Voluntary abortion or compulsory sterilization? Beginning in the mid-1960s, some erosion of anti-abortion laws began to occur. But these efforts have not been supported by many of the most vocal groups who are trying to do something about excessive population growth; for them, compulsory birth control and compulsory sterilization are apparently more palatable than voluntary abortion. The result is legal chaos – which has been the situation with abortion since it was first made illegal in this country. Contrary to popular belief, legal restrictions against abortion are of relatively recent origin. Until the early 19th century – under common law in both England and the United States – abortion before acceleration was not illegal at all. It became so only in the early 1800s. And according to Professor Cyril Means and others who have studied the problem, the reason for the enactment of the laws was not the protection of morality or the "soul" of the fetus, but rather a reflection of the fact that at the time all surgical procedures were highly risky due to the likelihood of infection (this was before Lister). For this reason, abortions were made illegal except when they were necessary to save the mother's life; that is, where the great risk of infection that each operation entailed was counterbalanced by the risk of carrying that particular pregnancy to term. The situation today is reversed; abortion in modern hospital conditions is safer than childbirth. Nor is there any evidence that abortion poses psychological health risks. A poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association in the mid-1960s revealed overwhelming support for more readily available abortions and the belief that the adverse psychological consequences of abortion are negligible both in absolute terms and compared to such consequences of childbirth and unwanted children. Demographic experts are not yet on the side of abortion law reform, something is starting to happen. Seven states – Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, New Mexico and North Carolina – have changed their laws to allow abortion not only to save the life but also to protect the mental and physical health of the mother, in cases of rape and incest and to avoid the birth of defective children (Governor Reagan forced the omission of this reason in California law). Many other states have and are considering abortion reform or repeal of laws, but usually without the support of powerful groups that advocate other forms of population control..