The true story of the eugenic plan to get rid of the poor—and the Scottish doctor who fought against it.
In 1923, Marie Stopes sued Dr Halliday Sutherland after he accused her of “exposing the poor to experiment”. Stopes v Sutherland (1923) opened a larger conflict over eugenics, poverty and who should control human reproduction.
The story in brief
At the beginning of the twentieth century, influential British eugenists attributed social problems (including poverty, illness and disability) to defective heredity. They believed that Britain would be improved if the reproduction of Britons was governed by eugenics, and if those judged “unfit” were prevented from having children. Contraception and sterilization were ways that would help them achieve that end.
Dr Halliday Sutherland, a Scottish tuberculosis physician, rejected that view. He argued that disease and poverty should be fought through medicine and social reform. His criticism of Marie Stopes’ Mothers’ Clinic led to the libel action that ultimately reached the House of Lords.
Short films
Eight short films present the issues in the dispute—from the opening of the Mothers’ Clinic and the meaning of “C3” to the final verdict in Stopes v Sutherland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Exterminating Poverty about?
Exterminating Poverty tells the true story of Dr Halliday Sutherland’s fight against Britain’s eugenics movement and his legal battle with Marie Stopes in the 1920s.
Who was Dr Halliday Sutherland?
Dr Halliday Sutherland (1882-1960) was a Scottish physician, author and tuberculosis specialist. He argued that Consumption (tuberculosis of the lungs) was primarily an infectious disease of poverty that could be eliminated with medical and social measures. Mainstream eugenicists and members of the medical and scientific establishments believed that Consumption was primarily caused by a person’s defective heredity. Accordingly, they thought that the way to eliminate the disease was to let nature take its course and to prevent the tuberculous types from having children.
What was the Stopes v. Sutherland case?
A landmark libel case (1923–1924) that exposed eugenic ideas in Britain and, in particular, the eugenic agenda behind Marie Stopes Mothers’ Clinic.
Is the book based on original sources?
Yes. It draws on Stopes’ papers in the British Library and the Wellcome Institute. These include legal documents, the transcript of the High Court trial and correspondence. Uniquely, it draws upon the personal papers of Dr Sutherland as well as documents in the archive of the Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster. The book contains extensive citations and notes for verification.
Why does this history matter today?
We are told that eugenics disappeared in 1945. The truth is far darker: it didn’t vanish so much as go underground. In 1960, Britain’s Eugenics Society officially resolved to “pursue eugenic ends by less obvious means, that is by a policy of crypto-eugenics”. In other words, their agenda would stay the same but would now be achieved by stealth. Exterminating Poverty shows that while language has changed, the agenda remains. Given the improvements in technology over the past 100-plus years, recognising eugenics in its contemporary form matters more than ever.
Is Exterminating Poverty an argument against contraception?
No. Exterminating Poverty does not argue for or against contraception. It examines the documented eugenic purpose of Marie Stopes’s campaign, the treatment of poor families as a population problem, and the evidence and judgments in the Stopes v Sutherland libel action.
Who is the book for?
General readers of history and biography, as well as students, educators and researchers in history of science, medicine and social policy. It is an essential resource for secondary and undergraduate students of the history of birth control and contraception.
Where can I buy the book?
The book can be purchased at Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.