e permanent
segregation of the offender, either in prisons or in farm colonies. The
Conference emphasizes the importance of the sterilization of the chronic
mentally or morally unfit that a future generation may benefit thereby."

The Committee therefore considers it necessary to set out as clearly as
may be possible the result of such operations and its deductions from
the evidence taken and authorities consulted as to the probability of
the achievement of the result desired.

To consider in the first place the operation of simple sterilization
(vasectomy or salpingectomy). It is quite clear that this operation,
when properly carried out, prevents procreation by the individual
operated upon. Although the knowledge of the loss of this power may
modify the views of life held by the individual the operation _per se_
does not affect his physical or mental health. This would be
anticipated, as the production of the internal secretion of the sexual
glands in either sex (ovaries or testes) continues.

Sexual desire and capacity for coitus are not usually appreciably
impaired by this operation, and it clearly could not be expected to
restrain the sexual offender from the pursuit of his perverted modes of
gratification. As, however, it appears that in a proportion of cases of
sexual perversion the tendency is an hereditary one, these operations
would, as in the case of the feeble-minded, tend to restrict the number
of individuals in the community afflicted in this manner. The Committee
would therefore recommend that simple sterilization be considered by the
Eugenic Board in relation to sexual perverts.

_Castration (Desexualization)._

The operation of desexualization implies the removal of the sexual
glands (ovaries or testes), and involves other considerations than the
operation of simple sterilization.

The loss of the internal secretion of these glands may produce physical
and mental changes in the individual. These effects vary greatly in
degree according to the age at which the operation is performed.

The earlier it is done the more decided the result. If performed _before
puberty_ the secondary sexual characteristics fail to develop. The voice
does not change in the male; the development of hair is more sparse; the
general physical development is less masculine; and mentally the
individual is less aggressive. Most pertinent of all as bearing upon the
question under review, sexual desire and capacity do not deve