POSTERITY

By F. W. WHITE, M.D., L. R.C.P. AND S.E., with foreword by Major Leonard Darwin. Gallon Publishing Company, New York. 1930.

The subject of this book is the inter-locking relationships of world-population numbers and the desirable or undesirable qualities of that population. The author who seems a competent biologist and medical man reviews the evidence for and against the incidence of natural selection upon civilized man. He reaches a negative conclusion. Some biologists and sociologists might disagree with him in part there. The main thought of the book is how to deal in a preventive manner with the somewhat high birth rates among the inferior and unfit stocks in present-day society. If natural selection be not operative, what then may be other remedies? The author, in effect, proposes a program of rational societal selection although he does not call it such. He calls for the application of three things; namely, a more widespread use of preventive medicine; greater extension of birth-control knowledge and practices; and, increased emphasis on a rational scientific education which is to be begun earlier in life for all children. A complete biological education coupled with an understanding of worldpopulation problems involving questions of the food-supply, shelter and clothing may do much to avoid the perils of over-crowding and the consequent threat of war. This latter aspect of his subject the author finds to be the most ominous for the future. An extraordinary range of subjects is dealt with in the short compass of some hundred and thirty-three pages.

Department of Sociology.