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Napheys. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both;} + +/* LISTS */ +ul { position: relative; width: 100%; list-style-type:none;} + .ix { position: relative; width: 80%; margin-left: 2%; list-style-type: none;} + +li { margin-top: 0.25em; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; line-height: 1.2em; } + .ix { margin-top: 0.25em; line-height: 1.2em; padding-left: 1em; } + .ixx { margin-top: 0.25em; line-height: 1.2em; padding-left: 5em; } + +span.ralign { position: absolute; right: 0; top: auto; } + + body{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + + .pagenum { position: absolute; left: 90%; font-size: 80%; text-align: right; } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 12%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; text-align: center; padding: 1em; + margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; } + + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i6 {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Physical Life of Woman:, by Dr. George H Napheys + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Physical Life of Woman: + Advice to the Maiden, Wife and Mother + +Author: Dr. George H Napheys + +Release Date: December 24, 2007 [EBook #24001] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHYSICAL LIFE OF WOMAN: *** + + + + +Produced by Joseph R. Hauser, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h1>THE PHYSICAL LIFE OF WOMAN:<br /> +ADVICE TO THE MAIDEN,<br /> WIFE AND MOTHER.</h1> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PUBLISHERS_NOTICE" id="PUBLISHERS_NOTICE"></a>PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>The extraordinary popularity achieved and maintained by Dr. +<span class="smcap">Geo. H. Napheys'</span> <i>Physical Life of Woman</i>, places it beyond question +among the classics of the English language. Convinced of +its high literary as well as medical value, the present publishers +have spared no pains or expense to place it before the public in +the most attractive style.</p> + +<p>The <i>text</i> has been most carefully revised and rewritten by the +eminent author himself; extensive additions of important matter +the fruit of three more years devoted to the study of the subject +and the wants of readers, have been incorporated. In type, paper +and binding, the most appropriate materials have been selected. +And, to satisfy the repeated requests of purchasers, permission +has been obtained from the author to insert his portrait, engraved +on steel by one of the most skilful London artists.</p> + +<p>With these additions, the <i>Physical Life of Woman</i> comes before +the public with all the novelty and freshness of a new book, and +also with the solid and substantial reputation for practical worth +which its sales of nearly <i>fifty thousand</i> copies a year for <i>three</i> years +guarantee to it.</p> + +<p>We add a</p> + +<h3>SYNOPSIS OF THE BOOK.</h3> + +<p>It treats of woman in her three great positions in life, as the +<span class="smcap">Maiden</span>, the <span class="smcap">Wife</span>, and the <span class="smcap">Mother</span>.</p> + +<p>Under the first of these is discussed the mysterious change she +undergoes when ripening from the indifferent girl to the tender +and sensitive virgin. The dangers she runs at this critical epoch +are carefully noted, and the rules to prevent and remedy them +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>clearly set forth. The all-absorbing topic of <i>Love</i>, is next treated +of in a pure and elevated style, but strictly from the physician's +point of view, and many salutary hints are given to direct the +passion to noble ends and in proper channels, and to teach the +youthful reader how to shun unfortunate unions.</p> + +<p>In the part addressed to <i>Wives</i> the health of the married couple +is first considered as being essential to their happiness. Plainly, +yet delicately, the rules that should govern them are laid down; +the absence of children and their excessive numbers are both +mentioned, as requiring appropriate correction, and an unsparing +hand is laid upon certain prevalent social vices. A full discussion +of the important topic of the inheritance of physical and +mental traits will be found, and two most thorough and practical +chapters on Pregnancy and Confinement are added, most invaluable +to every young wife.</p> + +<p>The duties of the <i>Mother</i> are next set forth, in nursing her +child, and taking proper care of it, in training its budding powers, +and also in giving her own attention to it in some of the more +common diseases to which children are subject.</p> + +<p>The sections devoted to <i>Health in Marriage</i> will be peculiarly +welcome to many women suffering in health from they know not +what exact cause, but really from some of those inward or local +weaknesses which are here described. While to very many others +who are approaching or about passing through the critical epoch +of the <i>Change of Life</i>, the full and well-considered views of the +author in the part devoted to that period will be read with benefit +and gratitude.</p> + +<p>A carefully prepared Index and a copious list of authorities +close the volume.</p></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1><span class="smcap">the</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Physical Life of Woman:</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">advice to the</span><br /> +MAIDEN, WIFE AND MOTHER.</h1> + +<h3>by</h3> +<h2>GEORGE H. NAPHEYS, A. M., M. D.</h2> + +<center>MEMBER OF THE PHILADELPHIA COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER +OF THE GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BOSTON; LATE CHIEF OF MEDICAL CLINIC OF +THE JEFFERSON MEDICAL COLLEGE; AUTHOR OF “THE TRANSMISSION OF LIFE,” +“THE PREVENTION AND CURE OF DISEASE,” “MODERN MEDICAL THERAPEUTICS,” +“LETTERS FROM EUROPE,” ETC.</center> +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<h4>“Je veux qu'une femme ait des clartes de tout.”—<span class="smcap">Molière</span>.</h4> +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<center>New Edition.</center> + +<h4>WITH THE FINAL CORRECTIONS OF THE AUTHOR, AND +A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.</h4> + +<h4> +PHILADELPHIA:<br /> +DAVID McKAY, PUBLISHER,<br /> +23 SOUTH NINTH STREET.<br /> +1889.</h4> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<div class="bbox"> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1878,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By D. G. BRINTON</span>,<br /> +in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.<br /> +All rights reserved.</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="EDITORS_PREFACE" id="EDITORS_PREFACE"></a>EDITOR'S PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>In presenting a third edition of this work to the +public, with the final changes and improvements +of the author, the publishers have felt it a duty to +attach to it a brief sketch of his life, which drew to +so early and lamented a termination. The whole +has also been submitted to a careful revision, in +order that it might be brought down to the latest +advances in the department of science of which it +treats, and also to include in it the final suggestions +of the author.