In conclusion, I am going to make a statement which may at first seem exaggerated, but which is, nevertheless, carefully considered. The effort toward racial progress that is being made to-day by the medical profession, by social workers, by the various charitable and philanthropic organizations and by state institutions for the physically and mentally unfit, is practically wasted. All these forces are in a very emphatic sense marking time. They will continue to mark time until the medical profession recognizes the fact that the ever increasing tide of the unfit is overwhelming all that these agencies are doing for society. They will continue to mark time until they get at the source of these destructive conditions and apply a fundamental remedy. That remedy is birth control. ----------------------------------------------- [Footnote: Amsterdam [Malthusian (Birth Control) League started 1881; Dr. Aletta Jacobs gave advice to poor women, 1885]: 1881-85 1906-10 1912 Birth rate......... 37.1 27.7 23.3 per 1,000 of population Death rate......... 25.1 13.1 11.2 per 1,000 of population INFANTILE MORTALITY: Deaths in first year................ 203 90 64 per thousand living births The Hague [now headquarters of the Neo-Malthusian (Birth Control) League]: 1881-85 1906-10 1912 Birth rate........... 38.7 27.5 23.6 per 1,000 of population Death rate........... 23.3 13.2 10.9 per 1,000 of population INFANTILE MORTALITY: Deaths in first year................. 214 99 66 per thousand living births These figures are the lowest in the whole list of death rates and infantile mortalities in the summary of births and deaths in cities in this report. Rotterdam: 1881-85 1906-10 1912 Birth rate.......... 37.4 32.0 29.0 per 1,000 of population Death rate.......... 24.2 13.4 11.3 per 1,000 of population INFANTILE MORTALITY: Deaths in first year................ 209 105 79 per thousand living births Fertility and Illegitimacy Rates: 1880-2 1890-2 1900-2 (Legitimate births per 1,000 married women Legitimate fertility.. 306.4 296.5 252.7 aged 15 to 45.) 1880-2 1890-2 1900-2 (Illegitimate births per 1,000 unmarried women, Illegitimate fertility..16.1 16.3 11.3 aged 15 to 45.) The Hague: 1880-2 1890-2 1900-2 Legitimate fertility.... 346.5 303.9 255.0 Illegitimate fertility... 13.4 13.6 7.7 Rotterdam: 1880-2 1890-2 1900-2 Legitimate fertility.... 331.4 312.0 299.0 Illegitimate fertility... 17.4 16.5 13.1] CHAPTER XVII PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE