The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-29
TO IMPROVE THE RACE.
One Way Is BY Social Legislation for
Prevention of eebIe-Mindedness.

Annals of the American Academy. Philadelphia.
DR.. NJ. w. Barr, who succeeded Or. Kerlin as
Children at Eiwyn Pa, IS deeply interested in the
social aspects Of the treatment of such patients.
of the Pennsylvania Association Of Directors OF
Poor and Charities he made the following state
''Reformatories, however well conducted. do not
touch the root of the evil. Science points to a
tbree-fold method which society will sooner or
later, in self-defense. be forced to accept: the
enactment OF strict marriage laws, surgical IN
reference and permanent representation. Con-
heceuT Ian ano TeW forbdSng bv recent acts
of assembly, the marriage Of epileptics. This eX-
dency % or %hose family history G hoW within
certain prescribed limits, neurotic faint will be
numan but they resulted te in the production bH 9
ing to recognize and apply q remedy 10 the dis
eased criminal, suffer him to grow up and
should lave prevented? The Statement simply
but is this: BY DENYING surgical interference by
subordinating true sentiment to false sentimental
ity, we preserve neurotic race 70 reproduce its
extinct The Sentlmentallsts oppose TINS, put It's
converts increasing daily, and we can only
short by means of statutory enactment The way
for permanent representation is fast becoming
schools now increasing rapidly throughout the
Boies in his Prisoners and Paupers" strongly
favored surgical interference in dealing with Ger
guage in the chapter Charity in Human
Selection" In his work on American Charities
life his hearty Endorsement and surgical inter
ference qaaltned approval IN commenting upon
certain cases cited by DIR. Kerlin i'll appeal
for public sanction Of surgical interference made
Lefore the association of Medical officers Of
Institutions for the feeble minded, Warner says
whenever, as in the case cited, it appears that
these operations be performed with benefit
10 the Individual public opinion will doubtless
sanction them even now; and the result OF such
experimentation may ultimately be to extend their
Use very widely in the treatment of the diseased
and criminal classes. To argue for the introduce
ton Of such methods on grounds Of social selfish
ness viii not be the best way to hasten their in
PRODUCTION Pending such experimentation. the
sterilizing Of the essentially UNIT who may be de-
pepdents seems likely to be carried forward by
the humaner methods OF seduestratiOn and OF
custodial care through Itee, The permanent isoa-
ton of the essentially unfit has commended itself
to men as different Ruskn and General Booth
ard the wiser administration Of charitable and
penal institutions which shall make this possible
seems be the outgrowth OF tendencies already
existing. and TO be a reform Tor which the public
is already in part prepared. The desire TO pre-
vent suffering must extend TO the desire to pre-
vent the suffering of unborn genera tons"
This whole subject is an extremely complex and
difficult one and IL Is TO be hoped that the re-
suits OF EXPERIMENTATION Will be freely and hon
estly discussed. No who has occasion to
Genie into contact with the feeble-minded when
they herded together in large numbers can