</p> + +<p>While Dr. Napheys evidently considered the +second edition of the present work as meeting +closely the requirements of readers, and therefore +left behind him no notes which would alter the +general plan, a number of corrections and minor +changes have been made in the text, various paragraphs +have been materially modified, and the +Appendix referring to authorities more or less +altered.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>The continued popularity of the work has been +shown, not only by the steady demand for it, but +by the efforts of various authors to write imitations +of it, and various publishers to issue mutilated and +imperfect editions. Against these the present publishers +would warn innocent purchasers. The present +is the only edition containing the important +additions and corrections made by the author +during the latter years of his life; and none other +was authorized by him.</p> + +<p>In its present form, <i>The Physical Life of Woman</i> +may justly claim to count among the classics +of American literature. Its popularity increases +with time, and none of the many similar works +which have appeared have approached it in public +estimation. It is believed that in the present edition +no important scientific fact bearing upon the +subject has been omitted, and the most recent developments +of hygiene will be found discussed.</p> + +<p>1878.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE_2" id="PREFACE_2"></a>PREFACE<br /> +TO THE<br /> +SECOND STEREOTYPE EDITION.</h2> + + +<p>Three years have passed since the author of the +present work ventured to lay it before the public, not +without unusual anxiety as to the manner in which he +had fulfilled a task he knew to be so fruitful of good +results if well done. Those years of trial are over, and +they have brought a recognition of his labors beyond +his most sanguine dreams. Nearly <i>one hundred and +fifty thousand copies</i> of the work have been sold in +that period; it has been separately republished both in +Canada and England; it has been honored by a translation +into German; the imitations of it which have +been written form almost a small library; and, more +to the satisfaction of the author than all this, it has +received the highest praise both at home and abroad, +from both the medical profession and the general +learned world.</p> + +<p>The present new stereotype edition contains the result +of three more years of study and experience, enlightened +and aided by very many letters from readers, +which served to point out wherein the previous edition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +fell short of their wants. The text has been carefully +revised, and in large part wholly rewritten; nearly one +hundred and fifty pages of selected new matter have +been added; and the latest steps of medical science in +this direction have been followed.</p> + +<p>Of the parts which are quite new, and which from +the inquiries of numerous readers will add greatly to +the value of the work, are the sections on the disturbances +of the monthly function in girls, the care of the +child, the management of diseases of children, the diseases +incident to pregnancy, childbed, and nursing, etc.</p> + +<p>Indeed, in the present edition the author has aimed +to omit nothing which can aid Woman in performing +her full duty to herself and others, so far as that duty +lies in the sphere of her Physical Life, whether she is +called upon to act as Wife, Mother, Teacher, or Guide. +His most ardent desire continues to be that the work +will be found a sure and safe monitor amid the difficult +duties of Maidenhood and Maternity.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">London, England</span>, October, 1872.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE_1" id="PREFACE_1"></a>PREFACE<br /> +TO THE<br /> +FIRST EDITION.</h2> + + +<p>It seems well to offer, at the outset, a few words +explanatory of the nature and object of this book. +The author feels that its aim is novel, is daring, and +will perhaps subject him to criticism. He therefore +make his plea, <i>pro domo sua</i>, in advance.</p> + +<p>The researches of scientific men within the last few +years have brought to light very many facts relating to +the physiology of woman, the diseases to which she is +subject, and the proper means to prevent those diseases. +Such information, if universally possessed, +cannot but result in great benefit to the individual and +the commonwealth. The difficulty is to express one's +self clearly and popularly on topics never referred to +in ordinary social intercourse. But as the physician is +obliged daily to speak in plain yet decorous language +of such matters, the author felt that the difficulty was +not unsurmountable.</p> + +<p>He is aware that a respectable though diminishing +class in the community maintain that nothing which +relates exclusively to either sex should become the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +subject of popular medical instruction. With every +inclination to do this class justice, he feels sure that +such an opinion is radically erroneous. Ignorance is +no more the mother of purity than she is of religion. +The men and women who study and practise medicine +are not the worse, but the better, for their knowledge +of such matters. So it would be with the community. +Had every person a sound understanding of the relations +of the sexes, one of the most fertile sources of +crime would be removed.</p> + +<p>A brief appendix has been added, directed more +especially to the professional reader, who may desire +to consult some of the original authorities upon whom +the author has drawn. And here he would ask from +his fellow-members of the medical profession their +countenance and assistance in his attempt to distribute +sound information of this character among the people. +None but physicians can know what sad consequences +are constantly occurring from the want of it. * * *<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCH" id="BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCH"></a>BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH<br /> +OF<br /> +GEORGE HENRY NAPHEYS, M.D.</h2> + + +<p>Were man's life measured by his deeds, as the poet suggests, +how brief would be the long years of many an octogenarian, +and how extended the short span which has been +allotted to not a few of the world's famous heroes!</p> + +<p>This oft-repeated thought strikes us forcibly in considering +the biography of the subject of this sketch. Closing +his life at an age when most professional men are but beginning +theirs, he had already studied broadly, had traveled +widely over two continents, had gained credit and fame by +the sword and the pen, and had amassed a fund of erudition +and experience which the more lethargic lives of most men +fail to approach after twice his length of days. It is eminently +appropriate that a record of his busy career should +be attached to the works on which his celebrity is chiefly +bound, and in which he most conspicuously displays that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span> +command of language and happy facility of imparting instruction +for which he was so remarkable.