Note 254 — OF MARRIAGE.
Reading edition
We are acquainted with but one instance of Legislative interference, relative to hereditary diseases, and that is to be found in the earlier history of our sister kingdom. The following quotation will explain its nature: “Morbo comitiali, amentia, mania, aut simili tabe, quæ facile in prolem transfunditur, laborantes, intereos ingenti facta indagine inventos, ne genus fæda contagione ab iis qui ex illis prognati, forent læderetur, castraverunt; mulieres hujusmodi morborum quavis tabe leprave infectas procul a virorum consortio ablegaverunt. Quod si harum aliqua concepisse inveniebatur, simul cum fætu nondum edito defodiebatur viva—Voraces, manducones supra quam erat humanum, helluonesque, et perpetuæ ebrietati indulgentes aut addictos, netam fæda monstrain patriæ dedecus supressent flumine mergentes, prius quantum libuit et cibi et potus vorare ac ingurgitare eis præbentes, miti supplicio exterminarunt.”
Scotorum Historiæ a prima Gentis Origine, cum aliarum et rerum et gentium illustratione non vulgari, Libri xix—Hectore Boethio Deidonano auctore—Parisiis 1574, lib. 1, p. 12.
The ancient Greeks appear to have entertained a similar opinion, although they did not ground any legislative enactments upon it; thus Plato commends Esculapius for refusing to patch up persons habitually complaining, lest they should beget children as useless as themselves; being persuaded that it was an injury both to the community and to the infirm person himself, that he should continue in the world, even though he were richer than Midas. De Republ. Lib. III. Upon the same principle Herodicus is censured by Plato as the inventor of an art of teaching the infirm to regulate their exercise and diet in such a manner as to prolong their lives for many years.