224 JON ALFRED MJ0EN 



be detected in its latent state, even by the most observant and skilled 

 physician; and it would also seem to be a mistake to introduce the obli- 

 gatory medical examination of young women at a time when the examina- 

 tion of prostitutes for venereal disease is almost everywhere being allowed 

 to fall into disuse. Obligatory medical examination should therefore not 

 be introduced until bio-chemical methods of research have been so im- 

 proved, that the presence or absence of such diseases as must be considered 

 in relation to marriage can be ascertained without the necessity of a physi- 

 cal manual examination. In doubtful cases — and there are many such — 

 the medical certificate would, nevertheless, have to be issued; and it would 

 certainly have an effect contrary to its purpose and bring both the law 

 and the physician into discredit. And if obligatory medical examination 

 became statutory and especially in case they were to lead to the prohibition 

 of the union of those considered unfit to marry, they would bring the physi- 

 cian into conflict with his duty of professional secrecy, and easily drive the 

 patient into illegitimate sexual relations. 



On the other hand, a personal health declaration, made on one's honour 

 before a physician authorised by the state, would have the great advantage 

 of being actually of greater validity than the obligatory certificate on the 

 basis of a medical examination and much less rigorous in form. 



False declarations would hardly ever be made, or, at the worst, their 

 number would be exceedingly small. The circumstance that the declara- 

 tion must be made before a physician would also tend to deter many who 

 might otherwise be tempted to make a false statement in the hope of being 

 able to shift the responsibility to the examining physician himself and his 

 'medical certificate.' 



Among the many advantages that would result from a personal health 

 declaration made before a physician and submitted to parents or guardians 

 for their consideration may be included the awakening of the sense of 

 individual moral responsibility, in fact the awakening of the conscience 

 of the whole nation in regard to marriage and the health of future genera- 

 tions. No one of either sex should marry without first having to ask him- 

 self the question, whether or not he is physically fitted for marriage. The . 

 result would be that a large number of ineffective individuals, especially 

 such as those whose offspring are now supported by the community, would 

 renounce the idea of founding a family. 



And when once the Eugenic Program from 1908 has been brought into 

 operation, we are allowed to expect that the burdens born by the public 

 in the form of poor law rates, prosecutions, prisons, inebriate homes, schools 

 for the feeble-minded, and the like, would be lightened, and there would 