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">George Henry Napheys</span> (pronounced Nā´feez, the ā as +in <i>fate</i>) was born in the city of Philadelphia, March 5th, +1842. His parents died while he was still at a tender age, and +he was placed with some relatives who resided in the city. +From early years he was characterized by quick perceptions +and a retentive memory. In the Philadelphia High School, +from which he received the academic degree of Master of +Arts, he was considered the best scholar in his class, a +marked distinction in view of the large numbers which +attend that institution. Besides acquiring the usual studies +of the High School, he gave considerable time to phonography, +in which he became so skilled that he could report +any ordinary speaker with entire accuracy. This subsequently +proved a great advantage to him in his medical +career.</p> + +<p>After his graduation he repaired to Hartford, Conn., +where he was offered and accepted the position of private +secretary to a gentleman of prominence in the literary and +religious world.</p> + +<p>Thus he was engaged when the civil war broke out. +With his natural warmth of feeling and strong emotions, he +entered the fray among the first, and went out as Lieutenant, +and subsequently as Captain, Company F, 10th Connecticut +State Volunteers. The regiment was enlisted for +nine months, and was dispatched to Louisiana, General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span> +Banks then commanding the Department. It participated +in engagements near Baton Rouge and on the Red River, +in which Captain Napheys always acquitted himself with +bravery and credit.</p> + +<p>At the time the regiment was disbanded, an early preference +for medical subjects led him to devote a year to the +preliminary studies of that profession, but not waiting the +full period required for a degree, he was appointed assistant +medical officer on the U. S. steamer Mingo, of the South +Atlantic Blockading Squadron. On her he passed a number +of months, cruising off the coast of the Carolinas and +Georgia, and ascended the St. John river.</p> + +<p>These active duties prevented him from receiving his +degree of Doctor of Medicine until after the close of the +war, when, in 1866, his diploma was conferred upon him +by the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, one of the +most renowned institutions of our country.</p> + +<p>After graduation, he opened an office in Philadelphia, +and connected himself with the clinics which are held at +the College for the purpose of supplying medicine and +medical advice to the poor gratuitously, as well as for giving +students an opportunity of witnessing various forms of disease. +The practical experience he gained in this manner +was considerable, and his natural ability soon recommended +him to the authorities of the institution, who appointed him +Chief of Medical Clinic of the College, a position he held +for several years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> + +<p>One of the advantages of this post was that it brought +him into constant communion with many eminent medical +men, and rendered him practically acquainted with their +treatment of disease. His skill in phonography enabled +him to take abundant notes of their lectures, and this led to +his early connection with the periodical literature of the +profession. Most of the reports he drew up were published +in the <i>Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, a weekly journal, +devoted to medical science, published in Philadelphia. The +series of reports commenced in April, 1866, and continued, +with slight interruptions, until June, 1870. They are +characterized by a clear and correct style, and a manifestly +thorough grasp of the numerous topics treated.</p> + +<p>The success which these ephemeral writings obtained +turned his thoughts in the direction of authorship. His +tastes and associations led him to employ his powers in two +directions: first, in preparing for the general public a series +of works which would acquaint them with anatomy, physiology, +hygiene, sanitary science, nursing, and the management +of disease, to the extent that intelligent general readers +can and ought to know about these subjects; and secondly, +in writing for professional men several treatises on the +means of alleviating and curing diseases.</p> + +<p>In the prosecution of the first mentioned of these plans, +he was early impressed with the utter absence of any treatise +on the hygiene of the sexual life in either sex, written +in the proper spirit by a scientific man. The field had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span> +left to quacks or worse, who, to serve their own base ends, +scattered inflammatory and often indecent pamphlets over +the land; or else, had one or more of the points been handled +by reputable writers, it was in such a vague and imperfect +manner that the reader gained little benefit from the perusal. +While all agreed that a sound treatise on these topics was +most desirable, it had been openly averred that it could not +be written in a proper style for the general public.</p> + +<p>Strong in the conviction that pure motives, literary tact, +and the requisite scientific knowledge qualified him to undertake +this difficult task, Dr. Napheys prepared, in the +early months of 1869, his work on “The Physical Life of +Woman.” Proceeding with caution, he first submitted the +MSS. to some professional friends, and profited by their +suggestions. After the work was in type, and before publication, +he sent complete copies to a number of gentlemen, +eminent as medical teachers, clergymen, educators, and literateurs. +Their replies left him in no doubt but that he had +succeeded even beyond his anticipations. Almost unanimously +the opinions were complimentary in the highest +degree, and evidently written after a close examination of +the book. As many of these have been printed to accompany +the work, in the last and previous editions, it is needless +to do more in this connection than to say that they were +penned by such judges as Dr. W. A. Hammond, late Surgeon-General +U. S. Army; Dr. Harvey L. Byrd, Professor +in the Medical Department of Washington University, Md.;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> +Dr. Edwin M. Snow, Health Officer of the City of Providence, +R. I.; Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. Horace +Bushnell, <span class="smcap">d.d.</span>, Rev. George A. Crooke, <span class="smcap">d.d.</span>, <span class="smcap">d.c.l.</span>, and +others.</p> + +<p>On its appearance, the work was received with enthusiasm +by both the medical press and the public. While a +few journals and individuals were inclined to condemn it +and censure the author, the intelligent and the pure-minded, +on all sides, recognized in him the only writer who had yet +appeared able to treat these delicate subjects with the dignity +of science and the straightforwardness necessary for +popular instruction.