LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OUR FUTURE CITIZENS
THE MEDICALLY UNFIT. Sir,—That was a very interesting and much-needed iirticlo on the "Medically Unfit" in The Dominion of December 20. All thoughtful people Jill thank you for it. At the outbreak of war my son, though physically fit, \vi\s menially unfit, and instead of i'oing lo the front entered mi asylum, where lie will in all probability end his days. We British are supposed lo be the salt of the earth, a Christian people and exceptionally goqd. All this prating nbuiit our care and feeding of infants, leaching mothers how to rear them, drill in school, camp life, etc., is 60 much humbug if there is in that girl or boy we are coddling a strain of hereditary insanity. When we recognise that this'fell disease is /it the root of all our troubles and that we are steadily re-m-odiicing it, then and only then can we iiope for happier times. Though the doctore recognised it was a form of hereditary insanity,, my son, like many others, has been discharged from the asylum several times, I suppose, to see if he could get married and reproduce this frightful disease. In your interview the doctor is reported to have said "he had no definite scheme to propound." Might I suggest that we should begin to educate bo.n sexes on the subject of marriage. K should be explained to them that the object is not to satisfy their animal passions, but to bring strong, healthy, children into the world. Then they should be medically examined before marriage, and where there is any disease sure to be passed on to their offspring they should bo at least warned, and in some cases prevented from liaving children. This happy-go-lucky way of encouraging all to reproduce is a national disgrace, and the sooner we make a change the bet-ter.-I am, etc., December 27, 1818..
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 8
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316LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 8
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