Public Health Problems. By John J. F. Sykes. (Walter Scott.)
--Mr. Sykes begins at the beginning, for he discusses in some detail the subject of "heredity." " Can the birth of the unfit be prevented ? " is a problem which suggests itself on the threshold of such an inquiry as this. Our author's answer, would be that there are so many conditions to be considered that it is hopeless to "control so many factors by any other means than the action of the individuals immediately concerned." And how is the action to be influenced ? By the cultivation of the knowledge of natural laws. The prospect of improvement is indeed remote. First you have to instruct ; and here but a small beginning has been made,—for even the educated are often strangely ignorant in the matter. And then, having instructed, you have to make the in- structed judgment stronger than passion,—a more difficult task, it is needless to say. Still, every effort does something to bring about the desired result. Mr. Sykes' carefully constructed work should rank high among such efforts. The result of a large observation and a careful study, it deserves a most respectful attention.
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