</p> + +<p>Satisfied that he had chosen the proper exercise for his +talents, he composed and placed in the hands of his publisher, +the following year, his not less extraordinary work, +“The Transmission of Life,” a treatise addressed to the +male, as his previous one had been to the female sex. It +was dedicated to the late Rev. John Todd, so well known +for his interest in young men, and his “Student's Manual” +and other works addressed to them. He accepted the dedication +and addressed the author a letter, in which occurs the +following high compliment to his work: “I am surprised +at the extent and accuracy of your reading; the judiciousness +of your positions and results; the clear, unequivocal, +yet delicate and appropriate language used; and the amount +of valuable information conveyed.” Similar expressions +poured in from many other distinguished critics, as, for in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span>stance, +Dr. Noah Porter, President of Yale College; the +Rev. Henry Clay Trumbull, the Rev. Abner Jackson, President +of Trinity College, Hartford, etc.</p> + +<p>In the same year (1870) he brought out the first edition +of his “Modern Therapeutics,” a technical work, addressed +to physicians. This was enlarged in successive editions, +until in its present form, as continued by other hands in its +latest editions, it comprises two parts of 600 pages each. +Although the author claimed little other originality in this +work than the selection and arrangement of known facts, +yet in these respects he displayed the strongly practical and +original turn of his mind. As a student of the art of Therapeutics +in large hospitals, clinics, and dispensaries, he had +convinced himself that it is not by experiments on lower +animals, nor yet on the human body in health, that the +physician can attain the glorious power of alleviating pain +and curing disease; it is only through the daily combat +with sickness, by the bedside and in the consulting room. +Chemistry and physiology, he believed, could teach but +little in this branch; observation and experience everything. +Hence, in his work on Therapeutics he announced himself +as “aiming at a systematic analysis of all current and approved +means of combating disease,” selecting his formulæ +and therapeutical directions from the most eminent living +physicians of all nations.</p> + +<p>This work was most favorably received by medical men; +and, edited and revised by competent hands, continues to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> +regarded as one of the most valuable works in American +medical literature. The unanimous opinion of the leading +medical journals, as well as of its numerous purchasers, have +testified to its real and great worth to the practitioner of +medicine.</p> + +<p>Having thus established a wide, popular and professional +reputation, one which would have guaranteed him a lucrative +practice, it would have tempted another, no doubt, to +make the most of this opportunity, so rarely granted a young +physician. Not so was it with Dr. Napheys. No sooner +had the three works mentioned been completed than he +sailed for Europe, in order to familiarize himself with the +famed schools of learning of the Old World and its rich +stores of material for culture. The summer was that of the +Franco-German war; and spending most of it in Paris, he +was witness of several of the most exciting scenes which +attended the dethronement of the Emperor. These he +would describe afterwards with a vividness and power of +language rarely excelled.</p> + +<p>The excitement of the period did not, however, withdraw +his attention from the studies he had in view. These were +partially indicated in a series of letters he contributed to +various periodicals during his absence. While these letters +were principally of a scientific character, it is noteworthy +how the relations of medicine to the welfare of man always +occupied his attention. Thus we find, in one sent from +England, June, 1870, a description of the Liverpool Medi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span>cal +Missionary Society, a charity which combines religious +instruction with medical advice; and again, he comments +on the popular instruction in hygiene which was supplied +at that period to the English workingmen by a committee +of competent physicians, organized for that purpose. It +was the author's purpose to collect and expand these letters +into a volume, but the project was not carried out.</p> + +<p>The siege of Paris, which city he left in one of the last +trains before the blockade commenced, and the prolongation +of the war, induced him to return home. In the United +States he found offers from several publishers awaiting him, +which would more than occupy him for a full year. There +was a new edition of his “Therapeutics” demanded, and a +revision of both “The Physical Life of Woman” and “The +Transmission of Life.” A New England firm urgently +pressed him to superintend the production of several hygienic +works, and secured him as literary adviser to their +house. He assumed the editorship of the “Half-Yearly +Compendium of Medical Science,” and also of a “Physician's +Annual,” besides undertaking a number of articles +for the periodical press, both scientific and popular.</p> + +<p>To this active literary life he devoted the year 1871; +but at its close felt more strongly than ever that he must +give himself several years of studious quiet, in order +to accomplish his best. Refusing, therefore, any further +engagements, he sailed for Europe again, late in 1871, and +did not return this time until the spring of 1875. In this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> +period, of more than three years, he visited almost all the +principal cities of Europe, and enjoyed the friendship of +many eminent men at London, St. Petersburg, Vienna, and +Paris. Reading, visiting hospitals, and attending clinics, +he accumulated a mass of material which he designed to +work up into future literary enterprises.</p> + +<p>With these collected stores he returned to the United +States early in 1875, and set to work with his wonted energy. +A new and much enlarged edition of the “Therapeutics” +was sent to press; a “Handbook of Popular Medicine,” +designed to give, in simple language, the domestic +treatment of disease, the rules for nursing the sick, selected +receipts for diet and medicinal purposes, and the outlines of +anatomy and physiology, was put in the hands of a publisher; +a Synopsis of Pharmacy and Materia Medica, a work +of enormous labor, was well under way; and other literary +projects were actively planned; when, suddenly, the summons +came which, in an instant, with the shears of fate, slit +the strand of this activity. The rest of the story may be +told in the words of the biographer appointed by the Medical +Society of the County of Philadelphia to prepare a memoir +of his life:—</p> + +<p>“While earnestly laboring to prepare for the press his +literary collections, he suffered a severe blow by the sudden +death of a person to whom he was deeply attached. Over-work +and this emotional shock produced a result likely +enough to occur in one of his ardent temperament. One<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span> +afternoon, while engaged in writing, he fell, unconscious, +from his chair, and for several days lay in a very critical +condition. On recovering his powers, it was evident his +brain had suffered a serious lesion. The old energy and +love of labor had completely gone; even the capacity for +work seemed absent. Marked melancholy followed, characterized +before long by avoidance of friends and the loss of a +desire of life. This occurred with increasing force until it +led to his death, on July 1, 1876, through some toxic agent, +the nature of which was not ascertained.