an offence.

Induced sterility should rank with induced abortion, and be a criminal
offence, except in certain cases which could be defined.

There is much evidence to suggest that artificial sterilization may
become as a great vice, as great a danger to the State as criminal
abortion.

Artificial abortion, as commonly performed, is a much more dangerous
operation than tubo-ligature. Of the two operations, any experienced
surgeon would readily declare that the latter is the simpler and the
safer; the one less likely to lead to unfavourable complications, and
the one, moreover, that would leave the subject of it with the better
"expectancy of life."

Anæsthetics and antiseptics have made this comparison possible and
true.

Any surgeon who performs tubo-ligature should be liable to prosecution,
unless he can justify his action according to the law relating to the
artificial sterility of the unfit.

While the law would eventually require to be obligatory, with regard to
the absolutely unfit, it would require to be permissive in all other
cases.

Many voluntarily abstain from marriage, because of a strong hereditary
tendency to certain diseases such as cancer and tubercle.