Should All People About To Marry Be Medically Examined?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 7, 4 July 1949, Page 7

Should All People About To Marry Be Medically Examined?

(By the Department of Health) In the animal and vegetable world there are many examples of the way in which man has bred animals and plants to suit his needs. Naturally the question is often asked, “Why can’t we improve the human race in the same way.'”’ The answer is not as simple as that of some of the other health problems now being worked out. The child develops from two cells, one from the father and the other from the mother. Each cell contains what are called genes, which carry the qualities that are inherited. Sometimes one or the other set of genes predominates in the child’s characteristics and sometimes there is an even mixture of the two. Characteristics from the grandparents often pop up in children after missing a generation. These considerations complicate the study of heredity.

A proper study of human heredity takes a very long time. We can watch several generations of the lesser animals in the course of a few years, but w<* can study only one generation of humans in a lifetime, However, we already possess some knowledge which enables us to make very good guesses as to the inheritance of certain things, and perhaps it is time we began to make wider use of this knowledge. We could thereby at least go a long way toward eradicating less satisfactory traits in humanity. Compulsory examination of people about to marry and a frank exchange of reports between them might prevent many unfortunate tendencies from being passed on to children.

There are lesser ailments we know to be hereditary and which can therefore be guarded against. For instance, short-sighted parents may have short-sighted children. So these parents should give special care to their childi'en’s eyes.

If you have' any misgivings about your own ailments being hereditary, ask your doctor and he will advise you as to whether special care need be taken in that direction in your children.