UTAH FEEBLE MINDED Medic Hails Sterilization Law Tribune Utahs program for sterilization of the feeble minded and insane was heralded as an important achievement in public health by Dr. Clarence J. Gamble, Milton, Mass., in an article appearing in the current issue of the Rocky Mountain Medical Journal. The article reveals that Utahs sterilization rate per 100,000 population of 9.1 persons was the highest in the nation in 1947 the latest year for which figures are available. 27 State Average The average for the 27 states having sterilization laws was 2.1 per 100,000 population during 1947, the report notes. Despite Utahs achievement, Dr. Gamble said Utah along with the other states is not keeping up with the number of feeble minded being added to the states population each year. He reported that national surveys show that feeble-minded constitute 1.2 to 3 per cent of the nations population and the average mentally deficient person lives 50 years. Applies Findings Applying these findings to Utah, Dr. Gamble said there are more than 6370 feeble minded persons in the state or 12 times the 539 who have been sterilized since Utahs law became effective in 1925. The annual increase of 127 new feeble minded persons in Utah is twice the 66 persons sterilized in 1947, he said. The increase in other states is of course greater proportionately. The 539 patients sterilized in Utah represents an important achievement in public health. Surgical sterilization is an important instrument of long range preventative medicine. While not all of the children of psychotic or mentally deficient patients inherit the parental handicap, each is apt to act as a carrier of unfavorable heredity. May Appear Normal Even though such a child may appear normal, its surroundings and its upbringing by a mentally abnormal parent cannot be satisfactory. Thus, acting both through heredity and environment, sterilization of the feeble minded accomplishes much in protecting the next generation, Dr. Gamble maintained. Dr. Gamble added that sterilization also means freedom from institutional life to many persons who otherwise could not be released.