A group of deaf-mute families from Maine

A group of deaf-mute families from Maine

Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922

Eugenics

Genealogical tables

As part of his research on deafness, Alexander Graham Bell made statistical analyses of the deaf-mutes and determined that deafness was hereditary and that the number of intermarriages between deaf-mutes was high and growing. He concluded that “if the laws of heredity that are known to hold in the case of animals also apply to man, the intermarriage of congenital deaf-mutes through a number of successive generations should result in the formation of a deaf-mute variety of the human race…. The indications are that the congenital deaf-mutes of the country are increasing at a greater rate than the population at large; and the deaf-mute children of deaf-mutes at a greater rate than the congenital deaf-mute population.”Bell went on the speculate about the possibility of legislation to forbid the intermarriage of deaf-mutes but favored determining the causes of intermarriage and discouraging or removing them.

Bell presented his findings to the National Academy of Sciences on November 13, 1883, and his work was subsequently printed as part of the Academy’s Memoirs series. This copy of Bell’s Memoir formerly belonged to Dr. Henry Pickering Bowditch.

Chart showing deaf-mute families, found on page 33 of Alexander Graham Bell's Memoir upon the formation of a deaf variety of the human race

Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922

1885

The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all materials in this collection. For use information, consult Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu

Access to the original work depicted requires advance notice. Contact Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu for additional information

Harvard Medical Library Rare Books Collection (f 29.E.1885.1)

Full text available online here through the Medical Heritage Library

image

1 chart

English

still image

0001936

Gift of Dr. Henry Pickering Bowditch to the Library of Harvard Medical School