The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-12-17
DIR. KATHARINE b. DAVIS.

The recent discussion occasioned by
the refusal of Chicago doctor to op-
crate on mentally defective baby be-
cause, In his judgment, an operation
meant condemning the child to an I'M
beetles fate makes this symposium Of
interest to the mothers of our race;
DIR. Katharine b. Davis, Commis-
sioner of Correction, New YOrk.-lf a
child would be helpless idiot, then
what purpose would be served by
keeping 1t alive? But 1t seems to me
that no one physician should ever have
the right to decide so mOmentOus a
question.
Mrs. Mary Ware bennett, New York
ClubwOman.-I think DIR. Haiselden has
done a big humanitarian thing.
Judge Ben Lindsey. Denver Juvenile
Court.-This case should give an i'm
petus to the birth control movement
DR.. Virgil r. Gibney, College of Ply
sicians and Surgeons, Columbia Uni
versity.-It is the duty Of a doctor to
relieve the sufferings of humanity and
to prolOng life regardless of what he
individually may deem may be the out
come Of such service.
Miss Florence Guernsey, Former
President Federation Of Women's
Clubs.-I believe the Chicago physician
wns right IL he was absolutely certain
the child had such physical and mental
defects as would make 1t a burden
when it grew up.
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, Washington.
As eugenist and a philanthropist
would let the child die. Perhaps as
parent | would have let 1t live.
Professor Franklin III. Giddings,
Head Of the Department OF Sociology,
Columbia University.-If the facts are
as reported the child should be permit
ted to die. IL more such children had
been permitted to die there would be
| fewer mOlasses minded men and wo-
men in the community who object to
letting such children die.
DR.. Woods Hutchinson, Magazine
Writcr.-Few who have not had actual
bers of the feeble minded can conceive
of the legacy of isolation, thoughtless
ridicue and exploitation by the un-
scrupulous for vicious purposes which
descends almost inevitably upon them
the moment their natural protectors
die or become unable to care foi
them, unless the community takes nc
tive and determined steps to protect
them. The mere bitter facts that seven
eighths of our paupers, nine-tenths OF
our prostitutes and three-quarters ol
our criminals are feeble minded ant
that 90 per cent of all feeble minded
girls become the mothers of illegiti
mate children before they are seven
teen are sufficient and convincing
commentary upon the kind of in1u
ences which are likely to surround tho
lives of the feeble minded.
Dr. Max q. Schlapp, Director of tn,
Clearing House For Mental Detectives
Postgraduate Hospital, New York, Psy
chiatrist to the Children's Court
No physician has the right, on thu
strength of his own opinion, to sacri
Zee life or condemn human being t
death. AT so early an age 1t is Otter
difficult to make diagnosis. Certain
kinds Of feeble mindedness, like cretin
ism, can he wonderfully helped. Th,
public gets excited about case o
this kind while there are so man.
thousands Of high grade mental defeC
tives, the most dangerous types, n
large with no state machinery to pro
tect them or society from them till afi
er crimes are committed.
The state board OF charities report
that In New York alone there are owe
$4,000 mental detectives, while stat
institutions care for less than 5000.