This article highlights:

• the world population problem
• policy of aid by advanced countries
• problems in industrialised societies
• problem for the individual
• family planning clinics
• post-partum tubal ligation and therapeutic abortion

During the three years 1961-3 the following operations to terminate pregnancy were performed on women (married and single) resident in the City of Aberdeen (UK):

• hysterectomy and tubal ligation
• hysterectomy without tubal ligation
• curettage without tubal ligation