These laws seek to prevent de generate offspring by asexualizing certain socially unfit potential parents. They apply only to designated inmates of certain State institutions and have no application to the public at large. Indiana, in 1907, was first to enact this type of legislation, the law, how ever, being later declared unconstitutional. Twenty States have since passed such laws, the constitutionality of which has either been upheld or untested (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin). Other States are likely to follow this example.
Virginia, in 1639, passed the first law regulating the practice of medicine. Massachusetts followed in 1649 and New York and New Jersey, in 1665. All States have since enacted this type of legislation. Modern medical practice acts provide for a system of licensing physicians, prescribe certain academic and professional qualifications and specify causes and means for the revocation of a licence.
In 1906 the Federal Pure Food and Drugs Act was passed, a date marking the beginning of the general enactment and enforcement of such laws by the several States. Legislation prior to this date was uncertain of value or enforcement. The Federal act, which serves as a pattern for State legislation, makes it unlawful to ship in interstate com merce, to import or export, or to sell or manufacture in the Dis trict of Columbia "any article of food or drugs which is adulter ated or misbranded" within the meaning of the act.
Federal control legislation dates from 1909, when an act was passed prohibiting the importation and use of opium for other than medicinal purposes. This act was later amended to
regulate imports and exports of opium, coca leaves, cocaine or any salt, derivative or preparation of such drugs (1922). In 1914, the Harrison Narcotic Act was passed by Congress which by a sys tem of registering specified classes of legitimate users seeks to con trol the distribution and consumption of narcotic drugs. In 1929 an act was passed establishing two federal narcotic farms for the confinement and treatment of certain addicts.
Anti-narcotic State legislation dates from 1877 (Nevada). Every State has since adopted regulatory laws. The following of the more familiar narcotics are subject to the provisions of such laws : coca leaves, in 18 States; cocain, in 37; eucain, in 27; novocain, in 4; opium, in 47; morphin, in 36; heroin, in 30; codein, in 18; laudanum, in 1; cannabis sativa, in io; cannabis indica, in 13 ; chloral hydrate, in 16.
In 1912 the Children's Bureau was created by an act of Congress as a part of the Department of Labor. The date of establishment of the State agencies engaged in child health work follow: Louisiana (1910) ; New York (1914) ; Kan sas, Massachusetts and New Jersey (1915) ; Ohio (1916) ; Illi nois, Indiana, Montana, Pennsylvania and Utah (1917) ; Florida, Kentucky and Virginia (1918) ; Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin (1919) ; Maine and Mississippi (192o) ; District of Columbia, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Ore gon (1921) ; Maryland, Minnesota (1922) ; Delaware, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wyo ming (1923). (J. W. Ho.)