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 Reprint from
THE SWEDISH NATION IN WORD AND PICTURE
1921

THE HISTORY OF A
SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE AS SEEN
FROM A RACE.BIOLOGICAL
STAND.POINT
BY

HERMAN LUNDBORG

PRINTED BY HASSE W. TULLBERG CO. LTD.

STOCKHOLM SWEDEN
>

1921
 The original of this book is in

the Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright restrictions in

the United States on the use of the text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013999861
 THE HISTORY OF A
SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE AS SEEN
FROM A RACE<=BIOLOGICAL
STAND.FOINT
BY

HERMAN LUNDBORG
THE HISTORY OF A SWEDISH FARMER'S
LINEAGE AS SEEN FROM A RACE=
BIOLOGICAL STAND.POINT*
BY

HERMAN LUNDBORG

A COMMONWEALTH
individuals, but also of households
stitute

for a »culture» State.

preserve,
a people.
It is
A
CONSISTS, AS
and
IS KNOWN, NOT ONLY OF
families.
constant familystie engenders the safest foundation
well^organized community to
in the interest of every
and further strengthen such a social principle, which has shown itself
These combined con»

to be beneficial from times immemorial.

For this purpose, we must acquire a thorough knowledge of a large number
of kinsmen, during several generations. We must confess that very much is
needed, before we have reached this goal. Thither we shall arrive sooner or
later however.
We must never forget, that the greatest opulence a country possesses, is its

own people, provided they are of a good stock. We Swedes are, in this respect,
fortunately situated. We
should not therefore shun any sacrifice, to cherish, and
augment the biological inheritance, which a generous nature has bestowed on us.
It is inadvisable to feel too secure in the belief that this vigorous source is in=

exhaustible. It can decrease, or even wholly disappear, if we do not understand

how economize sufficiently.

to
Ancient sages have given utterance to the wise saying »Know thyself». It
applies to us even in these days. But we must add more and say, »Learn to
know thyself, your kindred and your people».
When it is a question of putting this precept into practice, we must not be
satisfied with only a superficial knowledge, but we should penetrate further into
the matter, as other scientific explorers do such as historians, biologists, physi*
cians etc.
Wemust learn to know thoroughly the various stocks, their life and condi*
tions, and the forces which generate development, in one or the other direction.
We should therefore carefully pay attention to biological, physiological and pa«
thological conditions existing in the same, that is to say, to obtain knowledge
regarding the constitution of the family, its disposition, its social value and
ability etc.
One often hears it said that nothing is to be gained by investigating the
conditions of »a farmer's family, which is similar to all others*. This is a great

mistake. The social position of a family, is by no means the most important

• This representation is grounded upon the author's work :
— Medizinisch'biologiche Familienforschungen innerhalb eines
2232=-k6pfigen Bauerngeschlechtes in Schweden (Medical=biological Family^researches containing 2232 copies of peasant"families in
Sweden). Text und Atlas. G. Fischer, Jena 1913.
 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

point. One can compare the Swedish race with a lofty and vigorous fir. The
farmers may
be discribed as the »heart» of the tree itself.
By fact, we should give this type of family our special atten*
reason of this
tion. Moreover, we have here a very accessible field of labour.
A scientific investigator would, without doubt, naturally be interested in any
human family whatever, of high or low social standard. Farmers, peasants and
labourers, should interest us, quite as much as noblemen or princes.
It is not rank, titles or, brilliant careers which are the subject of our studies
in raceshygiene, but it is human beings
a question, of larger or smaller groups of
connected by blood, or race. It may easily happen, that a single poor, and de^
generated family can teach us more than a dozen others of average type.
The goal, which we are striving to reach is to acquire a thorough know«
ledge of the laws of inheritance as appertaining to mankind. In the struggle,
which is before us, we must undertake assaults from as many different positions
as possible.

THE SWEDISH LISTER FAMILY.

