HISTOEICAL EACES 257 



The practice was more common in Kome than in Greece.^ It was 

 deplored, nevertheless, by many authors including Ovid, Juvenal, 

 and Seneca. Some details of the methods employed are given 

 by Theilhaber.2 



In sub-group 2 we find the practice to be widespread. Eram 

 comments upon its frequency throughout the East.^ Wilkins says 

 that ' the crime of procuring abortion is one of the commonest in 

 India ', and quotes Dr. Chevers as saying that abortion is ' an act 

 of almost daily commission ' and has become ' a trade among 

 certain of the lower mid^vives '. It is especially common in 

 Bengal — perhaps 10,000 being destroyed monthly.* According to 

 Matignon, in China abortion is legal and usual during the three- 

 year suckling period.^ It is also common in Annam,^ in Japan,^ 

 Persia,^ and Turkey.^ Infanticide was condemned by Mohammed 

 but not abortion, which is frequent among the Arabs.^^ In Turkey 

 it is very common ; ^^ it is said to be brought about after the second 

 birth if the husband consents. ^^ The fact that in later times we 

 hear of enactments against abortion among the Burgundians, 

 Eipuarians, Visigoths, Bavarians, Saxons, Frisians, and Lombards 

 seems to point to the conclusion that the practice was common 

 before their conversion to Christianity.^^ 



12. There is some reason for believing that infanticide was 

 common among the Egyptians at the time of Moses. ^* ' The 

 ancient Jews seem to have themselves practised infanticide, for 

 as late as the time of Isaiah they are reproached with the habit 

 of " slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the 

 rocks ". In 2 Chron. xxviii. 3 and xxxiii. 6 the same statement is 

 made. It is true that these cases may have partaken of the 

 nature of human sacrifices rather than of ordinary infanticide, 

 but the two generally prevailed together, and we have express 

 testimony that both of them existed at that time among all the 



1 Westcrmarck, Moral Ideals, vol. i, p. 415. ^ Theilhaber, Das sterile 



Berlin, p. 11. See also von Siebold, Versuch e.iner Geschickte der Geburfshilfe. 

 3 Eram, loc. cit., p. 45. It was forbidden by the Laws of Manu (viii. 37). 

 * Wilkins, Hi7iduism, p. 429. See also Shortt, Tran-schctions Obstetrical Society, 

 vol. ix ; Vv'^ebb, loc. cit., jj. 259; and Jellinghaus, Zcit. fur Eth., vol. iii, p. 365. 

 ^ Matignon, Dix Ans au Pays du Dragon, p. 318. See also the same author's 

 La Snperstrtion, le Crime et la, Misere en Chine, and Collineau, loc. cit., p. 352. 

 « Mondiere, loc. cit., vol. ii, p. 487. ' Wamick, loc. cit., p. 574. See also 



MacLennan's quotations from Miss Bird, loc. cit., p. 105. * Polak, loc. cit., 



vol. i. p. 217. » Ploss and Bartels, loc. cit., vol. i, p. 846. '" Rique, 



Gaz. Med., vol. xviii, p. 161. For the Tartars see Nieiiiojowski, Siberian Pictures, 

 vol. i, p. 161. " Rigler, loc. cit., vol. i, p. 206, and vol. ii, p. 229. 



'- Polak, loc. cit., vol. i, p. 218. " Sutherland, Moral Instinct, vol. i, p. 139. 



1' Buckle, Miscellaneous Works, vol. ii, p. 240. 

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