of _predisposition_. In other words, if you have understood heredity, it
will be easy to understand predisposition; for it means that the
protoplasm or seed, from whichever organism it may proceed, must contain
some of the salient characteristics of its ancestors, good and bad,
dominant and recessive. Not only will it contain characteristics from
father and mother, but from _all_ the direct ancestors. It is impossible
to know exactly which points will manifest themselves, but a good many
_bad_ points _may be_ eliminated by studying the ancestral line; and the
direct diseases or bad characteristics of a parent, _must be_ eliminated
by applying the Law of the Cross-Transmission of Characteristics.

For example: If the father has a certain disease or positive symptoms
of that disease, by no means create a girl, as she will certainly be
predisposed for that disease, and may pay the penalty, if "Regeneration"
is not begun early. The same principle applies to the mother. If she is
diseased, do not create a son, until "Regeneration" has been brought
about.

Furthermore, it will be possible to improve the offspring by encouraging
and promoting the good points, especially after studying and applying
the above law, as well as my law of the "Determination of the Sex at
Will."

Looking at the question from this point of view, we begin to realize the
enormous significance of my discovery. This supplies the main reason for
the study of the laws, for the "_Prevention of Diseases_."

Only when we know that every acquired characteristic may be transmitted
to the offspring will we become conscious of the _terrible
responsibility_ we assume when we reproduce offspring, and realize that