race would be produced. It would be, to my mind, no serious objection that a proportion of the first generation of the off- spring of deaf-mutes should be normally formed (i.e. have good hearing); I should expect that the following generations would have a steadily-increasing proportion of deaf-mutes, and, in a certain number of generations, that the major number, or aU, would be deaf. I am not a practical breeder, but have been accustomed to study series of animals, with the view of testing what characteristics were hereditary. I have found that my experience coincided with that of breeders and the opinions of writers like Eibot aiid others, who hold that all characteristics tend to become inherited. ' It would be a very strange contradiction of experience and theory if a deaf-and-dumb race were not produced by continual intermarriage of persons afflicted in this way. In fact, the onus of proof lies with those who assume the negative rather than with those who take the affirmative on this question. ' Wishing you success in your humanitarian efforts, I am very sincerely yours, ' Alpheus Hyatt.' From Br. Bowditch, Professor in Harvard University, Member of the National Academy of Sciences. ' Physiological Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, ' Boylston and Exeter Streets, Boston : May 13, 1888. 'Dear Professor Bell,—1 have received your letter of May 5, relating to the formation of a deaf variety of the human race.