The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-28
A MEDICAL TEST
BEFORE WEOL0Ck
Prof. LOOMS Wants the State
to Control the Rearing
of Children.
NEW LAWS ARE SUGGESTED
FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF DIS
EASES AND TO REDUCE THE Ex-
cESsIvE RATE OF MORTALITY
AMONG CHILDREN.

Boston. Mass. Feb. aS.-That we'd
lock is an institution over which the
state should exercise direct supervis-
ion, particularly in respect to provid-
Ing regulations for the reproduction
of the species and that the state
should have jurisdiction over children
for a certain time after they come
into the world. in order that they may
grow to be healthy men and women
and desirable citizens. is the convic-
ton of Prof Frederick b. LOOMS OF
, Amherst college. and he urges that
these ideas he put into practice. Prof.
Loomis holds the chair OF compare
| tive anatomy at Amherst.
Civil Contract First. ...
Marriage is, first of all. a civil con-
tract he said. 1t should come under
the jurisdiction OF the state. After
the state has united q couple. there
should be no objection to remar-
rage In church. brt the states civil
contract should take precedence.
| Excepting the Catholic clergy. min
listers are irresponsible and uncontrol-
liable. They marry whomevN- they
choose. at any time they are asked
The Catholic clergy require ample no
tice given publicity. but even this is
insufficient.
! The state or town should compel
1.-The publication in newspapers OF an
intention to marry. for marriage Is q
civil copartnership and notice OF such
copartnerships should be given. As Of
any other business.
Urges Medical Test.
NO one should be allowed to marry
without undergoing medical examin-
alton in the town or city In which he
or she lives Unless the contracting
parties can show such a certificate.
license to marry should be refused in
the interest of the public welfare and
purity of the home life
The medical certificate should state
that the applicant Is not suffering
from any mental or physical disorder
likely to be visited upon his offspring.
should there be any.
1t should also state that he or she
has never been a public charge and il
able to bear the weight of his or her
assumed responsibilities.
BY radical changes in its attitude
toward the young men and women OF
the community the state should seek
to foster early marriages.
For Free Nurseries,
!. Public institutions should watch
over the children of the land from
birth until at least their third year.
There should be free. constant medical
attendance: free public nurseries for
the day care OF the working woman's
child There should be free and ex-
pert care of working women In their
need
Corporations should be forced to
continue wages Of women workers
!; from a month before to month after
the coming of q child. They should
be urged to provide nurseries for chill
, dren of working woman The babies
OF England are valued at 500 to @l25
each by the insurance companies
This is their earning capacity
We are allowing many millions OF
dollars worth of American babies to
die every year. The mortality from
inherited diseases is frightful. being
between 10 and 80 percent
Would Cut Mortality.
Medical examination of parents be-
fore marriage would prevent much
mortality. Incidentally the diseases
n would be suppressed and the world
J frightened. These things can be
brought about by the Capitalization OF
Jour form Of government. and the soon
er il is centralized tho setter.
The care Of a mother performing
her maternal duties should be a func-
ton of the state. In this manner we
may encourage early marriages and
the propagation of the race and thu
prosperity Of the country"