The reason why just this family of farmers, who have lived a very long
time in Listerland in the south west of Blekinge, is the subject of such thorough
investigations, is that a very uncommon family disease obtains amongst
its mem»
bers. This disease is known in medicinal literature, as myoklonus epilepsy. It
appears occasionally in other parts of the world, but nowhere is it so prevalent
as in the Blekinge family in question.
It has not been observed in other of Sweden.
parts In Norway it is
unknown.
When I, at the end of 1890 arrived in Listerland, my task was to in.
first
vestigate the nature of the disease. The doctors in the district had no clear idea
regarding the same.
had, therefore to begin from the
I
beginning, and had to
note all cases of
from which, I worked out a genealogical table.
illness,
talented school-teacher, who was a member of the
A
family in question, and his
nearest relatives, were very helpful to me. I am very grateful for the
admirable
assistance they gave me during my investigations.
With the
help of the parochial register I succeeded,
after much labour to
obtain such
complete genealogical tables that I could trace
the origin of 'the
various branches. It appeared that all lines,
as it were, met at one point, that
IS to say, all persons who were
attacked by myoklonus epilepsy, 17
altogether
belonging to 10 different households, were offsprings
of the same ancestors, who
lived m the 18th century. In other families in the same district not a single

probable that the disease was hereditary, and

not originating from any local
ditions, in other words not. of endemic ^on!
type

I now began to eagerly study the disease

itself, its nature and development.
 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

Descriptions of this disease are very seldom met with in foreign publications.
Boys as well as girls are attacked by it. Its usual progression is about like this.
At an age of 7 to 10 years, the child is subject to nightly attacks, which are repeated
with shorter intervals for some years.
During the day very little happens at first. Gradually however, a change
appears. Skaking fits occur and, occasionally muscular spasms take place here
and there, in different parts of the body. These symptoms gradually increase in
violence, and spread.
A marked symptomatical periodicity is soon observed. The patients have
comparatively quiet days, followed by days when the muscles become more and
more agitated. Then one or more epileptic fits occur, after which the patient
becomes comparatively quiet again. In this way it continues through life with
increasing violence. Many patients die early, others having the advantage of
good attention may live 20 or 30 years. They are a burden to themselves, and
their environment, for in a few years after the appearance of the disease, they are
helpless, and must be waited upon, and looked after as if small children. They
are very troublesome as patients, for they are not only helpless, but as a rule
stubborn and passionate.
The muscular spasms, and attacks of cramp keep the patient bed^ridden.
During the most troublesome days, the muscular reflexibility is so increased that
figuratively speaking a puff of air will be enough to produce spasms.
The patients cannot, under such conditions, take food. It is difficult, or
even quite impossible to feed them, because, as soon as the food is placed in
the mouth, (whether in solid or liquid form) irregular muscular spasms in the
mouth and throat commence. All is ejected again. It is a sorrowful sight.
No radical remedy has been discovered for this serious disease. All our
efforts are nearly fruitless in combating veritable inherited diseases. Both phy*
sicians, and quack>=doctors have been resorted to, and large sums of money have
been sacrificed —
without result.
This fact should certainly open the eyes of both doctors, and the general
public to the importance of taking preventative race^hygienic steps. new A
epoch is approaching, when these ideas will be established. It will come as a
blessing to both families and peoples.
Isoon observed, during my investigations in the district, that this family in
question was a rich field of labour for a more penetrating study. It was now
considerably degenerated being numerous however and now living within a small
limited district. One could here collect race^biological material of great scientific
value, thus being well able to throw a light upon social and race^biological
questions which are yet in darkness. Such a task however would require a
scientific explorers time, and energy for a number of years.

The original forefather of the large family under investigation was a farmer
in a prominent position, a member of the District Council, member of Parliament.
Per (1721 — 1804). He was dark, healthy and robust, talented quick-tempered,
imperious, often involved in disputes, and law^suits, even with his own children.
 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

