The Portland daily press., 1867-09-30

To the Editor of the Press:
The action of the Maine Medical Associa-
ton in adopting the report of the committee
publication of the same cannot be too highly
commended. The practice Of abort ton has
become so prevalent and is resorted to by so
many who in other matters consider that they
live good and virtuous lives, that it is time
this terrible evil in all its shocking and demor-
condemnation and forever discountenanced
and reprobated by all who make any profes-
sion of being morally correct in their way of
living and thinking. 1t is difficult to say who
is most to blame in the matter, the physician
who lends himself to such proceeding or
the parties who by pecuniary bribes induce
the medical prac titioner to debase his profess
sion. We know that this terrible evil prevails
to an alarming extent and it is unquestion-
ably the duty of all right minded, we'll prin-
cipled medical men to discountenance in ev-
cry possible way this criminal practice.
Disregarding all false ideas of modesty, the
aid of the press, the pulpit and all other
means of reaching the public ear should be
invoked to grapple with and expose to the
utmost this hideous social monster, resting
assured that they are attacking an enemy to
good morals, one that is an offence to the well
being of mankind, ard defiance to the laws
of the Creator. There can be no mincing of
the matter. No ideas of false shame or deli
cacy should make us hesitate to endeavor
thoroughly to eradicate this social plague,
has done during the past few years, must ulti-
mately loosen all bonds and ties that hold so
ciety together
How common thing it is for married wo-
men openly to proclaim to their friends that
they will not and do not intend to have any
children, or in other words that they would
procure abortion rather than do so. What
state of social degradation this must be when
married ladies openly declare that they re-
sort to such method rather than fulfil their
ted to them by the All-wise Ruler of the Un-
iverse! Who can say how heavy load to
such this will be on the conscience, when the
evening shades of life begin to fall around the
solitary and childless hearth Would it not
be well for those who adopt this practice to
this promised life that is now destroyed
would have grown up to be comfort and
stay to widowed and helpless motheror aged
father, a good and honored citizen or public
benefactor.
Some excuse themselves by saying that the
care and anxiety of bringing up children is
too much for their health and strength. Ma
ture provides compensation. No one that
has reared little child and taken good care
of it, but has been more than compensated by
the charm and attraction of its love and art
less and confiding ways, and none except
those hardened to all good can destroy the
lives of their children even in the germ, with
out feeling that they have committed crime
which will be repented OF at some time
with the bitterest tears.
1t is well-known axiom that no one can
violate the laws of nature without having to
pay the penalty. In the case OF abortion the
punishment comes surely and certainly
There is no doubt that this crime lowers the
tone of the constitution and induces certain
forms of disease which are frequently incura-
BILE. The woman that bears children has
physically and morally the advantage over the
one that destroys them, and at the same time
will have the satisfactory consciousness OF
having fulfilled well her part in the great
scheme ofcreation, and win certainly reap the
reward in after life when youth and beauty
begin to fade. Let the married ladies consid-
er well the matter in all its bearings, and pom
der before taking a step towards that which
must inevitably be sooner or later physical
and moral destruction. These are strong
words, But this is a matter which affects the