CHAPTER IV.
PROLIFICITY.
General Historic Observations .-- Prolificity is a much discussed subject, for besides its medical and general interest it is of importance in social as well as in political economy.

Superfluous population was a question that came to consciousness early; Aristotle spoke of legislation to prevent the increase of population and the physical and mental deterioration of the race,--he believed in a population fixed as regards numbers,--and later Lycurgus transformed these precepts into a terrible law.

Strabonius reports that the inhabitants of Cathea brought their infants at the age of two months before a magistrate for inspection.

The strong and promising were preserved and the weak destroyed.

The founders of the Roman Empire followed a similar usage.