316 MODERN PROBLEMS 



objection to these methods. The other objections are on the whole 

 rather of a rehgious than of an ethical nature, and as such fall 

 outside the scope of this book.^ 



In addition to the ethical there is the physiological aspect of 

 the matter. There are several different methods employed to 

 prevent conception. It is a matter of great importance to know 

 which of them can be employed without causing ill health. With 

 regard to this little is known and opinions vary. More than this 

 need not be said. 



It is no part of the object of this book to advocate any par- 

 ticular methods ; 2 it is only intended here to show what problems 

 arise at the present day from the quantitative aspect of the whole 

 matter. It may be suggested that upon the question of the 

 methods of limiting population it is desirable that there should 

 be some consensus of opinion. Man has not only to settle 

 how far he is going to limit population, but how he is going to 

 do it. 



6. We may now glance at certain questions which if they are 

 to be referred to at all in this part of the book are most easily 

 introduced here. These questions are not directly concerned with 

 the quantitative aspect of the problem ; their importance lies 

 chiefly in their bearing upon the qualitative aspect. 



It is a familiar fact that at the present day the birth-rate is 

 higher among certain sections of the population than among 

 others. There is reason to believe that this was also the case in 

 some of the older civilizations — notably in Rome. We may first 

 look at the facts and afterwards at the causes. Many investiga- 

 tions have shown that there is a higher fertility among the lower 

 social grades. Heron found that there is a high average cor- 

 relation between the birth-rate and conditions which indicate 

 a lower social grade, such as the number of pawnbrokers per 

 1,000 inhabitants, the amount of child employment, pauperism, 

 overcrowding, and other indications of poverty and lack of 



1 The arguments for and against are fully and fairly set out in Problems of 

 Population and Parenthood, pp. 44-8. 



2 Personally I agree with the views of the Dean of St. Paul's on this matter. 

 Speaking of the use of these methods, ' it seems ', he says, ' a pis oiler which high- 

 minded persons should avoid if they can practise self-restraint. Whatever injures 

 the feeling of " sanctification and honour " with which St. Paul bids us regard 

 these intimacies of life, whatever tends to profane or degrade the sacraments of 

 wedded love, is so far an evil. But this is emphatically a matter in which every 

 man and woman must judge for themselves, and must refrain from judging others ' 

 (Outspoken Essays, p. 74). 



