There is no doubt that the establishment of these clinics is one of the
most important parts in the work of a Birth Control League. The written
word and written directions are very good, but the fact remains that
even the best educated women have very limited knowledge of the
construction of their generative organs or their physiology. What, then,
can be expected of the less educated women, who have had less advantages
and opportunities? It is consequently most desirable that there be
practical teaching of the methods to be recommended, and women taught
the physiology of their sex organs by those equipped with the knowledge
and capable of teaching it.
The Neo-Malthusian League of Holland endorses, as the most reliable
means of prevention of conception, the Mensinger pessary (which differs
in construction from the French or the American Mizpah pessary). The
nurses also recommend this; but other methods are discussed with the
patient, and the husband’s attitude toward other methods considered and
discussed. The pessary is the commonest recommendation, as giving the
most satisfactory results.
RESULTS.
It stands to the credit of Holland that it is perhaps the only country
where the advocates of Birth Control have not been prosecuted or jailed.
This does not mean there has been no opposition to this propaganda; on
the contrary, there is to-day strong opposition by the Church, and only
a few years ago, in 1911, when a Clerical Government came into power,
laws were made against the propagation of these ideas, and much of the
freedom previously enjoyed by the League was denied it; but on the
expulsion of the Clerical Government later on, the rights of free speech
and free press were regained.
In the year 1895 the League was given a royal decree of public utility,
which again does not necessarily mean this propaganda is sanctioned by
the Government; but the laws regarding the liberty of the individual and
the freedom of the press uphold it, and it is thus that its advocates
are not molested.
The League has thirty sub-divisions, which include all the large cities
and towns and many of the smaller ones. Over 7,000 pamphlets of the kind
printed herein are sent out in the Dutch language and several hundred in
English and Esperanto each year. These are only sent when asked for by
the applicant.
There is no doubt that the Neo-Malthusian League of Holland stands as
the foremost in the world in organisation, and also as a practical
example of the results to be obtained from Birth Control teaching. Aside
from the spreading influence of these ideas in Belgium, Italy, and
Germany, Holland presents to the world a statistical record which proves
unmistakeably what the advocates of Birth Control have claimed for it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account