The British government last week announced that it is making oral contraceptives available at trifling cost under the National Health Service to Britain's women, who number 12,250,000 in the child-bearing (15-49) age bracket. The measure, though duly limited by requiring doctors' prescriptions, seemed a significant step toward massive, government-paid support for curbing a nation's population. Yet much concern in the House of Commons was over the possible but unpredictable cost to the treasury.*
For each prescription, which is expected to cover a month's supply of 20 pills, a woman under NHS will pay a token charge of 2 shillings (28ยข). The government...
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