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Primary Source: Records of Eugenical Sterilization in North Carolina

The following tables are excerpted from a report prepared by the Eugenics Board in North Carolina. Data from these tables help illustrate North Carolina's history and relationship with the practice of eugenics. 

Table 1

Number of cases presented at each meeting of the Eugenics Board and number of operations ordered under the 1933 law
  New cases Cases carried over from previous meeting Operations ordered
  236   231
October 21, 1933 3   3
November 15 1   1
December 13 9   9
January 19, 1934 6   5
February 21 4 1 5
March 21 4   4
April 20 5   5
May 23 6   6
June 27 1   1
July 20 6   6
August 29 7   4
September 19 6   6
October 19 18 3 21
November 21 22   21
December 19 12   12
January 18, 1935 14   13
February 20 12 1 12
March 20 19   19
April 19 34   34
May 22 22   20
June 19 25   24

Table 2

Distribution of sterilization cases with reference to mental defect, origin of petition and marital status to June 30, 1935
Mental defect as shown in petition for sterilization Origin of petition Total Marital status
Non-inst. Co. Inst. State Inst. Married Single Widowed or divorced
Total 68 15 140 223 53 166 4
1. CerebralCerebral syphilis is a medical condition in which the syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, has been left untreated and has migrated to the brain. It is a rare condition in which the patient experiences paralysis, or the loss of ability to move parts of the body. syphilis with mental deficiency     1 1   1  
2. Congenital cerebral syphilisCongenital syphilis is a medical condition in which syphilis is passed from the mother to the fetus. It results in the malformation of teeth and bones, and reduced mental capacities of the child. The child is also born infected by syphilis.     1 1 1    
3. Dementia praecoxDementia praecox is now referred to as Schizophrenia, a mental disorder marked by delusions and paranoia. Often the patient hears voices or sees objects which are not actually present.     22 22 13 9  
4. Manic depressiveManic depressive is now referred to as bipolar disorder. It is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain which causes dramatic alterations of mood and emotions from extreme highs to extreme depression. psychosis     12 12 8 4  
5. Psychosis with cerebral syphilis     1 1 1    
6. Psychosis with constitutional inferiorityConstitutional inferiority was a supposed medical condition of moral insanity. It was used to define people who behaved in ways that were considered immoral, such as women who were promiscuous or young boys who committed crimes or acts of violence. It was considered to be a hereditary condition.     1 1   1  
7. Psychosis with epidemic encephalitisEpidemic encephalitis was a viral infectious disease that originated between 1914 and the 1940s. It caused an inflammation of the brain and left the patient in a statue-like condition.     1 1   1  
8. Psychosis with hereditary syphilis     1 1   1  
9. Psychosis with mental deficiency 1   16 17 4 13  
10. Psychosis with syphilis     1 1 1    
11. Psychosis undiagnosed     2 2 1 1  
12. Epilepsy     40 40 7 32 1
13. Epilepsy with mental deficiency 1 2 13 16 3 12 1
14. Epilepsy with psychosis     2 2 1 1  
15. Feeble-mindednessFeebleminded was a vague medical term used to describe people with low IQ’s, mental retardations, or simply deemed "mentally deficient." 66 13 26 105 13 90 2

Table 3

Sterilization operations with reference to type of operation and race, June 30, 1935
Type of operation White Negro Total
Total 184 39 223
Vasectomy 10 8 18
Castration 6 20 26
Salpingectomy 157 10 167
Overiectomy 11 1 122

 

Credit text

Eugenical sterilization in North Carolina. A brief survey of the growth of eugenical sterilization and a report on the work of the Eugenics board of North Carolina through June 30, 1935.

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