Birth control laws : $b shall we keep them, change them, or abolish themDennett, Mary Ware
History
Birth control laws : $b shall we keep them, change them, or abolish them
Dennett, Mary Ware
Birth control; Birth control -- Law and legislation -- United States
This information is almost wholly unauthorized by reputable
scientists, is largely unreliable and inadequate, is considerably
harmful and dangerous, and alas, is even vulgar and smutty in its
form. The means, which are camouflaged as for other purposes, are
an opportunity for conscienceless profiteering, and, like the
information, are uncertified by proper authorities.
The only effective antidote possible is to make the circulation
lawful, so that it can be properly inspected and made subject to the
Drugs Act; and so that the first class medical experts may have a
lawful and decent opportunity to denounce the quacks and profiteers,
and to supplant their abominations with dignified, reliable,
scientific, hygienic information.
The Cummins-Vaile Bill opens the way for this tremendously needed
effort on the part of our best doctors, who are now tied hand and
foot by the laws, or are obliged to resort to the undignified process
of boot-legging their scientific teaching.
The doctors can save the day, if they are given a chance. Is it fair
for Congress to hinder any longer?
February 14, 1925.
_POINT EIGHT._—The St. Louis Times recently published the leading
editorial, which follows:
“_A Bill for Moral Health_
“Nothing comes closer to the minds and hearts of healthy Americans
than the begetting, bearing and rearing of children. Unfortunately
this subject has been relegated to the limbo of the unclean, the
indecent, the nasty jokesmith; and much teaching and thinking has
made it so.
“A long step toward cleansing the people’s minds and hearts of the
prevalent false standards, clearing the visions and correcting
conclusions, has been taken by the Voluntary Parenthood League. But
it has taken this organization of influential citizens five years
to overcome the paralyzing fears that beset both rulers and people,
and get the Cummins-Vaile bill into Congress.
“Honorable physicians and scientists have been blocked from
circulating wholesome information on contraception. Nevertheless,
charlatans flourish like weeds. Practically every boy and girl
can talk glibly of the subject, and their misinformation has come
principally from foul sources.
“It is time to protect physicians and social workers, and save our
children from false, foolish and foul ideas of life, to make the
human body and its functions clean subjects of definite knowledge
and control.
“Congress should pass the Cummins-Vaile Bill unanimously in the
interest of public health, morals and decency.”
February 16, 1925.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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