</p> + +<p>“Thus early, and thus sadly, terminated a career of unusual +brilliancy and promise.</p> + +<p>“It is probable that much that he has written will be +read with pleasure and instruction by future generations; +and the memory of his genial disposition, his entertaining +conversation, and earnest sense of professional honor, will +long be cherished by those of his contemporaries who enjoyed +his friendship.”—<i>Transactions of the Medical Society +of the State of Pennsylvania</i>, vol. xi, p. 720.</p> + +<p>Various tributes were paid to his memory by the societies +with which he was connected, and by the scientific journals +to which he had been a contributor. One of these, after +narrating some of the circumstances attending his decease, +spoke as follows:—</p> + +<p>“Thus did our unfortunate associate close his short but +brilliant career. The emotions, the tender sentiments he +has described with such a magical pen, he felt himself with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span> +an unmatched keenness. They mastered his whole frame +with an intensity surpassing all romance. His descriptions +of the passions, descriptions which have been the wonder of +thousands, such is their fire and temper, were not rhetorical +studies, but the ebullition of a soul sensitive to their +lightest breath, and not shunning their wildest tempests.</p> + +<p>“The genius which dictated the lines he has left us is +not to be judged by the conventionalities which suit the cold +temperaments of ordinary men; there is a strong vein of +egotism in most devotion; but here was one who felt, 'all +is lost, when love is lost.'”</p> + +<p>This extract well sets forth the extraordinary depth of +his sentiments, and the fervor of his feelings. It may be +added that these mental traits were not generally ascribed +to him by casual or ordinary associates. He was, in manners +and bearing, evidently not one who sought friendships +or displayed to the general gaze the current of his thoughts. +Consequently, of intimates he had but few, and was considered +by those whose intercourse with him was superficial, +to be much more of an intellectual than of an emotional type +of character.</p> + +<p>This impression was doubtless increased by the strongly +practical turn of his mind, which is conspicuous in all his +works. He was the reverse of a dreamer and had little patience +with theorists. In his professional study he always +aimed at bringing into the strongest light the utilitarian +aspect of medicine, its ameliorating power on humanity, its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span> +real efficacy in preserving or restoring health and limiting +human misery. On this his theory of therapeutics was +based, and, inspired by the same opinions, he was one of the +most earnest advocates of the day of popularizing medical +science in all its branches among the masses. In this effort +he was at times severely criticized by that class of physicians—and +they are by no means extinct—who think that medicine +should be wrapped in mystery, and that the people +should be kept in ignorance of themselves and of their own +physical frailties, to the utmost possible extent. With these +learned obscurantists Dr. Napheys had no patience, and +naturally found but slight favor. Fortunately, they were +in the decided minority, and, we are happy to add, even that +minority is daily decreasing.</p> + +<p>Of the various learned societies to which he was attached +may be mentioned the Philadelphia County Medical Society, +the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, and the Gynecological +Society of Boston. His election as Corresponding +Member to the latter body (which is an association of +scientific men who make an especial study of the hygiene +and diseases of women) took place shortly after the first +publication of the <i>Physical Life of Woman</i>, and was meant +as a direct tribute of respect to him as the author of that +work, thus obtaining for it the testimony of the highest body +in that specialty then existing in our land.</p> + +<p>The general plan on which Dr. Napheys prepared his +sanitary writings was one eminently calculated to reconcile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span> +those who were most opposed to instructing the general +public in such branches. While he confidently believed +that vastly more harm than good is done by a prudish concealment +of the physiology of sex and its relations to health, +he also clearly recognized that such instruction should be +imparted at the proper age and under certain limitations; +while the general facts common to the species cannot be +taught too generally, or made too familiar. Hence, he projected +three books, one to be placed in the hands of young +women, a second for youths, and a third for a general household +book of reading and reference on medicine and hygiene. +These three he completed in “The Physical Life of Woman,” +“The Transmission of Life,” and the “Handbook +of Popular Medicine.”</p> + +<p>This plan, he believed, met all the objections to popular +medical instruction, at least all well-grounded objections, +while at the same time it did away with any necessity for +concealing truths important to be known, for fear they should +come to the knowledge of those for whom they were not +designed, and on whose minds they might have a disturbing +tendency.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt but that both the plan and its +execution were successful. The many letters he received, +filled with thanks from private parties who had gained inestimable +knowledge from these works, made rich compensation +for the occasional severe strictures he received from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span> +those wedded to ancient ways, and who often condemned +without even reading his works.</p> + +<p>The intelligent reading public, on whom, after all, the +writer must depend for a verdict on his works, were unanimous +in his favor. They bought them in quantities, and the +writer of his life in the <i>Transactions of the Pennsylvania +State Medical Society</i>, above quoted, who wrote in 1877, +estimates that by that time over <i>a quarter of a million</i> copies +had been printed and sold. Translations were made into +the German, and several editions pirated and printed in +Canada and England. In fact, the works may now be considered +to rank as classics in the language, and many years +must go by before another such series can be written, on +topics of this nature, with equal delicacy of touch and accuracy +of knowledge.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<ul><li><center><a href="#PUBLISHERS_NOTICE"><b>PUBLISHERS' NOTICE.</b></a></center></li> +<li><center><a href="#EDITORS_PREFACE"><b>EDITOR'S PREFACE.</b></a></center></li> +<li><center><a href="#PREFACE_2"><b>PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION</b></a></center></li> +<li><center><a href="#PREFACE_1"><b>PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION</b></a></center></li> +<li><center><a href="#BIOGRAPHICAL_SKETCH"><b>BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH</b></a></center></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><a href="#INTRODUCTORY"><b>Introductory.