HUMAN CONSERVATION 479 



of the sexual segregation of defectives. Cretinism is an hereditary 

 defect connected with an abnormal development of the thyroid gland 

 which results in a peculiar form of idiocy usually associated with goitre. 



"In the city of Aosta the goitrous cretin has been for centuries an 

 object of charity. The idiot has received generous support, while the 

 poor farmer or laborer with brains and no goitre has had the severest 

 of struggles. In the competition of life a premium has thus been 

 placed on imbecility and disease. The cretin has mated with cretin, 

 the goitre with goitre, and charity and religion have presided over 

 the union. The result is that idiocy is multiplied and intensified. The 

 cretin of Aosta has been developed as a new species of man. In fair 

 weather the roads about the city are lined with these awful paupers- 

 human beings with less intelligence than a goose, with less decency 

 than the pig." 



Whymper, writing in 1880, further observes: "It is strange that 

 self-interest does not lead the natives of Aosta to place their cretins 

 under such restrictions as would prevent their illicit intercourse; and 

 it is still more surprising to find the Catholic Church actually legalizing 

 their marriage. There is something horribly grotesque in the idea of 

 solemnizing the union of a brace of idiots, and, since it is well known 

 that the disease is hereditary and develops in successive generations the 

 fact that such marriages are sanctioned is scandalous and infamous." 



Since 1890 the cretins have been sexually segregated, and in 1910 

 Jordan reported that they were nearly all gone. 



6) DRASTIC MEASURES 



A fifth method of restricting undesirable germplasm in the case of 

 confirmed criminals, idiots, imbeciles, and rapists may be mentioned, 

 namely, the extreme treatment of either asexualization or vasectomy. 

 The latter is a minor operation confined to the male which occupies 

 only a few moments and requires at most only the application of a 

 local anaesthetic, such as cocaine. There are no disturbing or even 

 inconvenient after effects from this operation. It consists in removing 

 a small section of each sperm duct, and is entirely effectual in prevent- 

 ing subsequent parenthood. 



In the female the corresponding operation, which consists in 

 removing a portion of each Fallopian tube, is much more severe, but 

 not impracticable or dangerous. 



Eight states already have sterilization laws providing for certain 

 cases and "could such a law be enforced in the whole United States, 



