Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-29
DR.. MILLER
Gives Interesting Lecture
Upon "Eugeaics"
Before the Mems Club Of The
UniVerSaIiSt Church.
Officers Elected a: the Annual Bust.
ness Meeting of Club.

The leading feature of the annual
meeting of the Mems Club of the Win
throp Street Universaiist church. Mon
day evening, was the address upon
"kugenics" by DR.. II. w. Miller super
intendent of the Maine Insane Hos
pital.
DR.. Miller at the outset defined
eugenies as the proper breeding and
rearing of human beings. \ new
science has sprung into existence as
the result of the eugenic movement,
euthenics. This science has for its
aim the betterment Of the present gen.
GRAFTON by modification of its environ
|ment, whilst the science of eugenics is
more strictly concerned with selection
for the heredity of future generations
AS a practical people we are ask
ing ourselves what is being done to
limit the production of the imbeciles,
insane. the criminals, inebriate. de-
generate and other physically and
mentally defective members of our
community" he continued. we are
spending millions every year for the
care of our weak and defective de-
pendents which will help only one
generation. Is it not time To initiate
some movement with the idea of pre-
venting the production of these defec-
tive classes and thus help future gem
erations ?"
The matter of sterilization by oper-
atoms was taken up and an analysis
of existing sterilization laws given.
DR. Miller gave as his opinion that the
measure was too radical and unwar-
ranted in the light of our present
knowledge.
Interesting statistics were given
showing the proportion of the defec-
tive. delinquent and dependent class
es In the United States il is esti-
mated that in our AZ institutions for
feeble minded, liz schools and homes
for the deaf and blind, $50 hospitals
for the insane. 1900 refuge homes. 1909
prisons. $500 a1mshouses and 1900 hos
pitfalls, there are 100000 insane and
feeble minded; 100000 blind; 100000
deaf and dumb, 100000 prisoners,
many thousands of criminals not in
prison, $4,000 Juvenile delinquents in
institutions. 100000 paupers i'll aims
houses. out of whom two thirds have
children and are also mentally anu
physically defective and 2,000.000,0a0
annually cared for by hospitals, dis
pensaries and homes. These form
three to four per cent. of population.
That is one in thirty of our popula-
ton is defective, dependent or del1n-f
quent.
The pereentage of increase in the
certified insane in Maine during the
past 80 years has amounted to 1922
per cent, while the percentage in
crease of population during the same
period is only IA per cent. We have
under our care less than 300 feeble
minded in our institution in Pownai'
while there are over 1900 feeble mind
ed free to. reproduce their kind"
Dr. Miller took up the laws OF hered-
ity and discussed at some length the
Mendelian law of heredity and ex-
hibited charts showing cases of trans
mission of nervous disorders ana
nhysical abnormalities. He stated that
these studies Of heredity were oil the
utmost Importance for the understand
ing of normal and abnormal mentai
traits and practical eugenics will pront
by these new facts of heredity. me
effect of environment and the different
causes of insanity We're also discussed
as well as the relation of immoral liv
ing and alcohol to insanity.
In conclusion he said: we cannot
hope to reach the eugenic ideal very
soon but we can disseminate what
knowledge we have regarding mental
hygiene, heredity and other problems
in eugenics. We can all assist IN
creating new sentiments resardlng
marriage and parenthood. Organized
effort is a distinguishing work Of mod
ern civilization and it is through or
ganized effort that we will accomplish
results in the field of eugenies