New-York tribune., 1883-03-17
REG U1ATIoN AND REPRESSToN OF VICE.

AN ESSAY AND DISCUSSION IN THE ACADEMY OF
MEDICINE.
Atameeting of the New York Academy OF Med
icne at No IL West Thirty y-nrstst on PhuIsday night
the social evil subject Of being presented
In O paper its regulation and repression
read by Dr. Frederick r. sturgis The essayst In dis
cussng the causes that led to the evil, laid great
stress upon the herding OF families in tenements,
which also he mentioned as being cause that
might be within the control OF legal enact
ment. Touching the matter OF regulation he said
the argument opposition Was twofold. First there
was strong sentnent in the community that
it was absolutely wrong to recognize the
evil, and secondly in vast number OF cases
the efforts at regulation were not attended
with as good results had been expected. Dr. Sturgs
estimated that there about 3lS public women In
New-York CITY, and gave it as his observation in the
Charity Hospital-wthout exact statistical basis, how
ever-that within the last three years
there had been larger increase In the
number Of young women who were leading
such lives and in consequence for recognized medical
reasons proportonate increase in resulting dlseases
SO far as the effect Of the Contagious Diseases Act ia
England concerned Dr. Sturgis said that it
was admitted by the thinking classes
that it had been Of decided service
In Germany however it had been found that the mum
Der OF candestine women had Increased ID proportion
to the efficiency of the regulation, and hat me sanitary
danger uad decreased in ratio IL had also Oeel
shown thar the general operation or the laws regulating
t1e evil abroad had tended toward depoPuatlng tne
countries tnrOugI the checking u MAJ rsges sna ao@
ing tnam until later periods Ia life. sdeh DANCER nc
admitted was remote IN tIs cOuh y 70
cause much anxiety. but lie thougnI X. "e't
tua II the quesiO3 ofTegattOn be taken up Dolh sues
he considered yet II would De Impossible 20 enforce
laws Ike Europe, but lac Thought II "oHd Oe IN
the line 0f wise action tue CohmlssI0u-
era OF Charities and Correction were 10
permit the hospital authorities TO RESTRAIN
al patients In certain wards until thoroughly oured IN
stead OF permitting them to leave the hospital as now
al their option. 49,.
Dr Fordyce Barker in opening the subject for DEBATE,
emphasized its great importance, but called attention ~
the fact that legislative acts were onlc.eht
that we're either advance public sentiment 0r were
nos sustained by public opinion. Ihe influence o. al
such laws cOuld only Injurious as leading 10 disregard
and contempt lie called on Judge Bray 10 prosenS
the Legal aspects of tie question. Judge Bhaay
admitted that views had been somewhat mOdneo Dy
the facts advanced by DT. Sturgs. He belleyedn was
the Judgment OF many who looked at the matter scie-
ucy thnt it was fair subject OF legislative enact
ment great obstacles IN the way OF Iegu
laticn sucn as migratory character o1 dIs9rdelH
houses and the mpOssbiiy Of ever reaching clADuesn
ew,lness HIS own conviction was that no reform coal
be except through the instrubentanty VI
the medical profession IL effort was to be MADE tDe
responsibility would rest upon the Phys'cahs gi ZIG
city Drs. L. Weber and X W l1Ot
also took part In the discussion, Dr. weber
the experiment with regulation IN france had snona
that t NOT Oaiy did not accomplish the expected soVo
but that bOtn the and the resulting diseases uau III
creased under the new system.