Vasectomy

A comparatively simple and painless operation, consisting of the removal of a small paijt of each vas deferens through which the semen flows from the testicles to the seminal vesicles, or a tying off or ligaturing of tne same. It effectively sterilizes the male, but does not impair his health or take away his sexual instincts. Several states have passed statutes providing for compulsory asexualization of inmates of insane asylums and prisons, by which the advisability of the operation is commonly referred to a board composed of the chief physician of such institution, one or more surgeons specially appointed, and such other health officers as seem necessary, and the opinion of a majority of the board is sufficient for a decision. It is apparently an exercise of the police power, for the protection of society by preventing further procreation of undesirable citizens, or for partial protection of women in cases of escape. Indiana provides for sterilizing confirmed criminals, idiots, rapists and imbeciles; Laws 1907, c. 215. Connecticut provides in exdren of inmates would inherit a tendency to crime, Insanity, feeble-mindedness, idiocy or imbecility; Acts 1909, c. 209; the attorneygeneral has declared it not to be unconstitutional. California regards the beneficial effect of the operation on the subject himself, and further provides that it shall not be performed on a criminal unless he has been committed twice for some sexual offense, or at least three times for any other crime, and gives evidence of being a moral and sexual pervert; life convicts are included in the last provision; Stat. 1909, c. 720. Iowa substantially follows California, with the addition of drunkards, persons addicted to drugs, epileptics and syphilitics, and makes it a punishment for prostitution and detaining females for prostitution; Laws 1911, c. 129. Washington prescribes it as a punishment for rape, statutory rape, and habitual criminality, to be imposed by the court in its discretion, with other punishment; Hem. & Bal. Code § 2287/ Michigan has passed an act applicable to mentally defective or insane persons. It is held not to be a cruel punishment; State v. Feilen, 70 Wash. 65, 126 Pac. 75, 41 L. R. A. (N. S.) 418, Ann. Cas. 1914B, 512. See 27 Med. Leg. Joum. 134. A statute to prevent procreation by a surgical operation, in order to be valid, must not deny the equal protection of the law; Smith v. Bd. of Examiners (N. J.) 88 Atl. 963, declaring invalid an act for sterilizing Idiots, imbeciles, epileptics, rapists, certain criminals and other defectives, as based upon a classification which bears no reasonable relation to the object sought. The Iowa act has been declared void in the federal district court (not yet reported),.and an injunction was granted to an inmate of the penitentiary. It is interesting to notice that, in Homan law, castrating any person, slave or free, even with his consent, was punishable; Hunter, Rom. Law 1069.