Our reformatories are peopled by young persons
whose distinguishing characteristic is that inhibition is undeveloped or
defective. This defect may be due to want of education, but it is more
often hereditary.
Two things only can be done for them. This faculty of inhibition can be
trained by education, or external restraint can be provided by law.
But the distinguishing characteristic of all defectives, within or
without our public institutions, is defective inhibition,--they are
unable to control the spontaneous impulses that continually arise, and
which may indeed be normal.
Impulses may be abnormal from hereditary predisposition, as _e.g._ the
impulse to drink, but only through strengthening inhibition can these
impulses be controlled,--their existence must be accepted.
But whether the defect is an abnormal impulse, or a normal impulse
abnormally strong, or an abnormally weak or defective inhibition, the
condition is hereditary, and such defectives propagate their kind.
It has been shown that they are more fertile than any other classes
because of the very defect that makes them a danger to society.
The defective restraint that allows them to commit offences against
person and property, also allows their procreative impulse unrestrained
activity.
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