New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08
F|JCEN|C MARRIAGES
FAVORED BY UNCLE SAM
slIroeon General Blue Urges
State Legislation to Bar
Physically Unfit.
WOULDCHECK DIVORCE EVIL
Laws Are Greatly Needed to
Protect Women Against Dip
somaniacs and Drug Habit
yates, He Declares.
By Raymond W. Pullman.


washington. June 7.-Uncle Sam is en-
advocate Of the health marriage idea
The policy Of ministers over the country
vbo demand physicians certificates be-
fore uniting two people in matrimony has
received its first official stamp of ap-
,roval. Likewise, there is an o. X. put
on the suggestions OF health authorities
and social workers who want the enact
ment IN all states Of laws based on the
pure marriage idea to protect contracting
partes against insidious diseases which
can be transmitted TO offspring. more es-
uecially tuberculosis and certain infec-
tious blood diseases.
The mating of people in good health
will have the effect of not only insuring
the right Of children to good hcredity,
hut health marriages Will be the most
effective known means of checking d.
yorce. because good health makes for con-
tentment This is the opinion Of officers
Of the United States Public Health Ser
vice. Surgeon General Rupert Blue and
his associates to-day outlined the govern
nent's reasons for its interest in a prob
lem which always lies within the iUris-
diction Of the individual states to solve.
THE health marriage idea presents
public health question which cannot he
left entirely TO the consideration OF ply
sicians," said Or. Blue. Nor is 1t mere
lv a question for ministers. II is great
social problem Of vital interest to every
member Of society and IS based on the
development of a better American .clu-
~ neOplH
through the protection OF women and
men and their offspring against insidious
diseases, the existence of which should
be given careful thought by every per-
son contemplating marriage.
"Tt would be an extremely good thing
n every state would hasten the day when
statutes will be adopted which make
necessary the presentation OF health GER
tifcates before marriage. That these
laws should he easy Of enforcement, they
should not, in my opinion, be too dras-
tic Both parties planning marriage
should have knowledge whether either
IS diseased however and the provision
for a health certificate before marriage
is the only method of making sure that
they will get this knowledge.
AS most normal people look forward TO
entering the married state, ! believe that
the placing Of marriage on health basis
will make all people think more of the
care Of their bodies-make them more
anxious TO ward off diseases-and that
the general enactment of legislation Of
this kind will mark one of the longest
steps which has ever been made in the
encouragement of preventive medicine.
Sentiment will always rule in the
making Of marriages. suppose. but love
with health will make for a far more per-
feet and happy marriage than love with |
out health. More social problems will be
solved by putting marriage on health |
basis than in any other way. in my
opinion. Normal persons are usually
happy and contented when they are well,
and. therefore the most effective check
which can be offered for the divorce evil
IS the encoura cement OF the marriage OF
healthy, happy people.
The spread OF the health marriage
idea will mean that men particularly Will
come 10 think more Of the care Of them
selves and OF the danger Of certain In
people can give even passive support 10
the so-called double standard is rapidly
passing. Young men who think that
they must SOW wild oats and who give
little thought OF the dangers which await
them in riotous dissipation must be
taught that the fathers and mothers OF
the land will not allow their daughters 10
enter lnnocently into a union which may
result in the transmission OF disease or
IN the blindness OF offspring, or perhaps
in the ruination Of the health or even In
the death OF the mother.
''Not only should people on marrying be
protected against those diseases which
may he transmitted from one TO the other,
but there is great need to-day that our
women should be protected against men
who are either drug habituates or dipso-
maniacs Habits Of intemperance endan-
ger the happiness Of married life, and are
tlmost as serious a cause OF unsound and
defective children as are the social dis
eases There are also certain non trans
mittable diseases. Ike epilepsy, which, II
existing In either party, should be known
before marriage.
How far the health marriage laws
should go is a matter TO be decided care
fully by the states which make them
There is a question as TO how tho eXami-
nations should be made, whethar by a
physician employed by the state or mu-
nicipality. by the family physician or by
physician 10 be selected by the father
Of the woman 10 be married. There are
many natural reasons for supporting the
latter proposition, and the chances are
that the right Of the brides father to Sc
lect the examining physician will be the
princivle adopted by most states. These
matters are details, however, and the i'm
portant thing Is 10 encourage the idea OF
insuring a better and healthier nation Of