Abstract
I suspect that most readers of this journal wish, as I do, that no eugenics movement had arisen in the early twentieth century. The eugenics movement may be most notorious for providing the scientific underpinnings of Nazi Germany's racist and genocidal policies, but it spurred related, if less drastic, policies in other European nations, South America, Canada, and the US. Through mid century, American eugenists advocated (with considerable legislative success) the compulsory sterilization as well as segregation of so-called defectives (also called enfeebled, feebleminded, degenerates, subnormals, subcommons, imbeciles, idiots, or morons), and' sought to restrict their freedom to marry. Some, like the controversial Dr. Harry J. Haiselden, whose 15year notoriety provides the framework for Martin Pernick's unusual history, promoted euthanasia of defectives, occasionally by means of active medical intervention.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
