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1925
24
the birth-rate continues high. No propaganda and no voluntarymeasures
will have any effect upon them. The continuous high
birth-rate among the lowest social class, together with the continuous
decrease in the higher social classes has made the birth-rate
dysgenic.
The class which has received most attention recently is the
mentally defective. Although possibly not numerous, its members
are a source of danger on account of the high birth-rate especially
among the high-grade mentally defectives. Theoretically, the
mentally defectives appear to be the easiest class of people to deal
with.
A short time ago there appeared a letter in the Press signed
by ten of the most prominent members in the medical profession
urging the nation to arouse itself to the ever increasing evil of mental
deficiency, and advocating sterilization as a means of checking
that evil. This authoritative statement was challenged a few days
later by the Central Association for Mental Welfare. The latter
body advocated segregation, but the main defect of its pleading
is that it assumes that sterilization is put forward as a universal
alternative to segregation. Needless to say, no sane person with
any knowledge of the facts would make such a proposal. There
are two quite distinct classes of defectives, the one consisting of
persons who, if left at large, would be a danger to themselves
and to the community, the others so slightly tainted that the only
mischief they are likely to do is to pass on their defect to future
generations by marrying or by producing illegitimate children.
Sterilization does not mean castration, which is more or less
serious on account of the alteration of the endocrine secretions ;
it means operations which are supposed to have no effect beyond
the production of sterility. Neither in the male nor female is the
operation a serious one or attended with much danger.
The attitude of the Ministry of Health may be deduced from
a reply made to the Lutterworth Guardians : " That action cannot
be taken unless public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of it."
The present dysgenic birth-rate will not be altered greatly if
the question of the mentally defective be solved. There is at present
still a higher birth-rate among the lowest social class, who are