invisible from generation to generation, from family to family and irom

links
country to country. Below, we shall give examples of this.
The table shows that there must be a propensity for a certain recessive
disease to appear in one or several of the children. If one of the parents is
effected by the disease, and the other is a healthy homozygot, all the children
will be sound, though heterozygots. If the propensity of the disease is a domi*
nant attribute, so in the last mentioned case, all the children will be affected.
On the other hand, if both the parents are sound, although heterozygots with
propensity for a certain recessive disease, 25 % of the children will be affected.
This is a very common occurrence with human beings, that is to say, an epilep*
tic or a person of weak mind, may have healthy parents or even forefathers for
several or many generations, for heterozygotism can be inherited from generation
to generation, without the disease appearing.
In such families in which the propensity of the disease of a recessive nature
is inherited, one often finds one or of few cases of the disease here and there
in different households, whereas other families or branches are free from the
same. The disease appears within households with collateral expansion, though
seldom in 2 or more successive generations. Numerous marriages between rela*
tions increase the number of such cases apparently, as persons with similar here*
ditary propensities are thus often united.
Moreover it is of great importance to remember, that not a few people,
who appear to be quite sound, are often bearers, and transmitters of serious pro»
pensities, they are, so called ^conductors*.
From the present scientific standpoint, we cannot unfortunately beforehand
distinguish between homozygotically and heterozygotically sound persons, which
however would be of great importance, because heterozygots often, in future ge»
nerations, generate persons affected by the disease.

In our investigations, we have progressed so far, that we know that

the male
ancestor of the Lister family was without doubt a heterozygot, the
female ancestor
was most probably a healthy homozygot. As I have just shown, Mendel's
law
demands that 50 % of the children should be heterozygots with a propensity
for
the disease and 50 % healthy without any propensity. Let us now see
if this
agrees with the true position wi'thin this family. The number of the ancestral
parents' children was 6, of which three in all probability would be heterozygots,
and three healthy homozygots.
How we know if this is the case or not, as all are apparantly
can
sound?
»By we know the tree.» On investigation, we find that 3
the fruit
of the branches
of the family had unhealthy offspring, when married
with relations, but not the
other three. The matter thus stands as we had
expected
From the heredity table we find further, that 2 unhealthy
individuals (females
of the Blekmge family) were married, and had offspring,
diseased. Even this circumstance is quite in
none of whom were
agreement with Mendel's law For
If one of the parents is a healthy homozygot,
(without any propensity) and the
 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

other an unhealthy homozygot, we can expert that all the children will be healthy;
but should be noted: all have the propensity that is to say; all are heterozy*
it

gots. Three of these children having attained mature age, emigrated to Australia,
and married (not to relations). Half the number of the children of these mar*
riages will be heterozygots. When these marry in Australia, 50 % of their
children heterozygots, and so on.
will be Let us imagine that 2 brothers or
sisters, who both heterozygots in time to come
are —
e. g. in a hundred years
-

or more —
remove with their families to a distant part of the country. Their
children perhaps grow up without having any neighbours; and then it is highly
probable that cousins marry, that is to say, new sources of the disease, appear
there occasioned by such marriages, which result in a fresh appearance in the
offspring, of myoklonus epilepsy (see generation VII in the table).
Parents, who see such a disease break out in one of the children, are very
horrified. They have most likely forgotten long ago, that they originated from
Sweden. And they probably know nothing of the family disease in Blekinge.
They resort to a doctor for help and advice. The doctor asks them the reason
of this disease in the child. The parents would give then, as now, the first
»local» reasons, whichcame to hand.
We will give as an example, what a doctor in these days, would hear from
the parents: A child has perhaps been out playing, on a very warm day, and
drunk cold water. The first attack occurs the same night. The parents think
that the heat, and the drinking of cold water, are the cause of the illness, and
tell Or they suggest that the child has eaten poisonous berries
the doctor this.
etc., etc. The who perhaps has an inkling of the true cause, probably
doctor,
enquires. »Do you think that it may be a hereditary disease.* He gets a de*
cidedly negative reply as follows. »We know nobody in our family who has ever
had the disease.» Here the matter is supposed to be settled. If it is a really
clever and »schooled» physician, he is in a position to inform them, that medical
science has discovered long ago, that the disease is decidedly hereditary, although
it only appeared in solitary cases, that is to say, in a certain percentage
has
amongst children, if both the parents have a propensity for the disease, otherwise
only the propensity is inherited. Now if the parents are in a low state of
culture, the doctor cannot convince them of this, at least not as a rule, in
these days.
They retain their idea of the importance of local causes, and think the doctor
does not know his business. They resort to a quack^doctor, who has, as they
think, a knowledge of the disease
better in question. This is the usual idea
amongst ignorant and unintelligent people.

