beside the mark. For them the practical question in a world of sense
is how to avoid having children when for any reason they are not
wanted, and yet leave unimpaired facilities for married life. It is
true the problem is not always stated so bluntly. The uses of
contraceptives are explained, together with a recommendation for
moderation in physical intercourse; but as will be shewn below, if
such moderation is really practised, it is possible to live a natural
married life such as renders unnecessary the use of artificial
contraceptives with all their attendant evils and yet limit the size
of the family.

But it is necessary to consider more carefully the claim made to-day
that contraceptives are both necessary and harmless, and that public
propaganda on the subject is desirable.

There are several different groups for whom relief is claimed:--

1. Women who are suffering from chronic or from temporary ill-health
are frequently not in a condition to bear the strain of child-bearing,
and indeed it may become a real danger to their future health, either
mental or physical.

2. There are cases of inherited disease, mental or physical, which
ought to prohibit child-bearing.

3. There are over-worked women whose daily work, added to
child-bearing, destroys their health and vitality. These people are
found not only among the so-called working classes; the same
conditions with somewhat different types of strain are found in wives
of professional men with very slender incomes.

4. Some parents wish to "space" their children, that greater attention
may be given to each, or they wish to limit the number of their family
on account of financial and other difficulties.

With these and other considerations in view, the widespread teaching
of methods of preventing conception is advocated because it is
claimed:--

(a) That except for general propaganda, the greatest sufferers, viz.,
poor women with constantly recurring pregnancies, would otherwise
never learn of any method of relief.

(b) That many young people who for various reasons, such as housing or
financial difficulties or inherited disease, feel themselves unable to
have a family, would if such knowledge were available marry much
earlier, and their natural desires would be satisfied, while apart
from marriage they might resort to promiscuous intercourse.

(c) That homes where the growing difficulties and strain of a
continually increasing family are leading to est