Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/864

 848 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

of real danger is the degenerate who is capable of the act of procreation, for his offspring, the idiot, the imbecile, the epileptic, and the criminal, are so pronouncedly abnormal as to become socially outcast, and thus not liable to contract the marriage relationship ; moreover, they are brought under confinement to a large degree, and this confinement is of a nature to prevent the begetting of offspring. There are four methods bv which it is proposed to prevent the generation of progeny by the criminal and the degenerate: (l) The prohibition of marriage in cases where either party belongs to the classes named ; this method is manifestly impracticable. (2) The iso- lation of the proscribed classes during the entire period of sexual fertility; beside other difficulties, this method must confront that of persuading the present generation to undertake the expense of a scheme which promises returns only to a future genera- tion — an expense so great, moreover, as to add very materially to the economic bur- den of today's civilization. (3) The general and authoritative encouragement of the use of various means of preventing conception while allowing sexual congress. The chief objection to this method lies in the fact that the use of these means implies too great an expense and too much skill in manipulation to make it practicable by the classes where its good effects would be most needed. Added to this is the fact that such means are not always effective ; and, furthermore, their use would run counter to certain ecclesiastical teachings which jump well with unbridled sensuality, and are therefore very readily obeyed by those classes within which are found the larger share of the criminals and degenerates. (4) Castration of certain classes of the criminal and degenerate. This method is highly commended and strenuously urged by compe- tent persons in many lands — notably, in England, Germany, and the United States. As the operation of castration is commonly understood, however, it is by far too diffi- cult and dangerous to permit its general use in the classes under discussion. In the case of the male less dangerous and comparatively simple methods have been dis- covered by which castration can be accomplished, but for the female no such method is known. From a medical Standpoint, therefore, it seems that the use of castration as a social prophylactic measure must be confined to males, save in exceptional instances. This is not so discouraging as it may seem, for with the female the period of fertility is much sooner over than with the male, and the criminality of the female is not usually of so dangerous a type as is that of the male. From the standpoint of private and public right and welfare, the use of castration for the purpose in question is certainly not indefensible. The right of society to protect itself by isolating for a considerable time, and for life if need be, the insane, the epileptic, the leprous, and the criminal, is unquestioned. If in self-defense it may deprive these of the exercise of all powers for an indefinite time, or for all time, it is difficult to see why the same right does not warrant it in depriving certain classes of a single power which they can never exert save to the hurt of all concerned. They are deprived of potentia gene- randi alone ; potentia coeundi still remains to them. As to the particular classes which should be made subject to castration, there is much yet to be said. Certainly the habitual criminal, the criminal from instinct, the perpetrator of certain outrageous sexual crimes, imbeciles, epileptics, the chronic insane, and Ihe confirmed drunkard should without hesitation be made to fall within the category of those subject to the operation. — P. Nacke, "Die Kastration bei gewissen Klassen von Degenerirten als ein wirksamer socialer Schutz," in Archiv fiir Kritninal- Anthropologic und Krimina- listik, 3. Band, i. u. 2. Heft, pp. 58-84.

Some Lessons of the Peace Conference. — A cursory sui-vey of the proceed- ings of the conference suggests the following reflections :

1. We are obviously far removed from a "United States of Europe," with a central executive, able to enforce obedience to its decrees by means of an international army and navy. The most far-reaching of the schemes submitted to the Hague con- ference contemplated no stronger form of compulsion for securing their success than that derived from the moral obligation of treaties.

2. Any preconcerted limitation of armaments is, and is long likely to be, an impossibility.

3. Any general renunciation either of particular means of weakening an enemy (f. g-., by the capture of private property at sea or the employment against him of particular kinds of weapons, e. g., the dum-dum bullet, or any other novelty likely to