Claudius F. Mayer: From Plato to Pope Paul / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 17. (Budapest, 1989)
(of Mal ĥus), birth control by neo-Malthusian-means. Want of nourishment as a population factor is clearly mentioned in many 16-19th cent, works, 385-38 7 and malnutrition would result in a high general death rate. 38 8 In fear overpopulation, immigration was discouraged, 38 9 and excess people were sent to colonies. 39 0 Other traditional population checks continued to exist also in the 18-19th cent., such as infanticide, 30 1 abortion, 39 2 prolonged abstention from intercourse in marriage, 39 3 postponement of marriage, celibacy, coitus interruptus, 304 castration, infibulation. 39 5 In 19th cent. China, female infants were often put to death after birth, or sold to butchers in time of famine. 30 6 As a national policy for population check, it was suggested that raising the cultural and economic levels of depressed castes would tend to lower their fertility. 39 7 It is hoped that advances in science and education may lead to methods which keep the population problems under control. 39 8 The relation of population to food has been already studied in 1756 by MIRABEAU, who found that men will multiply as rats in a granary if it is full with means. 309 In his 1798 "Essay on the Principles of Population", MALTHUS made the conclusion that population increases faster than the means of subsistence. 40 0 Yet, geometric increase of population is not a rule in Nature, merely a potentiality. 40 1 He had many violent opponents on religious and socialistic ground, and also followers. 402 The check recommended by MALTHUS against overpopulation is "moral restraint ", i.e., moral strengĥtĥ in avoiding sexual intercourse and thereby child procreation by delaying marriage. 403-40 4 He rejected all artificial agents which would make sexual intercourse sterile. The use of mechanical and other devices to prevent conception in marriage dates back to Antiquity, but it was vigorously advertised after 405 1818 until now. This social and genetic movement, generally called "neo-Malthusianismhad a very turbulent history, 40 8 and it was attacked by states, churches, social groups, including anarchists, communists, and the Catholic Church. 407-408 Voluntary surgical sterilizations are also favorite birth control means in the 20th cent. 40 8 Neomalthusians publications sometimes pointed out the eugenic aspect of contraception. 41 0 A simple and safe birth control method is expected that can be made available to populations on a large scale. 41 1 American sociologists forecast that the wider use of contraceptives will sharply reduce birth rate, and the population growth will stabilize at or near zero by the year of 2000 A.D. 41 2 The view that the population of specific countries had fallen since ancient times was wide-spread in the 17-19th cent. Depopulation may occasionally arise in a selfish and luxurious society; 41 3 its other causes are wars, great poverty, corrupt institutions, intemperance, idleness, and whatever prevents marriage and weakens the generating faculties. 41 4 It was also though that the human intellect destroyed the naturality of sexual instinct, which may lead to a gradual voluntary extinicton of mankind, 41 5 or of special races. 41 6 Emigration to new colonies was also a reason for depopulation worries. 41 7 The depopulation of 18-19th cent. France ("oliganthropie francaise "; DUMONT) 41 8 was asserted by some, denied by others. 41 0 it was especially keenly felt since 1870, and France was considered a "dying nation". 120 The number of its recruitable youths gradually diminshed, their quality also became inferior, 42 1 compared with other countries. In 1907, the French death rate was higher than the birth rate. 42 2 This trend was ascribed to moral deterioration, ruin of family 20
