The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-02
Race Decay and Social Hygiene.

] The cry about race suicide" which
is so frequently heard nowadays, is tax
On by some to represent a serious socio-
logic problem demanding earnest consid-
GRAFTON on the part of far seeing nations
There can be no doubt that a fall in
the birth rate has been spreading in
! Europe Tor several deeades but the
question arises whether the undenable
statistical facts justify the alarmst
statements and protests which have
gone forth from time to time. Are the
nations involved and the world at large
threatened with dire consequences from
the failure OF certain classes to replen.
ish the earth with successors OF their
own kind?
Discussions of this sort are primarily
of interest TO the soeologist rather than
to the physician. But they can be elm
mated only with difficulty from the
more distinctly biologic aspects Of the
talk about race decay" The scientist
must take a position toward this ques-
tion, and the physician in particular is
often expected TO contribute an illumi-
mating opinion on such topics. Shall lie
champion the cause of those whose motto
is Increase and multiply or shall he
pause to examine the ideals OF the mod.
ern study of eugenics which embraces
those agencies by which the human race
may be improved?
In the past the efforts to elevate man
kind were largely fostered by yariom
types of social reform which aimed to
improve the conditions OF life TO perfect
our environment. The future calls for n
program which will be directed toward
the very sources OF life. Our generation
carries heavy and complicated social bur-
dens which are inflicted on il in the form
OF an increasing dependent class typifed
in the feeble-minded II is to be ex-
pected that this load can be raised BY
some movement to control life. This
is work for the social hygiene of thu
future.
Regarding the proposed plan OF requir-
ing certificates of health before marriage.
The Journal of the American Medical
Association says that while it is easy
to pick out few extreme eases OF de-
generates on the one hand and OF exeep-
tionally sound and healthy Young people
on the other no one is at present com
petent to divide the mass OF possible
candidates for marriage into the fit and
the unfit. 1t would, however, have q
good effect if men and women contem-
plating marriage were compelled, before |
taking that step, to consider seriously |
their fitness for parenthood. Private in |
itiative, like that of the Chicago clergy |
man who refuses to marry any couple |
not provided with medical certificates i
Of health. might in time create force
OF public opinion which would make dis
EASE q mark of social bad form--a thing
to be ashamed of in oneself and GER
tainly not to be tolerated in ones chill
lren. This may seem utopian; yet with
IN a few generations social ideals have
Undergone greater transmutations than
his would involve. One thing is GER
ain; the creation OF public sentiment
nav seem slower method of racial
Improvement than the enactment OF
avs, but it is far surer and more
thorough one; and it avoids the dangers
involved in hasty sweeping legislation
BASED on crude geueralizations from in
sufficient data.