Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-06
LET'S QUIT NUMBERING WOMEN.

LET'S QUIT NUMBERING WOMEN.
Discussion at the convention of the
American Medical Association has de.
veloped a suggestion which will meet
with ridicule and ribald jest by the
average person, but which is deserv-
ing Of the most serious consideration
by those who value human life OF
those who grow serious at the thought
of alleviating human suffering. None
but practicing physician knows OF
the woe and distress, the agony OF
bodily pain and mental humiliation
which exists DIN so many thousands OF
our homes, hidden and covered In the
secrecy of shame and known only by
the generic term Chronic complaint
Unacquainted with it's presence in oul
near associations, we little realize how
often it could be found in the same res
idence block. AS men grow older, and
one by one instances of confidential
information from the privacy of the
afflicted homes Of others creep into their
observation, the awfulness of the
crime which men inflict upon the
women they love unfolds a hideous
condition. The doctors have seen 1t
all for generations and with them the
suggestion Of a certificate of health
as condition in the granting of a
marriage license is a serious one. 1t
men would inquire as to the truth of
much Of the unexplained illness and
physical misery about them they too
would grow serious in considering the
suggestion.
ing the people of Des Moines of he
dangers of their red-ight district as
serted that inquiry among physicians
had obtained the estimate that IS Pc.
cent IF adult men were afflicted with
venerial disease in some form he
estimate was probably exaggerated for
sensational purposes, but it's extreme
color Is enough to startle and appall
us even If no more than half true. 1t
means that young men and middle
aged men In unbelievable numbers are
risking Infection with an Indifference
or an ignorance which is criminal.
Most men, almost all men, agree that
the death of a mother in childbirth
strikes home to the father and hus-
band with an implied charge of muir
der which bears down upon him in his
grief with its charge of guilt sufficient
almost to drive him distracted. No
man ever jests in the presence of this
domestic tragedy. All men shudder
in their recollection of the night Of a
birth in their family. But if the testi-
mony Of the doctors is to be believed
the killing Of mems wives in the alto
gether natural and necessary process
Of procreatfon is but an infinite Incl
dent compared to the tortllring and
killing of the women they marry by
men who would have failed to pass the
test had the certificate Of health been
required by the clerk issuing a mar
,iage license Over so per cent of the
deaths of women from one class %
diseases, say the doctors. could be
ave ided were men required to pass an
examination as the insurance COM
panies demand Of them.
But men who read of the doctors
discussion will live long time before
the American people can overcome
their national prudishness upon sub
jects of this kind and make of the
health certificate sufficient publicity
to enact it's suggestion into law. What
they can do Is to read and learn.
They can stop to reflect. Older men
can inform young men Of the terrible
results of their folly If carried into
home Of otherwise purity and sound
health. The advice can be freely give
to all men, if you really love woman
and have sincere regard for her life,
consult a physician voluntarily before
you commit the crime Of sending her
to a lingering death Of suffering and
torture. Let the doctors tell what
they know Of the causes OF human
suffering. There would be far less
strange imperfections among children
and, the doctors say, 80 per cent fewer
deaths among women afflicted with
some chronic complaint.
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