the
institution, to examine the mental and physical condition of
such inmates as are recommended by the institutional
physician and board of managers. If, in the judgment of this
committee of experts and the board of managers, procreation
is inadvisable, and there is no probability of improvement of
the mental and physical condition of the inmate, it shall be
lawful for the surgeons to perform such operation for the
prevention of procreation as shall be decided safest and most
effective. But this operation shall not be performed except
in cases that have been pronounced unimprovable: Provided,
That in no case shall the consultation fee be more than three
(3) dollars to each expert, to be paid out of the funds
appropriated for the maintenance of such institution.

This operation of vasectomy, sometimes known as "Rentoul's operation,"
consists, in the male, in the removal of a small portion of each sperm
duct; the individual is thus rendered sterile in a completely
effective and permanent way. At the same time there are none of the
harmful effects, either physical or mental, such as usually follow the
better known forms of sterilization which are in reality
asexualization rather than sterilization. Vasectomy is a simple
"office" operation occupying only a few minutes and requiring at the
most the application of only a local anaesthetic, such as cocaine; and
there are no disturbing nor even inconvenient after effects. In the
female the corresponding operation of ooephorotomy consists in removing
a small portion of each Fallopian tube. In Indiana nearly a thousand
persons have already been successfully treated, many upon their own
request--a circumstance entirely unforeseen. Similar laws have been
passed in Oregon and Connecticut, and are being carefully considered
in several other States.

In order that the exact nature of such proposals may be better known
generally we may give here also the text of the Connecticut law which
is somewhat more inclusive and more flexible than that of Indiana. The
Connecticut Statute, enacted in August, 1909, is as follows:

_An Act_, concerning operations for the Prevention of
Procreation.--Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in General Assembly convened:

_Section 1._ The directors of the State prison and the
superintendents of State hospitals for the insane at
Middletown and Norwich are