The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-23
Reducing the Number OF Feeble
Minded.

After four years investigation
among the population of England and
Ireland the Royal Commission COM
piled statistics which make it evident
that the feeble-minded mothers Of
Great Britain have proportionately
twice as many children as the nor
NAL Field workers in this country
encounter similar condition. The
feeble minded are multiplying at
twice the rate of the general popula-
ton. This is largely accounted for
by the fact that feeble minded men
and women are lacking in self con-
troll. The result Of research work by
the Department Of Public Charities in
Philadelphia confirms the opinion
that the rate of propagation of the
feeble-minded is far sreater than
that of the normal. The birth-rate @
is not an accurate index Of perma-
nent increase, since the low mental
or financial status Of the parents les
sens the children's cha ices of sur-
vival. The infant death rate in the
illegitimate Kallikak line, for in
stance, was about six times as great
as in the legitimate line.
Still, the fact that such defective
lines are able to increase at all and
70 he, cal. e.
tions is sufficiently disquieting. 1t is
notorious that the offspring of feeble
minded parents are especially liable
to inherit the defective mentality. Ac-
cOrding to Goddard, about 65 per cent
Of all the feeble-minded owe their
condition TO heredity 1t thus be-
comes apparent that the one great
problem in the prevention of feeble
mindedness is the prevention of re-
production by those who are thus af-
fiicted.
Many tentative experiments have
been made along the line of steriliza-
ton. Indiana, Washington, Califor-
mia, Connecticut, Nevada, Iowa, New
Jersey and New York have all passed
laws which provide for some form
Of sterilization Of feeble minded and
certain criminal types Pennsylvania
is prevented from having such a law
only by the governors veto of the
nd
made experiments with this method
Of dealing with sexual offenders. For
political reasons both Of these States
have had TO abandon the practice at
least temporarily. The New Jersey
law, though far-reaching and careful
ly planned to avoid abuse while lending
itself to the aid Of scientific research.
has not been in effect long enough
TO warrant conclusions as to it's prac-
teal outcome. Indiana has given the
sterilization plan the most thorough
trial of all. In that State the practice
OF vasectomy on certain criminal
types has been legalized for the last
seven years. In the reformatory ut
Jeffersonville about three hundred
men have been operated on.
When the whole subject is viewed
from practical point Of view the ar
guments for sterilization OF the men-
tally defective seem greatly to OUT
weigh the sentimental reasons ad-
vanced against it. Many inmates &C
institutions for the feeble minde q
could be kept safely at their homes
and ut least help to earn their own
living, were it not for the opportun-
ity To reproduce their own kind which
such liberty would give them AL
though segregation Of this class dur
ing the whole Cf the reproductive lc-
riod is effective in it's results, il car-
ries with ii a financial burden which
seems unnecessarily large. Consid-
cred in all its various aspects. SAYS
The journal of The American Medi-
cal Association, il would appear tlot
the most practical plan for the elirli-
nation of III" feeble minded stra ms
should .udiciously combine the meth
"dS OF segregation and sterilization.