The Washington times., 1914-06-21
Or. J. Taber Johnson Urges Law
to Require Physical Health
Certificate Before Wedding
License.
Encouragement of Clean Living
and Outdoor Exercise Advo.
Gated by Prominent District
Physician.

requiring all dpplIcdtIoHS TOR G
marriage license to be accom-
panied by physical certificates
showing the applicants to be phys
icdlly fit, in the opinion of DR.. 10
seph Taber Johnson, for fort
years a member of the George
town University Medical School
faculty and a recognized medical
authority.
Teaching of sex hygiene through
parents and through physicians,
the encouragement of athletics ana
outdoor lining among young nom,
en-, and a sane eugenic propaganda
are other points urged by this ply
sicidn of wide experience as @
teacher and as a practitioner.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.
young women of today possess
information about sex matters that
was withheld from woSlen of a past
generation until they were grand
mothers"
That is the oft-spoken charge
against the twentieth century girl.
Or. Joseph Taber Johnson admits
the charge, and believes IT a healthy
sign of present times.
Even the mention Of "eugenics,'
which is like waving a red flag at
many members of the medical pro-
fession, does not stir DR.. johnson
20 any impassioned recriminations.
He laughs at the ridiculous ex-
cesses" OF the eugenists, but affixes
his most hearty Endorsement to the
theory that vigorous health should
be a preliminary to marriage.
And the real point of this pream-
bic. by way Of leading up to the
subject discreetly. for DE-. Johnson
10 as afraid of being sensational
ss is the average member of his
profession, is that he believes
should be required by law before
marriage licenses are issued.
DR.. Johnson ventured. to present
these views before a group of wom-
en. known as the Keep Wells"
and because he believes in an edu-
cational campaign on sex matters,
50 that the perils Of certain dread
and dangerous diseases may be
avoided, he discussed his views IN
more detail with a representative
q The Times.
Educate the Parents.
Dr. Johnson's views on the much
discussed questions of eugenics, sex
hygiene teaching. and eugenic mar
rages. carry weight because he is
not a faddist in any Of these details.
His opinions are the result of forty
years teaching Of genealogical sub
1ects in the medical school Of
Georgetown University, and of half
a csntury's practice in Washington.
In recognition of his achievements
he received from Georgetown Uni
versity the degree of LII. D. at the
graduation exercises last week.
Dr.. johnson does not favor sex
NtoS--4lE Al luc
schools. He believes parents should
impart such information to their
children, and he further believes
that parents should be educated to
the point where they are better
qualified for such instruction.
But the one phase OF such educa-
ton. which has been generally over
looked in the enthusiasm to impart
eek information, is the part physI-
dams themselves should play in
such a campaign.
There is scarcely a home in this
land which does not come in con-
tact with a physician of some Sort"
he said. And physicians should be
more generally looked TO. and more
ready TO guide their patients toward
q proper conception of sex Instincts
''One drastic case in which a ply
sician's influence is shown recently
came TO the attention Of the medical
association here A young man was
TO be married within a month to a
young woman, whose parents al
ready had sent Invitations broadcast
for the wedding. He rushed into his
PHYSICIANS office, declaring that
preaching event, he had contracted
Z disease which would have wreek-
ed his prospective brides life, il
communicated TO her.
The Higher Duty.
The situation had all the settings
OF q Damaged Goods tragedy in real
life The physician happened also TO
be the medical adviser of the family
Of the young woman. He warned the
young man that, unless the marriage
were postponed. he would notify the
young woman's father of the peril
awaiting his daughter
THE young man clustered about,
pleaded. cajoled, and finally threat
ened 10 blow the Doctors brains out
II this professional secret were dis
closed to his fiancee's relatives.
The doctor was firm, and the
young man finally was persuaded 10
agree 10 a postponement of the we'd
ding day. There you have a case
where a physician recognized a high
er duty than might be admitted by
a literal construction of professional
ethics In dozens of less dramatic
instances. the physician might save
many human lives from the suffer-
ings and horrors threatening them"
DR.. johnson would rob Innocence OF
none of its charm, and modesty OF
mono of it's fresh bloom, by encour-
aging the frank and free discus
sions OF eugenics problems between
That, he believes. Is one of the
dangers of eugenics.