The broad ax., 1915-12-11
DR. KATHARINE b. DAVIS.

81. KATHARINE b OAN16s
The recent discussion occasioned by
the refusal Of a Chicago doctor to OPP
crate on a mentally defective baby be-
cause, in his judgment, an operation
meant condemning the child to an inl-
beetles fate makes this symposium OF
interest to the mothers Of our race:
DR.. Katharine B. Davis, Commis-
sioner Of Correction, New York.-f
child would be a helpless idiot, then
what purpose would be served by
keeping it alive? But it seems to me
that no one physician should ever have
the right to decide SO momentous
question
Mrs. Mary Ware bennett, New York
Clubwoman.-I think DR.. 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 P. Gibney, College Of Ply
sicians and Surgeons, Columbia Uni
versity.-It is the duty Of 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
was right If he was absolutely certain
the child had such physical and mental
defects as would make it a burden
when it grew up.
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, Washington.
AS a eugenist and a philanthropist
/ would let the child die. Perhaps as
a parent would have let it live.
Professor Franklin 81. Giddings,
Head of the Department Of Sociology,
Columbia University.-If the facts are
as reported the child should be permit
ted to die. If 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
Writer.-Few who have not had actual
occasion to study the lot Of large num-
bers Of the feeble minded can conceive
Of the legacy Of isolation, thoughtless
ridicule and exploitation by the IN
scrupulous for vicious purposes which
descends almost inevitably upon them
the moment their natural protectors
die or become unable to care for
them, unless the community takes &C
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 of
our criminals are feeble minded and
that 80 per cent Of all feeble minded
girls become the mothers of illegit-
mate children before they are seven
teen are a sufficient and convincing
commentary upon the kind Of infiu-
ences which are likely to surround the
lives of the feeble minded.
DR.. Max G. Schlapp, Director Of the
Clearing House For Mental Detectives,
Postgraduate Hospital, New York, Psy-
chiatrist to the Children's Court
No physician has the right, on the
strength OF his own opinion, to sacri-
fice life or condemn a human being to
death At so early an age it Is often
difficult to make a diagnosis. Certain
kinds Of feeble mindedness, like cretin-
ism, can be wonderfully helped. The
public gets excited about a case of
this kind, while there are so many
thousands of high grade mental defec-
lives, the most dangerous types, at
large with no state machinery to pro-
tect them or society from them till aft
er crimes are committed.
The state board Of charities reports
that In New York alone there are over
$1,000 mental detectives, while state
institutions care for less than 5000