I looked at the character of Anthony Comstock as one who has an enormous ego - he enjoyed the power he believed he had, and he sought to increase it in any way possible - including seeing his name in print. Clearly those engaged in the medical profession at this time in history, including midwives and pharmacists and especially physicians, enjoyed great influence and respect. Comstock's ego encouraged him to work diligently to arrest and prosecute as many in these areas as possible - thereby lifting him to be their equal and perhaps even greater in the eyes and minds of many.