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tion is in protection from the State, and that protection should continue 
throughout her whole lifetime. 
The question is frequently asked if feeble-minded girls should ever 
be allowed to marry. In my judgment no feeble-minded girl should ever 
marry, even though she has been sterilized at pubescence. For the danger 
lies in the fact that she has not the intelligence adequately to comprehend 
the meaning of the nuptial tie. The obligations of this relationship 
would mean nothing to her, and she could not be held responsible for 
violations of those obligations. If she were free from state control, and 
should be permitted to marry, even though she had been sterilized at 
puberty, there would still be the tendency to fall into prostitution and 
crime which would be unavoidable. It would afford the means of spread- 
ing venereal disease and stimulating prostitution. which I feel no State 
can afford to permit. 
One of the greatest social problems of the day for Indiana and all 
other States is the proper control and education of the feeble-minded 
delinquent girl. If she is not brought under control, she will propagate 
her kind, and it is probable that the percentage of feeble-mindedness will 
increase. With its increase comes added expenditure for state institu- 
tions, juvenile courts, medical aid,» and waste in education, etc., which 
increases with leaps and bounds. But if the State takes under its pro- 
tection and care all feeble-minded girls and boys, there will soon be a 
great decline in many of the social wastes which at present are sapping 
the resources of the State. It is difficult to estimate the whole cost to 
the State of the offspring from one degenerate woman. Fortunately we 
have a few statistics on this point. The Germans have studied with care 
the long line of descendants from a few degenerate women, and have 
calculated their cost to the state. For example, a Margaret Siler, who 
is characterized as a weak-minded prostitute, was the mother of six chil- 
dren. After 180 years the history of her progeny is as follows: She had 
1,286 descendants; of these there were 200 criminals, 280 adult paupers, 
300 died of congenital diseases, there were 50 tramps, and she cost Ger- 
many $150,C00.000 in legal proceedings alone. Another instance is that 
of Ada Joirk, a feeble-minded prostitute and drunkard. Seven hundred 
nine of her descendants have been accounted for. There were 141 beg- 
gars, 64 in the poorhouse, 287 vagabonds, and 76 sexual criminals. She 
cost Switzerland $1,250.000 in 120 years, and through the lines of con- 
