The Indianapolis journal., 1884-06-06
A NEW QUESTION.
Should Idiots Be Allowed to Live, or BE
Killed to Improve the Species?

Should Idiots BE Allowed to Live, or BE
Killed to Improve the Species?
Baltimore Herald.
At a meeting of the Pennsylvania State Medi-
cal Society on Tuesday last, Dr. Lehman read
paper on the advisabiity, proprety or wisdom of
killing idiots, natural monstrosities, or persons
suffering intense misery from disease Dr. Left
man stated that he advanced his views on the
subject not because he was irrevocably commit
ted to them, nor wished to convert his fellow
physicians to them, but because he desired to
excite debate on the subject. Unfortunately
other business interfered and the debate was
not extended, Nevertheless it was shown that
there was an inclination on the part of many to
agree with DR.. Lehman that within reasonable
bounds it would be wise and justifable to re-
move from life the classes of persons mentioned.
That this proposition should be laid down at
all, shows that scientific men are year by year
becoming more bold and fearless; that it should
be seriously entertained shows that the disposi-
ton to frown upon innovations is passing away;
That the bare mention of such proposition
does not excite horror and indignation shows
that the masses of the people have learned that
the wisest plan is to suspend judgment until
such questions are fully discussed.
Viewed from an unprejudiced standpoint
that is considering mankind in the abstract,
without regard to the affections of blood-it
must be admitted that DR.. Leffman's proposition,
SO far as it applies to idiots and monstrosities,
is worthy of serious consideration. We do not
suffering from incurable diseases ought to be en-
tertained for an instant
The characteristics which distinguish man
from brute are language, desire and capacity
to acquire knowledge, sense of individuality or
personality, an abstract conception of the ex-
istence OF supreme being, and hope desire
for continued future existence The absence
of any of these characteristics brings man nearer
the brute; the absence of all of them would
transform him into brute.
An idiot-and we use the word in its most
| strict sense-possesses none of these character
istics except, occasionally, that of languages; in
a majority Of cases they have only voice, the
| power to utter sounds but not to form them into
| words. The mental qualities of man, and not
| his physical formation constitute his claim to
superiority over brutes, and in that view of the
matter what clai i'm has an idiot to be considered
| a human being? 1t is impossible to believe
| that he was created to serve any end and if he
was he fails to do it. His life is mere animal
| existence. He is more incapable Of taking care
| of himself than the brutes. for the instinct
which Is given to them is denied to him. and he
| lacks even degree of the intelligence which is
| implanted in the breast of man. The idiot is
not only useless to society, but he is dangerous.
Having no conception of the difference between
right and wrong, he is likely to commit murder,
arson or any other crime Under certain cir
| cumstances, he might propagate his species.
Viewed from religious stand point, the idiot
can serve no useful end, for neither by instinct
nor education does he recognize the existence of
desire for future existence Viewed
from worldly standpoint his life is
of no object, for he does not possess
the intelligence necessary to make him desira-
bic citizen and there is no hope that his condi-
ton will ever change. Viewed from an economic
standpoint, the idiot is a charge upon his friends
or the community. Viewed through the specta
cles of the scientist, the idiot lacking in every
thing that distinguishes man from brute, occu-
pies space and consumes food in a world that is
now not too large for the people on it who are
desirable inhabitants All the observations on
idiots apply with equal force to monstrosities,
1t is plain. therefore, that it is desirable to re-
move those unfortunates from world in which
| they are untitled to live. Whether it should
rest with any man or any set of men to decide
upon their fate, we will not attempt to say, but
those who admit the justice of capital punish
ment will find it hard to urge valid argument
against the right to remove idiots and monstros-
| tiles.