history as well as the physical condition of the parties to a proposed
marriage, and such certificates should be issued only by the Central
Board of Experts, who would receive the medical reports of its own
medical officers.

When the principle of artificial sterilization is accepted by the State,
the organization necessary to ensure that only the fit shall procreate,
will only be a matter of arrangement by experts.

One danger looms ahead however if the operative means of producing
artificial sterility are popularised.

Every surgeon of experience knows how readily large numbers of married
women encourage surgical treatment for ovarian and even uterine
complaints, if they become aware that such treatment is followed by
sterility. It is not at all an uncommon thing for women in all ranks of
life, to encourage, and even seek removal of the ovaries in order to
escape an increase in the family.

They become acquainted with persons who have submitted to this operation
for ovarian disease, and noting nothing but improvement in their health,
attended by sterility, their intense anxiety to enjoy immunity from
child-bearing makes them eager to submit to operation.

It would be distinctly immoral to sterilize healthy women, who become
possessed with the old Roman passion for a childless life, or who simply
wish to limit their families for any selfish or personal reason.

Any law which recognizes the induction of artificial sterility should
make operative interference with those fit to procreate a healthy stock