New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-21


be, there may be established clinics
where those who desire may 60 for
scientific information"
DR.. Lydia Allen De Nilbiss, who has
just resigned from the State Board of
Health for which she lectured on So
cial hygiene and child welfare, will
make her last public appearance at the
meeting next week, because she is to
leave soon for a Western state where
she has position with the State Board
Of Health. Dr. De Vloiss dictated the
following statement in regard to the
matter:
at is a rank injustice for a woman
TO bear a baby if she doesn't wish it
injustice to her and to the baby. Peo-
pie who love children aad want them
will have them. Those who don't, won't
in time their line will die out, which
may be a blessing.
Science has not proved that the vel
come child has any advantage over the
unwelcome child. The child Is such
successful parasite on the body o. the
mother that it gets what it needs and
seems to be thoroughly protected from
most physical and mental injuries. But
il is matter of faith that the child
who is welcome must have a better OPP
portunity than one who is not welcome.
Il seems a matter of common sense, II
not of absolute science.
when prevention Of conception be-
comes an alternative for abortion there
can't be any question about the pre-
vention being the better method, or, at
any rate. the lesser of two evils. 1t IS
an inconsistent thing that reputable
physicians who are given the power OF
life or death over an unborn child are
not permitted to prevent the concep-
tion of that child
III woman Is pregnant and it seems
in the judgment OF the physician that
she cannot bear that child with safety
to herself and it, he is permitted legally
70 produce an abortion. This abortion
has legal and moral sanction, on the
grounds that it is better to dest troy one
life and save one than it is to lose two.
But il that same woman, VINO the ply
stefan knew might not enter upon
pregnancy without serious danger to
herself and her baby, were to come to
him for advice or prescription to pre-
vent her from becoming pregnant, he
would be a criminal according to the
law if he so protected her.
"The laws against disseminating the
knowledge of the methods Of prevent
ing conception were designed to pre-
vent race suicide. They have failed
to 4 considerable extent in this respect.
and have at the same time been active
in promoting race degeneracy.
at is a matter o. common supposi-
ton that preyentiyes of conception are
used by the well-to-do and the better
educated classes. It is fairly we'll evil
dent that such methods are not being
used by the poorest and the most igno-
rant people. Thus the rate of increase
OF population is coming fastest from
those who BY their physical and men
tai status and their environment are
least able TO bring into the world
healthy children and 20 raise them to
be efficient men and women.
The most progressive men and
women can see the injustice and the
dangers to the race in this and other
archaic laws. It may take long time
before the general public will be con-
WINGED of the desirability of their re-
peal. However. this is such an impor-
tant matter and it affects every man
and woman in so much more vital a
manner than other reforms which are
being advocated. that il is TO be hoped
that men and women will lend their in
huence to replacing such laws with leg
lslation which will promote the health
and tie happiness Of mankind and as
sure US a better generation"