The Detroit times., 1915-01-11
WOULD WARN
MICHIGAN OF
ALCOHOL EVIL
State Eugenic Board Says Liquor
Produces Insanity and De-
generacy
WOULD SEGREGATE ALL
FEEBLE-MINDED WOMEN
Legislation to Restrict Marriage
of lncompetents and Defec-
tives Advocated

LANSING, Mich, Jan. 9.--( (Spe-
cial Recommendation for legisla-
ton OF a radical nature are made in
the report OF the state eugenics com.
mission and II is certain that the leg
islature will be urged and may enact
a law TO restrict the marriage of per
sons who are not considered AZ to be-
come parents of children.
Education OF the public to an ap-
probation OF the dangers OF intoxi-
eating drinks because OF the known
influence which alcohol has In the
production OF insanity and physical
degeneracy.
Important recommendations OF the
commission follow;
That no child should be admitted
to any state institution caring for
juvenile dependents without mental
examination by a person regularly
employed for this purpose.
That state Institutions be required
to furnish the state board OF health
with the necessary statistical informa-
ton concerning mental detectives in
their custody.
That the names OF all insane. de-
linQuent. mentally defective, depen-
dent and epileptic patients, in state
and private institutions. be filed con-
fidentally with the state board OF
health.
That law should be passed requir-
ing county clerks to ascertain from
the state board OF health whether ap-
plicants for marriage licenses are in
sane, mentally incompetent or dis
eased, before issuing license.
That marriage licenses should be
refused to applicants whose record
filed with the state authorities do not
entitle them to clean bills OF health"
That more effective control over
foreign immigration by state and fed
eral authorities be provided for. as It
is contended that this class contrib
utes many insane and mentally defec-
tive persons.
That the state maintain more cen
tralized control and supervision over
all institutions having custody and
treatment OF insane persons, mental
detectives and epileptics.
Appointment OF field workers by
each institution caring for insane and
mental detectives, and continuance OF
systematic supervision over those
who have been discharged from these
institutions.
That wider publicity be given TO the
dangers from venereal Diseases. which
result In insanity epilepsy and merry
GUS degeneracy
In view OF the fact that the laws
prohibiting the marriages or defec
tives are not enforced that the ster,
ilization act is infrequently used. that
the expense OF segregation may ba
decreased by its application TO one
sex, that feeble-minded women play
a more definite and tangible part In
the problem OF effectiveness than
do the feeble-minded men, that
there are at least 1877 feeble-minded
women OF child-bearing age in coun.
ty infirmaries who are neither effec-
lively nor permanently segregated,
that there are at least 131 feeble
minded girls at the Adrian school
who are neither subjects for reforma-
tory treatment nor desirable az moth
ers after their discharge, and that
the capacity OF the Lapeer home is al.
ready oyertaxed, the commissfan rec
ommends that adequate state \ pro-
vision be made either in the estab-
lishment OF a special institution or
by increasing the capacity of the La
peer home and training school to pro-
vide for the custody OF feeble. minded
women OF child bearing age.
The restriction OF immigration, bet
ter control OF persons discharged from
state institutions and wider publicity
OF the dangers OF venereal diseases
are advocated by the commission.
More stringent marriage laws, TO
prevent the union of mental incompe-
tents are also advocated, and like the
which framed the new
domestic relations act, the eugenics
would require that the
names Of all insane persons, mental
and those suffering
from epilepsy or venereal diseases be
posted at the Office OF the state board
OF health and that marriage licenses
be denied To this class.
in all probability, legislation along
these lines viii be Instituted soon.
and while there is bound TO be tre.
mendous opposition TO the proposed
measures. It Is believed that the re-
port OF the eugenics commission which
is signed by Albert NJ Barrett. DIR.
John l.. Burkart, Fred T.. Keller. and
NJ II. Murray will have eIsaat infu-