The Lister family was at its best, during the latter half of the 18th century.
They were far above other families in the district in question.
The members were called »the great», several of them were elected to Parlia*
ment as already stated, »Farmers
and one of them played an important part in the
Party» during the end of the 18th century. They deteriorated, however, in the
beginning of the 19th century, when they distilled their own alcohol, and thus
10 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

increased in an alarrning
became drunkards. Then degeneration appeared, and
occurred between relations^
degree, on account of the numerous marriages which
whole, in such
Now. a hundred years afterwards, the family is. as a ^ "^J" m
Alcohol collapse.
state that, in many cases, are signs of a veritable
there
often as before,
and consanguinity still appear, but nothing like so
is often ^e ^^''l"'''^'
case that the
great fecundity in the families. As a matter of fact, it
pleased at tnis,
Fathers and mothers are not
at all
parents have 8 to 10 children.
but wish to have smaller families. x * u f
to any great extent, but
Preventative methods have not been resorted to,
suckling period as much as
they have adopted the alternative of extending the
possible, usually 2 years, in the belief that a fresh
conception cannot then take
period does
place. Experience shows, however that such an extended suckhng
not prevent a new conception.
women must therefore nourish, not only a child more than
Several of these
one year old. but also an embryo. 8 or 10 such periods have occurred
When
condition she is
in a woman's lifetime, we can easily imagine what a miserable
in, though still under 40 years of age. To fortify themselves, they resort to
coffee in large quantities.
stimulating mediums, such as alcohol, but, chiefly
The extended suckling periods, the frequent confinements, the great consumption
of coffee, have without doubt increased the miserable condition of these women.
Yet it is to be noted, that several of the mothers, on account of degenera*
tion, have lost the capability of suckling the child, which is also a signi*
ficant fact.
I wish to mention that in my opinion, deterioration of the family has
also
been caused by the emigration to America and Australia, which has taken place
to a rather large extent, from that part of the country, during the last decennaries.
In all probability it was the most robust persons who emigrated. The less
healthy who remained behind, generally married relatives as unhealthy as themselves,
and thus one cannot be surprised at the result. In addition to emigration, they remo*
ved. of course, to other parishes. It is possible, that they, who have been fortunate
enough to escape the general collapse of the stock, may be the progenitors of
new families, who under favourable conditions would be regenerated.
One and the same family can thus be good material for the study of both
degeneration and regeneration.
On who are on the upward
the other hand, there are naturally whole families
grade. A
thorough study of such families may be as interesting, or even more
so, than an investigation of those which degenerate. As above mentioned the
male ancester lived from 1721 to 1804. In his time the family was rich and
respected. They have now lost the greater part of their former opulence.
There are now distinct signs here and there, that the family is partially
degenerated.
between relations occurred more frequently formerly, than now.
Marriages
In the in question, one meets, to a rather great extent,
family
dark types,
with a foreign appearance. Many years ago a blending of race occurred
between
dark foreigners and fair Scandinavians. The dark types belong to
certain family
branches are known as »the blacks». My anthropological investigations show
 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE 11

that we have in this quantity of Brachycephali (25.6 % amongst

district a large
schoolchildren in the Persons with brown eyes appear here, more than
district).
in most other parts of Sweden. Several circumstances show, that this race blend
has been decidedly disadvantageous.
In the family there is considerable drunkenness, neurosis, idiocy, weak in«
telligence and criminality etc. (see below). Syphilis appears only seldom, tuber»
culosis is comparatively rare. In spite of the unmistakable degeneration which
appears in the family, mortality is not specially high, in any case not greater than
the average rate for the whole kingdom, according to my calculation. Thus we
have here an example, which shows that a veritable badly constituted stock, in
spite of unmistakable nervous^psychical degeneration can increase, and spread at
home as well as abroad, in a very remarkable manner, a circumstance worth noting
from a race»hygienic point^of^view.
We must not take it for granted, that such degeneration in itself, will dimi»
nish the family.

