An enquiry into the character of the Contagious Diseases Acts of 1866-1869 / by Elizabeth Garrett.

  • Anderson, Elizabeth Garrett, 1836-1917.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into the character of the Contagious Diseases Acts of 1866-1869 / by Elizabeth Garrett. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    AN ENQUIRY INTO THE CHARACTER Or THE CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACTS OF 1866-1869. The proposal to extend gradually to the civil population the principle embodied in the Contagious Diseases Act of 1866 has been, during the last few weeks;* so prominently brought before the general public that it can no longer be regarded as a matter for professional discussion only. English men and women, who have any influence what- ever on legislation, are urged to use that influence to prevent the passing of a measure tending, as it is said, to encourage vice by making it safe and easy to one class while subjecting another to a cruel and‘demoralizing espionage. Those who feel that the relief of the physical suffering that follows the transgression of the moral law cannot be weighed in the scale against the more deadly evil of the transgression itself, must regard such a measure with anxiety. They will desire, before taking part either for or against it, to consider the question with a knowledge of the facts. But the facts bearing on the question do not lie within the range of ordinar\° ex- perience. Much of the evidence is supplied by the medical profession, and can only be fully appreciated by those who have had medical experience. Much also of the less strictly professional evidence is buried in Blue books, or mixed up with repulsive details which it is not essential to go into in order to form a fair judgment. * January, 1870.