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61
PHYSICAL DETERIORATION.
From time to time, in a more or less sporadic way, small portions of
the population of this country have been examined as to height and
weight at certain ages. The number taken on each occasion was far too
small to enable an effective comparison being made. To state the general
result, it was found on comparing the two extreme classes, that the
average stature of boys in our public schools was five inches more than
that of boys of the same age in industrial schools. Unfortunately, we
are bound to admit in the consideration of this matter of physical
deterioration that, at the present time, we have no data by which an
accurate comparison can be made of large sections of the various classes
at certain ages of the population in regard to height, weight, chest
measurement, breadth of shoulders, breadth of hips, and, what is most
important, size of the jaws, at the present time and the period of, say 50
years ago. We are, therefore, thrown upon our own individual experiences
for an opinion as to the amount of degeneration which is going on in the
race at the present time. I do not believe that any one is disposed to
admit that the fine young men and women of the upper and middle
classes we see around us, as a whole, show any signs of degeneracy. On
the contrary they appear to me by their athletic habits, to be more
vigorous and healthy than those of a quarter of a century ago. I am sorry
that we cannot say as much for the non-technical and casual labour
classes in our large and crowded commercial centres. The most casual
observer, whose duty it is to reside or work among these sections, cannot
fail to be deeply impressed by the fearful waste of human life that is
occurring and which is brought about largely by the filthy, drunken, and
careless habits of the people. These habits have been largely induced by
parental neglect, and by the failure to equip the male portion in early life
with a trade or calling which will develop and maintain them as
respectable citizens. It has been said over and over again by all our
best authorities on the subject, and I am sure we are pleased to second it,
that among the lower classes of the population the three or four years
immediately succeeding a boy's elementary school life effectually
determine his character, career and future prospects. The boy who is
turned upon the street to get his living at 14 years of age, or who takes
to such casual vocations for which he is unfitted at the age of 18, runs a
great chance of finding himself in the ranks of the great army of
undesirables when he has reached manhood. Many of these join the
Services, and as many of them are the product of the same unfortunate
class, they are often tainted with disease that physically unfits them for
sustained labour. It was in consequence of the gloomy reports sent home