WCP3962

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

June 30th. 1906

Dear Mr Harris¹

I am very glad that you agree with me in most of my heresies. I am glad also that are going to read my little Vaccination book (Swan Sonnenschein 4/-) as you will there find a mass of information as to the ignorance & misstatements of doctors (almost universally) which I think will surprise you. They seem absolutely incapable of reasoning from, or even understanding, statistical ordnance.

The whole physiological & pathological argument against Vacc^n. is best set forth in Dr Scott Tebb's book, "A Century of Vaccination".² I totally distrust & [2] disbelieve in the whole doctrine of inoculation of serums for the prevention or cure of rabies diphtheria &c. which even if it were proved that they ever did any good, would be most objectionable – (1) from the unknown diseases & injuries they probably cause, & (2) by leading to the belief that we may neglect the fundamental causes of disease if we use a nostrum to guard against the some of their effects.

The one point on which you say you "differ radically" from me, is one as to which there is almost universal misconception among educated people who have not studied the matter. I quite agree as to "clever boys" in any departments coming usually from a "clever stock". That is, that [3] natural or inherent abilities ^{or capacities} of the parent are transmitted. But, what is to be proved is that the additional ability derived from exercise & training of the faculties, is also inherited. This, Weismann³ & Galton,⁴ & all the best modern writers, deny. I gave a general sketch of the subject in 2 articles in the Fortnightly (April, May 1893)^{5, 6} reprinted in my "Studies".⁷ Since then much additional evidence has been adduced. Mr Archdall Reid⁸ has shown (in his volumes on "The Present Evolution of Man"⁹) that diseases are not inherited (except in one or two rare cases which can be accounted for), and in his recent very powerful volumes on "The Principles of Heredity,"¹⁰ he has put the argument for the non-hereditary of acquired characters most convincingly & has shown, not only that such [4] inheritance is not required for evolution, but that it would often prevent it. Breeders of animals also find that, if a dog or horse is lamed when young, & loses all the advantage of exercise & training it is not the least injured for breeding, & that its offspring have all the good qualities of the ^its stock. Still more curious, our physicians who are studying the causes of degeneration & infant mortality have almost all come to the conclusion, that, even among the slums, the children of half-starved & sickly parents are born as healthy and strong as those of the well-to-do, — all the subsequent disease & mortality arising from bad conditions. There is no ante-natal degeneration! See Mr Spargos' remarkable & beautiful book "The Bitter Cry of the Children"¹¹ (1906).

Sound ideas on this subject are most vital for the causes of Reform & progress.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

I am very glad you & Mrs. Harris have been to see poor Silk.¹² I hear from another friend that he is very feeble. A. R. W.