New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-11
In Doubt as to Females.

1T is an operation very decidedly bene-
fetal to society" said DR.. Hutchinson.
Not cruel at all-what we call a minor
operation. / am most emphatically in
favor Of a law providing sterilization by
this means for hopelessly criminal and
feeble-minded men. Something like six
states have such law in force to-day,
and 1 think from six TO ten more states
will add it 10 their statute books this
coming winter.
''Of course the inheritance of criminality
or imbecility. which it is hoped may be
checked by sterilization laws, is just as
easy through the mother as through the
father. But sterilization of the female is
a major operation. Though not danger
Gus. It is somewhat graver than vasecto-
my. and in the majority OF cases II will
probably be found simpler merely to con-
hne tine criminal or imbecile female dur
Z ing her reproductive period Of life rather
than resort 10 a surgical operation But
the confinement OF a man during the life
time Of his reproductive faculties is not
by any means so simple a thing.
Some OF the states have laws calling
for the sterilization Of criminals only, but
most Of them are now extending these
laws to apply to the feeble-minded classes
as well. The operation or vasecto1ny IS
not in any sense cruel punishment In
the state reformatory in Indiana II has
been performed on 500 criminals. $50 OF
whom gave their consent most of them
actually suggesting that 1t be done. You
can see by this that II cannot be painful"
Dr. Hutchinson was asked IL he thought
sterilization would lead to immortality,
because it removed some of the perilous
consequences OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. He re-
piled in the negative.
THE feeble minded have no self-con-
trol in any case" he argued, "and conse-
ouences never deferred the criminal The
danger from sterilization in this direction
is negligible compared with the great
good II will do society
Furthermore. II presents a definite So
luton Of the problem confronting those
men or women who are neither criminal
nor feeble minded, but who have inherited
diseases which they are loath to hand
down to future generations. 1t has hith-
erto been a choice with these people be-
tween giving up family life or bringing
unfortunate children into the world Va
sectomy-voluntary OF course-will per-
nit such couples to enjoy family life
without running the risk Of bringing mis-
cry to the next generation.
Test Case in This State.
"There is no doubt a test case will be
brought right away in this state, and
some Judge will be found to declare the
lsw unconstitutional. Such is the fate of
all really progressive laws"
II should be remarked in passing that
DR. Woods Hutchinson is a Bull Moose.
Dr. Arthur G. Brush. OF Brooklyn, also
upheld the advantages OF vasectomy.
"From a purely sociological stand
point" said he. "the sterilization law is
very good one. Criminals OF a degen-
crate type never can be reformed. Idiots,
imbeciles and so on can only propagate
their own kind. We should either Danish
them ali to some desert. island or pre-
vent them from perpetuating their kind,
20 the increasing detriment OF society.
They are not only great burden and
e~DanSe TO the public but they contaml-