The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-10-29
BIRTH CONTROL NOT.
RACE SUICIDE, But
RACE PRESERVAT|O

Cincinnati, O., Oct. -"Judicious
birth control is not race suicide, but
race preservation" said DR.. S. Adolf
plus Knopf, professor of medicine at
the New York Post Graduate Medi-
cal School and Hospital, in an adj
dress here before the American Pub
lie Health Association. Vigorously
urging repeal Of federal and state
laws prohibiting circulation of infor-
nation as to birth control, DIR. Knopf
pleaded for the establishment of free
clinics directed by regular physicians
of high repute, paid by the city or
state, who would be competent to
give information as to birth limita-
tions in cases where they deemed
such instruction advisable.
At the conclusion of his paper, DIR.
Knopf gave the answers to a num-
beI of letters of inquiry sent TO lead
ing clergymen, jurors, sociologists,
. and political economists and their
opinions were, he said, almost unani-
nous with those expressed by him.
DIR. Knopf pointed out that in the
majority of cases the larger the fam
lily the more congested win be the
quarters they live in and the more
unsanitary environment.
Large Family VS.. Small Earnings.
"With the increase of the family"
he said, 'tthere is rarely, if ever, a
corresponding income of the earnings
of the father or mother, and as a
result, malnutrition and insufficient
clothing enter as factors to predis-
pose to tuberculosis and other dis
eases In the larger families it is
usually the latter born who contract
tuberculosis more frequently. Fifty
thousand children die annually from
tuberculosis in the United States and
the morbidity and mortality from this
disease is the highest among the
roor where the number Of children
IS greatest.
"The economic loss to families and
communities by the deaths of wives
and children because of transmitted
infectious diseases, cardiac anc renal
affections, to which has been added
excessive child-bearing, goes into
millions. Three vast sums an untold
physical sufferings could have been
saved by judicious birth control as
exercised in Holland, where since the
establishment of birth control elm
les the population has increased in
physical stature and well-being. The
average birth rate in three principal
cities Of Holland was 1877 per thous
and in 1881 when birth control elm
les were started In 1912 it had fall
en- to 1858 per thousand. The gen.
eral death rate, however, dropped
during the same period from 24.2
to Ill per thousand.
The records of the charity organi-
cations prove that, as a rule, the
larger the families are that apply
for relief, the greater is their dis
tress, according to knopf. The larg-
er the family of the poor, the more
there is child labor, the more dis
ruption and irregularity, and the
more frequently one finds lower
standard of life and morals in gen.
eral, he said. In Holland, among
families of the laborers, there is a
better personal and general hygiene
and a finer moral and intellectual
development since the establishment
of birth control clinics, he asserted;
young people marry earlier, and lille
gitimacy, venereal diseases and pros
titution have become more and more
rare
DR.. Knopf said that as a result of
deep study he believes in birth con-
troll based on medical, sanitary, NOR
al economic reasons. He believes IN
it, he declared, because with aid of
1t man and woman could decide when
TO have child, could work and pre-
pare for its arrival, welcome it as
the fulfilment of their hearts de-
sire, watch over it tenderly, care for
and educate it, and raise it to be
happy. healthy and strong in mind,
body and soul
DIR. Knopf is convinced, he said,
that by following the example of
Holland the life span of the Ameri-
can people would be heightened.
nanU nAVT ATNQ