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63
1. The most careful selection of medical officers suited for the work.
2. Advicc to be given only at the Centres attended by these medical
officers. I should personally incline wherever possible to the instructions being
given at the Ante-Natal rather than at the Child Welfare Centre.
3. Personal knowledge by the medical officer of the home circumstances
and |>ersonal discussion with both parents of the possibility of applying methods
of self-restraint if birth control appears necessary and of the removal of
hindrances to the application of this course, before any thought is entertained
of instruction in mechanical contraception.
4. Such advice, where given, to be associated always with the clearest
warning to parents as to the dangers to the proper development of children
under spacing out, born at too long intervals from each other, and also a
warning as to the possible dangers to mutual esteem when the methods of birth
control are unwisely used by the parents.
Given safeguards of this type, a Public Authority prepared to act with
every caution could play a very useful part in developing a healthy attitude
and in imparting helpful information on this subject.