Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-11-11
Adequate Marriage Law
For State To Be Urged
Necessary as Protection of Children Against Venereal
Diseases, Health Authorit les Declare; Action In
N, It Legislat ure Probable

Raleigh, Nov. 11.-North Cardinals
lack of an adequate marriage law, the
Importance of such a law, and the de-
claratiOn that an effort will be made
to have one enacted by the next Gen
eral Assembly, as vital part of the
States war on venereal diseases, are
emphasized in a statement by Mrs J.
Henry Highsmith, assistant director.
of health education, State Board of
Health.
Mrs. HighSmith says: North Caro-
lin has practically no laws for safe
guarding marriage and the beginning
of the home. On the statute books
are two laws, neither of which as it
operates today is worth the effort to
enforce it. This is the opinion of one
register of deeds who says that the
present marriage law which requires
the male applicant for marriage Ii
cense to sign an affidavit saying that
he has no active tuberculosis or a
venereal disease, and has not had for
two years prior thereto, is totally in
effectual. This law is an alternative
to prior law which required health
certificate from the groom in order
to obtain a marriage license. Neither
law requires anything of the prospec-
tive bride-not even a written state
ment to the effect that she has no
tuberculosis or a venereal disease in
the active stage.
10000 Syphilitic Children.
But has not the time come when
North Carolina can and will take
steps to protect it's children from the
ravages of venereal disease, It is es-
timated that there are 10000 children
| under fifteen years of age in North
Carolina today who have syphilis in
| herited from infected and neglectful
parents. And yet this large number
is not the whole story. Only about 43
percent of syphilitic battles live to
reach ten years of age. Therefore, it
is safe to say that at least 10000 9TH
| err babies were born syphilitic but
died in infancy or early childhood.
"When it is known that children in
herit blindness, feeble-mindedness, in
sanity, susceptibility to disease and
premature death from syphilitic par
ents, and when it is further known
that 80 per cent of these tragedies
could be prevented through an en-
forced law requiring Wassermann
test Of both men and women before
marriage and another law requiring
the proper treatment of expectant
mothers showing a positive blood test
does 1t not seem that public opinion
would demand this protection for in
nocerlt, helpless children?
| Fortunately, there is a growins
| sentiment today in behalf of these
measures. A poll conducted recently
hy the American Institute of Public
| Opinion found that go per cent Of
those voting on the question, whether
or not there should be pre-martia
Wassern1ann tests, were in favor. o.
all the votes cast in the Southern
states. 81 per cent were favorable.
Some Pertinent Facts.
"In connection with the campaign
being waged against syphilis, a mum
Der of states have enacted laws requir
ing, as prerequisite for the issuance
of a marriage license, evidence O
negative Wassermann or similar blooe
tests Connecticut enacted such a Law
in 1885 and, contrary to many pre-
dictions, it works and works well. A.
evidence that it has popular support
about 10 per cent more laboratory ex
aminations were made for prospective
] brides and bridegrooms during tn