The Fertility of the UnfitChapple, W. A. (William Allan)
History
The Fertility of the Unfit
Chapple, W. A. (William Allan)
Eugenics; Involuntary sterilization; Population
In many, and especially in younger women however, grave mental and
physical changes are induced. The menstrual function is destroyed, the
appearance often becomes masculine, the face becomes coarse and heavy,
and hair may appear on the lips and chin. Lethargy and increase of
weight are often noticed, and not a few, especially in congenitally
neurotic cases, have an attack of insanity precipitated.
On the same principle on which the radical operation on men was
condemned, Oophorectomy must also be condemned. It is a serious
operation, often attended with grave mental and physical disturbances,
not the least of which is the partial unsexing of those subjected to it.
While these are delicate they are also pressing questions, questions
which, like the mythical riddle of the Sphynx, not to answer means to be
destroyed, yet the sentimental difficulties, are accentuated by modern
progress, for the public conscience becomes more sensitive as problems
become more grave. But as science has prepared the bridge over which
society may safely march, so, with rules easily provided by an
enlightened community all remedial measures formerly proposed--wise in
their times, probably, may now be waived aside.
With our present knowlege, the simple process of tubo-ligature renders
unsexing absolutely unnecessary in order to effect complete and
permanent sterility. As the lesser operation vasectomy, is effectual in
men, so is a lesser operation, tubo-ligature effectual in women. And it
has this paramount advantage that, whereas vasectomy being an occlusion
of a secretory duct, leads to complete atrophy and destruction of the
testis, ligature of the Fallopian tube, which is only a uterine
appendage and not a secretory duct of the ovary, has absolutely no
effect whatever on that organ.
A simple ligature of each Fallopian tube would effectually and
permanently sterilise, without in any way whatever altering or changing
the organs concerned, or the emotions, habits, disposition, or life of
the person operated on.
The Fallopian tubes are two in number, attached to the upper angles of
the uterus, and communicating therewith. Each is about five inches in
length, and trumpet-shaped at its extremity, which floats free in the
pelvic cavity.
Attached to the margin of this trumpet-shaped extremity, is a number of
tentacle-like fringes, the function of which is to embrace the portion
of the ovary, where an ovum has matured during or immediately after
menstruation.
At all other times these tubes are practically unattached to the
ovaries. Ova may and do mature on the surface of the ovaries, but do not
always pass into the Fallopian tubes; being almost microscopic, they are
disintegrated and reabsorbed. If they do pass into a tube they are lost
or fertilized as the case may be.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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