en devised.

The operations on men to induce sterility have been discussed and
dismissed as unsatisfactory.

But analogous operations may be performed on women. And if women can be
sterilized by surgical interference, whence comes the necessity of
sterilizing both?

Oophorectomy, or removal of the ovaries is analogous to castration. It
is an equally safe, though a slightly more severe and complicated
operation.

It can be safely and painlessly performed, the mortality in
uncomplicated cases being practically nil.

The changes physical and mental are not so grave as in the analogous
operation on the opposite sex, and they vary considerably at different
ages and in different cases. The later in life the operation is
performed the less the effect produced. At or after the menopause (about
the 45th year) little or no change is noticeable.

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 atr