Dr. J. G. Adami publishes in the Canadian Medical Association Journal

November, 1912. The Canadian Medical Association Journal (1912; 2.11; 963-980) publishes an address made by Dr. J.G. Adami in Edmonton. Entitled "'Unto the Third and Fourth Generation:' A Study in Eugenics," it speaks of parentage, depravity, and irresponsible couples, and connects them to the medical profession, notions of "clean" living, and nationalism.

Dr. J. G. Adami was a professor from McGill University, who helped popularize eugenics in Canada. He also held great interest in public health, and Adami helped found the City Improvement League in Montreal (Normandin, 1998). This League attempted to tackle the issue of child welfare, which was considered a pressing issue at the time. In order to raise awareness about it, Adami helped organize a Child Welfare Exhibition in 1912 in Montreal. It was the first exhibition of its kind in Canada, as a result of reform and scienfitic positivism (Normandin, 1998). The publication of Adami's article occurred in the same year, demonstrating a changing focus in public health care, and its ties to eugenic theories.

Adami had previously given many speeches and published many articles on eugenics (Normandin, 1998). These include Medical Contributions to the Study of Evolution, where Adami explores Lamarkian ideas and heredity (Normandin, 1998).

Adamic's article Unto the Third and Fourth Generation:' A Study in Eugenics," is important as showing Canada's engagement in eugenics theory in the early 20th century. The same year this article was published, the First International Eugenics Congress was held in London, which Adami attended.

This address may be read in full here.

-Colette Leung and Amy Dyrbye

  • Normandin, S. (1998). Eugenics, McGill, and the Catholic Church in Montreal and Quebec: 1890-1942. CBMH, 15: 59-86.

Dr. J. G. Adami publishes in the Canadian Medical Association Journal

November, 1912. The Canadian Medical Association Journal (1912; 2.11; 963-980) publishes an address made by Dr. J.G. Adami in Edmonton. Entitled "'Unto the Third and Fourth Generation:' A Study in Eugenics," it speaks of parentage, depravity, and irresponsible couples, and connects them to the medical profession, notions of "clean" living, and nationalism.

Dr. J. G. Adami was a professor from McGill University, who helped popularize eugenics in Canada. He also held great interest in public health, and Adami helped found the City Improvement League in Montreal (Normandin, 1998). This League attempted to tackle the issue of child welfare, which was considered a pressing issue at the time. In order to raise awareness about it, Adami helped organize a Child Welfare Exhibition in 1912 in Montreal. It was the first exhibition of its kind in Canada, as a result of reform and scienfitic positivism (Normandin, 1998). The publication of Adami's article occurred in the same year, demonstrating a changing focus in public health care, and its ties to eugenic theories.

Adami had previously given many speeches and published many articles on eugenics (Normandin, 1998). These include Medical Contributions to the Study of Evolution, where Adami explores Lamarkian ideas and heredity (Normandin, 1998).

Adamic's article Unto the Third and Fourth Generation:' A Study in Eugenics," is important as showing Canada's engagement in eugenics theory in the early 20th century. The same year this article was published, the First International Eugenics Congress was held in London, which Adami attended.

This address may be read in full here.

-Colette Leung and Amy Dyrbye

  • Normandin, S. (1998). Eugenics, McGill, and the Catholic Church in Montreal and Quebec: 1890-1942. CBMH, 15: 59-86.