TABLE 1.
SPECIFICATION OF MATERIAL.

Number of descendants
12 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

The diagram shows .h. taceas. of .he family in "* ff-j-'SuS'wWch

V
ate already fonnd 888
'"d™''" •

investigated district. In generation

or an unu»ua
IS evidence

DIAGRAM lity. Generations VI and Vll

INCREASE OF THE FAMILY IN EACH GENERATION.
are. as we find, much fewer in
number, amongst other things
Gene-
they are not yet
com^
ration because
ot
plete. Future investigations
place,
the family, if such ever take

will show if any of these gene,

rations become so numerous as

was. It is possible,
the fifth

that this not be the case,

will
because the family is now poorer
than formerly, and much dete*
riorated, circumstances which
in

no small degree tend to disperse

the same, that is to say, cause

removal, and emigration. Farmers
who must leave their old home*
steads, have generally no desire to remain in their native district.

In addition to this, nativity in many places in this district has decreased.

In all probability other more robust families settle down, and perhaps are
in their supplanted later on.
turn We
know very little of this sociabbiologic
process: development of families, their life, struggles, and uUimate
decline. It is

like an unknown country, which must be explored.

*

We now pass on to investigate more closely the pathological conditions of

the family, by aid of tables 3 and 4 which give an essential idea thereof. We
find (table 3) that amongst 1,909 progeny, not less than 394 (= 20.6 %) were
defective, in some way, 150 (= 7.9 %) of these were very defective. Amongst

TABLE 3.
THE DIVISION OF THE MATERIAL INTO DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.
 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE 13

the »very defective* I comprise persons afflicted with idiocy, imbecility, mental
diseases, marked psychopathy, epilepsy, and myoklonus epilepsy, which is a
characteristic of this family.
Table 4: contains in column E the whole material, and we find there, that
only 92 known cases of tubercolosis appears in the family, which is a small
number, even if this minimum. It is surprising that such is the
is stated as a
case, in a family whichways is so defective. The reason of this is
in other
probably, that the family in question is immune, to a great extent, to this disease,
usually so prevalent amongst the people.
Several other farmer's families in the same district, are not in this way so
fortunately situated, for amongst them, mortality from consumption is much
greater than in the Lister family, in spite of the fact, that practically speaking,
they live under the same conditions.
If we examine table 4 further, we find there that the number of cripples is

rather (16), and suicide is rare (6 cases).

small Persons with psychical defects
are, on the other hand remarkably numerous (9.54 % of the whole number).
Weak intelligence is a very prominent defect.

TABLE 4.

FAMILY PATHOLOGY.
14 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

/! -re o/\
, , ii is remarkable
that
More nervous complaints appear U-75 /"J-
serious ,.
jjsease) ,

(Parkinson s^^
only a few serious cases of hysteria appear. Paralysis agitans ^^^^^^
(/ genu
.
family
a grave nervous disease appears in a certain branch of the
concentrated wim
possibly 9). That such an unusual illness appears in this way.
evicience tna
a certain branch of the seems to me to be conclusive
family,
heredity, even regarding this disease, is an important factor. .l p
nave
V. ,

We must remember that it is a disease which attacks persons when they have tne
perhaps
reached an advanced age, so that a large number of those who
which specially attack the
propensity, die before the disease breaks out. Diseases
aged, even if they are (according to Mendel) inherited as a recessive attribute,

appear comparatively, seldom.

A large number of drunkards are found in the family (12.10 %).
defects (3.14 %).
In addition to alcoholism we find other moral and social
paralysis
As family diseases we find, in addition to the before.mentioned,
agitans. and the progessive myoklonus epilepsy, mental diseases,
(dementia praecox
in different forms).
In my have paid particular attention to the above.
original treatise I

To explain the reasons for family degeneration I have made several grou:=
pings of the different households in the family. The material has been divided
into groups according to the absence or presence of taints in the parents.
Table 5 is, as it were, summary of several foregoing tables, worked out for

the purpose of explaining this matter. I shall now proceed to further examine
the above table.