</b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_17">15-22</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>Knowledge is safety—The peculiarities of sex—Examples of +individuals belonging to both sexes and to neither sex—The +sphere of woman</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#THE_MAIDEN"><b>Part I. THE MAIDEN.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#PUBERTY"><b><span class="smcap">Puberty</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_22">22-52</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>What it means—Age when it arrives—Causes that hasten +it—Causes that delay it—Brunettes mature early—The signs +of puberty—Its dangers—Spinal disease—Green +sickness—Hysterics—Secret bad habits—Hygiene of +puberty—Diet—Exercise—Clothing— Precautions during the +monthly changes—Between the monthly changes—What to do +when the changes are delayed—When they are painful—The age +of nubility.</li></ul></li> +<li><a href="#LOVE"><b><span class="smcap">Love</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_52">52-89</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>Its power in life—What it is—It is necessary and it is +eternal—Of second marriages and of divorce—Courtship—Love +at first sight—How to choose a husband—Shall cousins +marry?—Marriage between different races and different +nations—The proper age of a husband—His temperament—His +moral and mental character—Words of warning—Signs of +character on the body—The engagement—Concerning long +engagements—The right time of year to marry—The right time +in the month to marry—The wedding tour.</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#THE_WIFE"><b>Part II. THE WIFE.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#HINTS_TO_YOUNG_WIVES"><b><span class="smcap">Hints To Young Wives</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_90">90-132</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>The wedding night—Should husband and wife sleep together or +apart?—The most healthful bed—The dignity and propriety of +the sexual instinct—The proper indulgence and the restraint +of sexual desire—Marital relations, when they should be +suspended—When they are painful—Barrenness, its causes and +its cures—Advice to wives who desire children—The +limitation of offspring—When it is proper—Justifiable +means—Injurious means—The crime of abortion—The nature of +conception—Signs of conception—How to retain the +affections of a husband.</li></ul></li> +<li><a href="#INHERITANCE"><b><span class="smcap">Inheritance</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_132">132-166</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>The varieties of inheritance—The legacy of beauty—The +complexion—What physical qualities each parent bestows—The +inheritance of fertility and longevity—Even deformities +sometimes transmitted—How to have beautiful +children—Talent and genius may be transmitted—The physical +traits of fathers in daughters, and of mothers in +sons—Examples—Influence of education on inherited +qualities—Transmission of disease—Of mutilations—How to +avoid inherited ill tendencies—The excess of women—How to +have boys or girls at will—Twins and triplets.</li></ul></li> +<li><a href="#PREGNANCY"><b><span class="smcap">Pregnancy</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_167">167-218</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>Veneration of the pregnant woman—Signs of +pregnancy—Quickening—Mental changes—Miscarriage, its +causes, symptoms, and prevention—Mother's marks—What makes +them?—How to avoid them—Education of the child in the +womb—Are double pregnancies possible?—Instances of double +children—Can a child cry in the womb?—Is it a son or a +daughter?—Are there twins present?—The duration of +pregnancy—How to calculate when the confinement will +come—Care of health during pregnancy—The food, clothing, +exercise, bathing, ventilation, and sleep—Effect on health +of body and mind—Relations of husband and wife during +pregnancy.</li></ul></li> +<li><a href="#CONFINEMENT"><b><span class="smcap">The Confinement</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_219">219-242</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>Preparations for childbirth—The signs of approaching +labor—The symptoms of actual labor—Attention is required +during labor—To the mother—To the child—To have labor +without pain—The risks of childbed—Weight and length of +new-born children—The duration of labor—Stillborn +children—Imprudence after childbirth—To preserve the form +after childbirth.</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#THE_MOTHER"><b>Part III. THE MOTHER.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#NURSING"><b><span class="smcap">Nursing</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_243">243-270</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>The duties and privileges of a mother—Hindrances to +nursing, and when it is improper—Rules for +nursing—Influence of diet on the mother's milk—Influence +of pregnancy on the milk—The mother's mind and her +infant—Striking examples—Position of the mother while +nursing—Qualities of a good nursing mother—Excess and +deficiency of the milk—Wet-nursing by virgins, aged women, +and men—Rules for care of health while nursing—Relations +of husband and wife at this time—Over-nursing and the signs +of it—Directions for mothers who cannot nurse their own +children—How to select a wet-nurse.</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#THE_CHILD"><b>Part IV. THE CHILD.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#THE_CARE_OF_INFANCY"><b><span class="smcap">The Care of Infancy</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_271">271-324</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>The causes of infant mortality—Bringing up by +hand—Weaning, when and how to do it—Teething—Vaccination +and re-vaccination—The food of infants and +children—Concerning sleep in early life—The clothing of +children, its pattern, amount, and quality—Bathing, +ventilation, and exercise in early childhood—On learning to +walk—The advantages of games and plays—On training the +sight and hearing.</li></ul></li> +<li><a href="#HOME_MANAGEMENT_OF_SOME_COMMON"><b><span class="smcap">The Management of Some Diseases of Childhood</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_325">325-350</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>How to recognize and treat croup—Head +colds—Fits—Nose-bleed—Worms— Bed-wetting—Looseness of +the bowels—Indigestion—Hints on home government—Is the +race physically weaker?</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#HEALTH"><b>Part V. HEALTH IN MARRIAGE.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#DISEASES_PREGNANCY"><b><span class="smcap">Diseases Incident To Pregnancy</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_352">352-360</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>Morning sickness—Pain in the abdomen—Varicose +veins—Piles—Diarrhœa— Constipation—Cough—Wakefulness.</li></ul></li> +<li><a href="#DISEASES_CHILDBED"><b><span class="smcap">Diseases Incident To Childbed and Nursing</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_361">361-385</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>Puerperal mania—White-flowing—Milk-leg—Inward +weakness—Various causes of weakness—Tight lacing one of +them—Their treatment—Gathered breasts—Cracked nipples.