Lendon H. Smith, MD
Yes, I am personally responsible for the population explosion. At least the one in our family. My wife and I were operating under the myth that if we had a mob of children we could improve the lot of the world. There are some other reasons that we added our five children to the maddening crowd out there: They would get free pediatric care, my wife hated menstrual periods, we had a large home to fill up, and we are intelligent people who could instill "family values" into our children. We also noticed that despite the latest in "damage-control equipment," we were a very fertile couple.
It was hectic. I had a busy pediatric practice. My wife worked as a nurse and decorator (left-handed Swedes are natural as interior decorators and art lovers.) The children were all spaced about one to 1-1/2 years apart. (The big jump was from one to two children. After that we were busy and tired all the time.) A couple of them were borderline hyperactive, but we couldn't tell; we had to accept the teachers' diagnosis.
Some years ago I joined the Zero Population Growth (ZPG) as it seemed to me that we were running out of space at home and abroad. My understanding of population control is that for most of history any population explosion was held in check by infant mortality, pestilence, famine, wars, and fatal infections.
If we, as doctors, are helping to keep people from dying, we also must share the responsibility with the government and religion to keep people from reproducing beyond their abilities to give food and love. We are running out of space. Cities are in gridlock. We have controlled the death rate, but we have done little about the birth rate.
We all need some sex, but for the first time in the history of the world we are able to satisfy that 20-second, fun-driven activity, without having a pregnancy as a consequence. As my friend, Dr. Joseph Trainer said, 25 years ago, "Sexual behavior is running well ahead of the best contraceptive technique." (Physiological Foundations for Marriage Counseling, C.V. Mosby St. Louis, 1965.)
My biggest concern is that to feed these millions, we are providing nutrient-deficient foods. We are forced to take shortcuts to get calories into the masses. Vitamins and minerals are in short supply. Join Zero Population Growth, Suite 320, 1400 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036-2290.
If you cannot do that, at least pass out a condom, some almonds, and raw carrots to the next adolescent girl you see who even looks like she is sexually active.
Lendon H. Smith, MD.
Portland, Oregon
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