558 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



its crippled and misshapen body of the cruel outrage 

 perpetrated upon it! That such cases do occur is cer- 

 tain from the following narrative: 



''A lady, determined not to have any more children, 

 went to a professed abortionist, and he attempted to 

 effect the desired end by violence. With a pointed 

 instrument the attempt was again and again made, but 

 without the looked-for result. So vigorously was the 

 effort made, that, astonished at no results being ob- 

 tained, the individual stated that there must be some 

 mistake, that the lady could not be pregnant, and re- 

 fused to perform any further operations. Partially 

 from doubt and partially from fear, nothing further 

 was attempted; and in due process of time the woman 

 was delivered of an infant, shockingly mutilated, with 

 one eye entirel}^ put out, and the brain so injured that 

 this otherwise robust child was entirely wanting in 

 ordinary sense. This poor mother, it would seem, 

 needs no future punishment for her sin. Ten years 

 face to face with this poor idiot, whose imbecility was 

 her direct work— has it not punished her sufficiently?" 



An Unwelcome Child.— A number of years ago, 

 a woman called on the writer, stating that she had be- 

 come pregnant much against her wishes, and earnestly 

 desired that an abortion should be produced. The 

 following conversation ensued: 



"Why do you desire the destruction of your un- 

 born infant?" 



''Because I already have three children, which are 

 as many as I can properly care for; besides, my health 

 is poor, and I do not feel that I can do justice to what 

 children I now have." 



"Your chief reason, then, is that you do not wish 

 more children?" 



