The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-24
Reads Paper "should Virginia
Have Marriage Law Based
on Eugenics:"
MEDICAL SOCIETY MEETING
New Officers Elected, and Wash
ington Chosen as Next
Meeting Place.
Especial TO The rimes-Dispatch. !


! LynchburG. Va, October 23.-Onc of
the most interesting papers OF the Vir-
sinia Medical Society convention, now
in session here. was one by DR.. G. =.
Wertcnbaker. OF Norfolk, of the United
States Public Health Service. on
Should Virginia Have a Marriage
Law Based on EuRenics?'
DR.. Wertenbakcr said it was his pur-
pose TO draw attention TO laws already
tons that have led to n general de-
mand for such II law. Careful study
shows that the number OF defective
children is increasing in this country.
Mnny people who pass as normal are
really feeble mindcd to u certain de-
gree. twenty five per cent of crimi-
nails arc feeble minded. aud out of 100
children committed to "A New York de-
tcntion home siNty-scven were feeble
minded The estimated cost Of caring
annually for Nirginia's fceblc-minded
is 1907. 600.
In Virginia there is no bar to mar
riaSc Of feeble minded persons pau
pers or criminals and not infrcuucntlv
paupers supported by the State marry
aud have children. The cost OF caring
for detectives has grown so that there
must be Il check to it,
another reason Tor supervising
marriages in Virginia is to prevent the
marriage or persons suffering from
transmssblc disease. and as a result
tuberculosis and other transmissiblc
diseases are being spread through
marriage.
Or. Wcrtenbaker showed that
through impure marriages come tho
death of many infants AS well az
mental and physical dctcicnces. lie
did not oppose examination hy ply
sicians to detect disease before mar
rage. but he questioned If a physician
without special training or study
would he qualified. He said it WAS use
less TO pass laws without adequate
machinery TO make them effective. It
is better 10 have no law than AN in
eicctual one. The greatest thought. he
said should he the effect Of such :: law
IL adopted Tampering with the mar
ringc laws may lead to grave com
pla"at'ons
Dr. Wcrtenbakcr was not sure in his
own mind that il was wise TO attempt
to put into effect any very coinprc-
hcnsivc prohibitive legislation. think
ing the subject should bc more thor
oughIy investigated 80 that any legis-
lation should be practical. II. thought
the proper place for the enforcement
OF such law was with the State
BOARD OF Health rather than with the
physicians
session well Attended.
The morning session was we'll at
tended the papers read cvoling in
teresting and inspiring discussions
which crowded the program and caused
some OF the papers to go over until Il
later session.
The application for membership was
brought up this Afternoon to l3i. This
being by far the largest number OF
new members received at convention
in thcA past
Pathology OF the Tonsil" was the
subject OF paper by Or. Il. c. Wills.
OF Richmond "Tonsilectoiny-it In
dications ana Operative Technique"
was discussed by Drs. K. H. Wright
and 5. =. Bowen. of Richmond. and
mond. discussed "knucleation OF the
Tonsil."
The executive council reported in
favor OF holding tho next annual CON
vention at Richmond, but an invita-
ton from DIR. Hoe. OF Washington, for
the convention TO meet at the national
capital swept the convention. Wash
inston capturing the meeting by an
overwhelming vote.
The officers elected for next year are
AS follows: president, DR. stephen
IIarnsburger. Of Catlett; vice-prcsi-
dents DIR. l.. G. Bryan. Of Richmond: DR.
j. :. Davis. Or. X. Il. Gary: treasurer
Or NJ. W. Peyser. Of Richnond: secrc-
tary, DR. i. \. Irwin, OF Farmvillc;
chairman judiciary committee. DIR. c. X
Grundy; membership. DR.. W. y. Turner:
Legislative. Or. George ~ Slower;
neurological. DIR. j. W. Aylcr; dele
gates To American Medical Association,
DR. w T.. Anderson. DR.. kirkland Ruff
I'm; state Board of Medical Examiners:
First District. j. NJ Barney: Second.
Herbert Old; Third. II. II. Levy;
Fourth. O. G Wright: ,.ith. Il. S. Mar
tin; sixth, John W. Preston; seventh,