It is well known among the readers of the daily press that all the
advertisements of a medical nature addressed to women are meant to
cover the nefarious business of the abortionist.
The commissioner of health in a recent interview stated that not less
than fifty thousand abortions are committed yearly in Chicago. It
is well to state that only a small number of these are performed by
the advertising abortionists. Most of them are the work of regular
physicians.
Indeed, in no other way could this immense destruction of infant life
take place. I know of physicians here in Chicago who have and do no
other business. I have in mind one palatial residence on Michigan
avenue patronized exclusively by the rich. It is presided over by a
strictly ethical physician. This man's fee is from one thousand to
five thousand dollars.
The poor content themselves with less pretentious places and prices.
I know of physicians on the north side and the west side who do this
work for five and ten dollars. They have as many as ten and twelve
cases a day.
Up to a few weeks ago all of the Chicago papers contained a list of
advertisements under the classification of medical, about as follows:
"Maternity Hospital--Ladies taken care of before and after
confinement."
"Mrs. Dr. B----, licensed midwife, takes ladies for
confinement, etc."
"Dr. Anna B---- Elegant home for ladies expecting
confinement, etc."
The above are only samples of a long list of advertisements of similar
tenor which appeared daily in the Chicago press for twenty-five years.
These advertisements attracted the attention of people in the country.
They were not designed to attract city people. People residing here
seldom patronize them on account of the high prices usually charged.
They know cheaper doctors. Girl from the smaller towns and the farms
are the ones sought.
The girl applying for relief at any of these places was usually told
that abortions were unlawful and dangerous to life. She was strongly
advised to stay in the hospital, which offered perfect seclusion,
until the full period when the child would be naturally born and
without danger to either of them. This advice was generally accepted
and the price agreed upon paid. This was always all the girl had with
her, and the promise of more. The amount ranged from one hundred to
five hundred dollars.
The money paid over, the girl was shown to a pleasant room, and
invited to make herself at home. There were always other girls there,
usually under assumed names. They kept coming and going every few
days. None remained longer than ten days.
After the girl had been there a couple of days the madam announced
that the doctor would call on her that day and make an examination, so
as to approximate the time of baby's arrival.
With a very small instrument the abortion was produced while making
the examination, the patient knowing nothing of it. This is done
so deftly that labor pains do not come on for sometimes two days
afterwards.
In ten days the patient is ready to leave the hospital. The fee having
been paid, both parties are usually satisfied, and the girl, if she is
wise, makes her misfortune a stepping stone to something better.
If the amount paid has been too small to satisfy hospital funds, an
effort is made to collect more, but usually not from the girl.
The madam gets the patient's confidence and discovers, if she can, the
man responsible for the girl's condition. A bill is then sent him for
several hundred dollars. Should he ignore it or refuse to pay, he is
politely told that the account will be placed in the hands of a lawyer
in the town where he resides and the matter can be adjusted by a "jury
of his fellow citizens."
Imagine the consternation of some business man or church deacon in a
small community over the receipt of such a letter.
If guilty, and they are as a general thing, they take the next train
for Chicago and pay the bill. Parties running these establishments are
money makers. I know of one on West Adams street whose owner has made
a fortune of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, all accumulated
in twenty years.