By destroying the females the breeding necessarily
diminished, and the number of the weaker and dependent classes
became less. In other countries persons having children beyond
their ability to support were privileged to sell them to
citizens, who contracted to raise them on condition that they
became their slaves.
General Law, and the Influence of War.--In the increase of the
world's population, although circumstances may for the time alter
it, a general average of prolificity has, in the long run, been
maintained. In the history of every nation artificial
circumstances, such as fashion, war, poverty, etc., at some
period have temporarily lowered the average of prolificity; but a
further search finds another period, under opposite
circumstances, which will more than compensate for it. The effect
of a long-continued war or wars on generation and prolificity has
never been given proper consideration. In such times marriages
become much less frequent; the husbands are separated from their
wives for long periods; many women are left widows; the females
become in excess of the males; the excitement of the times
overtops the desire for sexual intercourse, or, if there is the
same desire, the unprolific prostitute furnishes the
satisfaction; and such facts as these, coupled with many similar
ones, soon produce an astonishing effect upon the comparative
birth-rate and death-rate of the country.
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