</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#THE_SINGLE_LIFE"><b>Part VI. THE SINGLE LIFE.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#ADVANTAGES"><b><span class="smcap">Advantages and Drawbacks of</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_386">386-388</a></span></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><center><a href="#THE_CHANGE_OF_LIFE"><b>Part VII. THE CHANGE OF LIFE.</b></a></center></li> +<li><a href="#DISEASES_AND_DISCOMFORTS"><b><span class="smcap">Diseases and Hygiene of</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_389">389-404</a></span></li> +<li><ul><li>What it is—Age when it comes—Signs and symptoms—Effects +on the character—Those who suffer most—Diseases and +discomforts attending—Precautions and remedies.</li></ul></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li><a href="#NOTES"><b><span class="smcap">Notes</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_405">405-412</a></span></li> +<li><a href="#INDEX"><b><span class="smcap">Index</span></b></a><span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_413">413-426</a></span></li> +<li><center><a href="#TESTIMONIALS"><b><span class="smcap">Testimonials</span></b></a></center></li> +</ul> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>THE PHYSICAL LIFE OF WOMAN.</h1> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h3><a name="INTRODUCTORY" id="INTRODUCTORY"></a><i>KNOWLEDGE IS SAFETY.</i></h3> + +<p>'Knowledge is power,' said the philosopher. +The maxim is true; but here is a greater +truth: 'Knowledge is safety,'—safety amid the +physical ills that beset us,—safety amid the moral +pitfalls that environ us.</p> + +<p>Filled with this thought, we write this book. It is +the Revelation of Science to Woman. It tells her, +in language which aims at nothing but simplicity, +the results which the study of her nature, as distinct +from that of man, has attained. We may call it her +physical biography.</p> + +<p>It is high time that such a book were written. The +most absorbing question of the day is the 'Woman +Question.' The social problems of chiefest interest +concern her. And nowhere are those problems more +zealously studied than in America, which has thrown +aside the trammels of tradition, and is training its +free muscles with intent to grapple the untried possibilities +of social life. Who can guide us in these +experiments? What master, speaking as one having +authority, can advise us? There is such a guide, +such a master. The laws of woman's physical life +shape her destiny and reveal her future. Within<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +these laws all things are possible; beyond them, +nothing is of avail.</p> + +<p>Especially should woman herself understand her +own nature. How many women are there, with +health, beauty, merriment, ay, morality too, all gone, +lost for ever, through ignorance of themselves! What +spurious delicacy is this which would hide from +woman that which beyond all else it behooves her to +know? We repudiate it; and in plain, but decorous +language,—truth is always decorous,—we purpose to +divulge those secrets hidden hitherto under the technical +jargon of science.</p> + + +<h3>THE DISTINCTION OF THE SEXES.</h3> + +<p>The distinction of the sexes belongs neither to the +highest nor to the lowest forms of existence. Animals +and vegetables of the humblest character have no sex. +So it is with spirits. Revelation implies that beyond +this life sexual characteristics cease. On one occasion +the Sadducees put this question to Christ: +There was a woman who lawfully had seven husbands, +one after the other; now, at the resurrection, +which of these shall be her husband? or shall they +all have her to wife? He replied that hereafter +there shall be neither marrying nor giving in marriage, +but that all shall be 'as the angels which are +in heaven.' Sexuality implies reproduction, and +that is something we do not associate with spiritual +life.</p> + +<p>It further implies imperfection, which is equally +far from our hopes of happiness beyond the grave. +The polyp, which reproduces by a division of itself, +is in one sense more complete than we are. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +man is in some respects inferior to the woman; the +woman in others is subordinate to man. A happy +marriage, a perfect union, they twain one flesh, is +the type of the independent, completed being. +Without the other, either is defective. 'Marriage,' +said Napoléon, 'is strictly indispensable to happiness.'</p> + +<p>There is, in fact, a less difference between the +sexes than is generally believed. They are but +slight variations from one original plan. Anatomists +maintain, with plausible arguments, that there +is no part or organ in the one sex but has an analogous +part or organ in the other, similar in structure, +similar in position. Just as the right side +resembles the left, so does man resemble woman.</p> + +<p>Let us see what differences there really are:</p> + +<p>The frame of woman is shorter and slighter. In +the United States the men average five feet eight +inches in height, and one hundred and forty-five +pounds in weight; the women, five feet two and a +half inches in height, and one hundred and twenty-five +pounds in weight. Man has broad shoulders +and narrow hips; woman has narrow shoulders and +broad hips. Her skull is formed of thinner bones, +and is in shape more like that of a child. Its capacity, +in proportion to her height, is very little less +than in man,—about one-fiftieth, it is said,—which, +so far as brain-power is concerned, may readily be +made up by its finer texture. Her shoulders are +set farther back than in the other sex, giving her +greater breadth of chest in front. This is brought +about by the increased length of her collar-bone; +and this is the reason why she can never throw a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +ball or stone with the accuracy of a man. Graceful +in other exercises, here she is awkward.</p> + +<p>Her contour is more rounded, her neck is longer, +her skin smoother, her voice softer, her hair less +generally distributed over the body, but stronger +in growth than in man. She breathes with the +muscles of her chest—he with those of his abdomen. +He has greater muscular force—she more +power of endurance. Beyond all else she has the +attributes of maternity,—she is provided with +organs to nourish and protect the child before and +after birth.</p> + + +<h3>PERSONS OF BOTH SEXES AND OF NEITHER SEX.</h3> + +<p>Nature is very sedulous in maintaining these +differences. It is the rarest thing in the world to +find a human being of doubtful sex. Many a physician +disbelieves that there ever has been a person +of both sexes—a true hermaphrodite. They are +very scarce, but they do exist. There is one now +living in Germany. It bears a female name, Catherine +Hohmann. She was baptised and brought up +a female; but Catherine is as much man as woman. +The learned professor of anatomy, Rokitansky, of +Vienna, asserts most positively that this is a real +hermaphrodite. Her history is sad. Born in +humble circumstances, when of marriageable age +she loved a man, who wished her to emigrate with +him to America. But when she disclosed to him +her deformity, he broke off the engagement and +deserted her. Then her affection became fixed on +a young girl; but how could she make her suit to +one apparently of her own sex? With passions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +that prompt her to seek both sexes, she belongs to +neither. 