TABLE 5.
DIVISION OF THE MATERIAL INTO HOUSEHOLD GROUPS ACCORDING TO PRESENCE. OR ABSENCE OF
PARENTAL TAINTS.

Division into groups

 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE 15

Group I, comprises 30 households with 148 children. In these no parental

taint appears, nor any relationship between such parents.
Group II, contains 14 households with 52 children where tuberculosis is the
only parental taint.
Group A, comprises 15 households, with 108 children where the only taint
is close relationship between the parents (cousins or secondscousins).
Group III, contains 37 households with 213 children where one, or (in excep*
tional cases) both parents were alcoholists, otherwise, no taint.

Group D, contains 12 households with 95 children. Parents were cousins,

and closer relationship, is found in one or two former generations.
The children in these households obtain a comparatively large »loss of
ancestors*, as genealogists say.
If we now compare the numbers in table 5 we find that children in group I,
where no parental taints are seen, have proved to be decidedly better than those
in any other group. The number of children who have died before 5 years of
age, is least here, and the number of healthy persons over 15 years is greatest.
The number of »defectives» is considerably less than in the other groups.
In the tuberculosis group, mortality is greatest, and nativity least, but even
here »defectives» are not particurlarly numerous.
Group A, the relationship group, shows as a rule average rates.
The alcoholist group (III) shows considerably more disadvantageous rates
of percentage (see table).
The worst group is D, where closer relationship is found in 2 or more
successive generations, the mortality, in children of tender years is, in this group,
particularly high, and the nativity also. The number of »defectives» is also
great. Very defective persons appear at the rate of 17.9 %.
The children who have been unfortunate enough to be born in these house*
holds, have paid dearly for the ignorance or imprudence of their parents when
marrying. The pitiable consequences of marriages with relations in this unhappily
situated family, has been noticed to a certain extent by the inhabitants of the
district. Especially persons of other families residing there, but also nembers of
the Lister family have apparently been aware of the menace. Most marriages
however take place in this district, for economical reasons. When it is a question
of retaining a home=stead within the family, which has been in its possession
for a long time, all consideration for offspring is forgotten. In this district crass
egotism still prevails, not only in this family, but in many others in the country,
where one would have expected better.
The raceshygienic principles will lay the foundation for a higher and better form
of ethics, than obtains now, when these ideas become thoroughly, rooted in the
mind of the people at large.
These comparisions give us an interesting insight into the biological structure
of the family, if I may use such an expression.
They show us amongst other things, how difficult it is from a large mass
of material, to separate groups of households where no, or only one, paren*
tal taint appears, a grouping which permits certain conclusions to be drawn tou«

ching the importance of one or the other taints in connection with offspring.
 16 A SWEDISH FARMER'S LINEAGE

So much however we learn from these groupings, that the original constitUi=
tion, such at it has developed during a hundred or thousand years, is of great
significance. That inauspicious racial blending in former times, is of signification,
in jus
as before mentioned. Relationship marriages have a very injurious effect
the family in question, thats is to say, hidden (recessive) propensities appear.

Such is not the case in families enjoying favourable constitutions (genotype).

Relationship marriages on the other hand, in such families have a beneficial effect.
Scientific investigators now agree that consanguinity has both the good and
bad effects named.
Marriages with relations can be described in other words as a two-edged sword,
in one case being beneficial, in the other injurious, depending upon the different
nature of the families.
The conclusion arrived at regarding one family, cannot be correct for the other.
One must be careful not to generalize ones experience, for life is more com=
plicated than we generally believe it to be.
Another reason for the collapse in the Blekinge family is the abuse of alcohol.
We are yet unfortunately, very ignorant as regards the part which alcohol plays
in damaging the so called germ^plasm.
»Culture» nations would certainly be wise in doing their utmost to solve
questions of this kind. It will be a very important mission for race^biological
institutions,which should be organized in all countries. Their investigations
should be carried out with the greatest thoroughness, and they demand much
material, which would claim much time and expense. We
cannot, by any means,
be satisfied with the knowledge we at present possess. The weal and wol of
future generations, depend in many respects, upon what we do or omit to do.
 ;

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