REDUCTION OF FECUNDITY OF SOCIALLY INADEQUATE 367 



applying any methods yet devised. It is possible, of course, that simple 

 and reliable methods may in time be discovered by the labours of such or- 

 ganizations as the Birth Control Investigation Committee, of which the 

 Hon. Secretary is Dr. C. P. Blacker, the Secretary of the Eugenics Society; 

 but for the time being apart from segregation, which is clearly the best 

 method, it is only to sterilization that we can look to limit the fertility of 

 mental defectives and of those classes composing the Social Problem Group. 

 An important point in this connection is that the parents in this group rarely 

 desire the large families which are our problem; an increase in their family, 

 after the first two or three, is looked upon as a misfortune, as is proved by 

 the great amount of attempted abortion; and there is reason to believe that 

 advantage would be willingly taken by married women of facilities for 

 sterilization if offered. 



It is for this reason that two years ago the Eugenics Society undertook to 

 advocate the application of sterilization to mental defectives, and to persons 

 afflicted with hereditary defects seriously impairing physical or mental 

 health or efficiency; and as it appeared doubtful whether eugenic steriliza- 

 tion was legal in Great Britain, we promoted the introduction of a bill in 

 Parliament to allow voluntary sterilization under certain safeguards. 



The Society has been careful to explain that sterilization is not proposed 

 as a substitute for segregation in institutions, but merely as an accessory 

 method which it is held will add something to check the increase in mental 

 defectiveness, and to refrain from exaggerating the practical effect of the 

 limited application of sterilization at present advocated. If, as a result of its 

 legalization in the case of mental defectives, the practice should become 

 recognized as normally applicable to a well-ascertained Social Problem 

 Group, a much more serious impression would be made on the problem. 

 The result, however, of the advocacy and the publicity given to the subject 

 in the Press and in public discussion during the last year or two, has been 

 to remove much prejudice on the part of the British public in questions of 

 eugenic reform. I need hardly add that the sterilization laws of the States 

 of the American Union has been much quoted and referred to in our pam- 

 phlets and discussions. These pamphlets will be found in the "exhibit" 

 of the Eugenics Society. 



One of the effects of this growing interest in our subject is an increased de- 

 mand for eugenic prognosis. More and more persons contemplating mar- 

 riage, who have ancestors or collateral relatives exhibiting some hereditary 

 disability, are applying for advice as to the chances of their children being 

 affected by such and such a disease or disability. In the present condition 

 of our knowledge of hereditary diseases it is by no means safe or easy to give 



