The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-11
DR.. Lyons
PERFECT
Tooth Powder
cleanses, preserves and beau
titles the teeth and imparts
purity and fragrance to the
breath. Mothers shouldteach
the little ones its daily use.

This work which is being done by
the doctor, and that may be done in
the future in an ever increasing eff
cheney, should receive the loyal sup
of the race.
Favors Milk Stations.
Our obligation to the younger men,
bers of the community does not begin
with the school children. Too many
babies die in Bridgeport every year.
With the coming summer, milk sta
tons should be established in the most
thickly populated districts, where pure
milk could be furnished with instruc-
tons for its use and the general care
of the baby.
This effort to make easier conditions
reference with natures methods for
improving the race. Under these
softer conditions, not only the strong
and more perfect types of the race
survive, but also the weaker ones and
those maturing, transmit their defects
to following generations, while under
the harder conditions, only the robust
and perfect would mature. To meet
this objection and at the same time to
maintain our own right attitude to-
ward the matter. two plans, I think.
or the nation shall exercise control
over the fitness of candidates for the
marriage state, and second, that the
children shall be more fully instruct
ed in the science Of life. the sacred
ness Of bodily functions, and the NOR
tai sin of their perversion.
Prohibit Marriages.
Impressions should be made upon
their plastic minds which would
change their ideals. They should come
to regard vitality as a first essential
in an ideal man or woman. This
would influence their personal fancy.
Health. beauty and vitality are nat
ural objects of admiration and love
and the emotions would arrange them
selves about these ideals.
The control which the state would
exercise would be for the prevention
Of the marriage Of certain persons
This state at the present time by stat
ute fOrbidS the marriage Of epileptics,
of idiots and insane persons, would it
not be well if this list was extended to
include other persons whose marriage
would obviously tend to the spread of
disease, to the formation of centers of
Infection and the transmission of
qualities which deteriorate the race?
We are spending large sums of
money in efforts to clear the muddy
stream of life while permitting con-
tamination at its source.
AS every thinking physician we'll
knows, the conditions in society affect
ing the health and vitality Of the race
are appalling. In some way these
conditions must be met and overcome,
and the time is ripe for effort along
this line.
Washington's Law.
Several Of the state legislatures
have taken some action along this
line. Among these, the law passed in
1909 by the legislature of the state of
Washington perhaps is the most adj
vanced. It prohibits the marriage
where either of the parties is an cpl
leptic, an inbecile, a feeble minded
person, an idiot, an insane person, or
a person who has heretofore been
afflicted with hereditary insanity, a
common drunkard, an habitual crimi-
nal, person afflicted with pulm onary
tuberculosis in its advanced stages, or
any contagious venereal disease, I'M
less the female party to such marriage
is over the age of As years.
A penalty is provided in fine not
to exceed $1,000 or Imprisonment in
penitentiary not more than three years
or by both fine and Imprisonment.
Such law or a modification of it
passed in Connecticut would not bring
the millennium. but 1t might do some
thing to lessen the evil conditions
which we all deplore.
In view of the functions of this
board, it seems to me erninently prop
er that the initial step toward a rem
edy for these conditions should be
taken by it.
would therefore suggest that this
board draft bill along this line for
consid eration of the state legislature
at the coming session.
Respectfully submitted,
E. A. M'LELLAN, M. D.,
City Health Officer.