'What shall I do here on earth?' she exclaimed, +in tears, to a man of science who recently +visited her. 'What am I? In my life an object +of scientific experiment, and after my death an +anatomical curiosity.'</p> + +<p>There are also persons—very few indeed—who +have no sex at all. They are without organs and +without passions. Such creatures seem to have been +formed merely to show us that this much-talked-of +difference of sex is, after all, nothing inherent +in the constitution of things, and that individuals +may be born, live and thrive, of both sexes, or of +neither.</p> + + +<h3>THE SPHERE OF WOMAN.</h3> + +<p>Our province lies within the physical sphere of +woman. But we will here allow ourselves a momentary +digression. It will be seen that while these +differences are not radical, yet they are peculiarly +permanent. They hint to us the mental and intellectual +character of woman. What opinion should +we hold on this much-vexed question?</p> + +<p>To this effect: The mental faculties of man and +woman are unlike, but not unequal. Any argument +to the contrary, drawn from the somewhat +less weight of the brain of woman, is met by the +fact that the most able men are often undersized, +with small heads. The subordinate place which +woman occupies in most states, arises partly from +the fact that the part she plays in reproduction +prevents her from devoting her whole time and +energies to the acquisition of power, and partly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +from the fact that those faculties in which she is +superior to man have been obscured and oppressed +by the animal vigor and selfishness of the male. +As civilisation advances, the natural rights of woman +will be more and more freely conceded, until the +sexes become absolutely equal before the law; +and, finally, her superiority in many respects will +be granted, and she will reap the benefits of all the +advantages it brings, without desiring to encroach +on those avocations for which masculine energy and +strength are imperatively needed.</p> + +<p>The most peculiar features of woman's life are +hers for a limited period only. Man is man for a +longer time than woman is woman. With him it is +a lifetime matter; with her it is but for a score of +years or so. Her child-bearing period is less than +half her life. Within this time she passes through +all the phases of that experience which is peculiarly +her own.</p> + +<p>And these phases, what are they? Nature herself +defines them. They are three in number,—the +Maiden, the Wife, and the Mother. In one and +then another of this triad, her life passes. Each +has its own duties and dangers; each demands its +own precautions; each must be studied by itself.</p> + +<p>Let us at once commence this important study, +and proceed in the order of time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_MAIDEN" id="THE_MAIDEN"></a>THE MAIDEN.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><a name="PUBERTY" id="PUBERTY"></a><i>PUBERTY.</i></h3> + +<p>At a certain period in the life of the female, she +ceases to be a girl, and becomes a <i>woman.</i> +Hitherto she has felt no distinction between herself +and the boys, her playmates. But now a crisis +takes place, which is for ever after to hedge her +round with a mysterious, invisible, but most real +barrier from all <i>man</i>kind.</p> + +<p>This period is called <i>the age of puberty.</i> Its sign +is a flow of blood recurring every month; its meaning, +that the female has entered upon that portion +of her life whose peculiar obligations are to the +whole race—no longer to herself alone. The second +part of her twofold nature is opened. Why is it that +on her, the weaker sex, this extra burden is laid? +Why this weakness, these pains, this recurring loss +of vital fluid?</p> + +<p>Perhaps, as has been observed, it is a wise provision +that she is thus reminded of her lowly +duty, lest man should make her the sole object of +his worship, or lest the pride of beauty should +obscure the sense of shame. But this question +concerns rather the moralist than the physician, and +we cease asking <i>why</i> it is, and shall only inquire +<i>what</i> it is.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>To this science returns a clear reply. In the +anatomy of woman there are two small bodies, in +shape and size like large almonds, called the +ovaries. They lie one on each side of the womb, and +are connected with it by tubes about four inches in +length. These bodies are solid, but contain a great +number of diminutive vesicles, which, by some mysterious +law of nature, mature one at a time, every +thirty days, for thirty years of woman's life. When +mature, the vesicle separates from the ovary, traverses +the tube into the womb, and is thence expelled +and lost, or becomes, by contact with the +other sex, the germ of a living being. This process +is accompanied by a disturbance of the whole +system. Wandering pains are felt; a sense of +languor steals over the mind; the blood rushes +with increased violence through the vessels, and +more or less of it escapes from the veins, causing +that change which we term <i>menstruation.</i></p> + +<p>The ancients had a tradition that in the beginning +of things the world was made from an egg; the +naturalists of past generations had this maxim: +Everything living comes from an egg; and science +to-day says the same. For this vesicle we have +mentioned is in fact an <i>egg</i>, similar in structure to +those which birds, fish, and turtles deposit. The +only differences are, that the one is developed out +of the body, the other within; the one has a shell, +the other has none.</p> + +<p>Therefore physiologists give this definition: +Menstruation is ovulation,—it is the laying of an +egg.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>WHAT IS THE AGE OF PUBERTY?</h3> + +<p>This has been a matter of careful study by physicians. +They have collected great numbers of +observations, and have reached this conclusion: +In the middle portion of the temperate zone, the +average age when the first period appears in healthy +girls is fourteen years and six months. If it occurs +more than six months later or earlier than this, then +it is likely something is wrong, or, at least, the case +is exceptional.</p> + +<p>Exceptional cases, where this average is widely +departed from in apparently perfect health, are rare. +But they do occur. We have known instances +where the solicitude of parents has been excited by +the long delay of this constitutional change, and +others in which it has taken place at an almost +tender age, without causing any perceptible injury +to the general health.</p> + +<p>There is an instance recorded, on good authority, +where a French child but three years old underwent +all the physical changes incident to puberty, and +grew to be a healthy woman. But what children +can surpass the American in precocity? This French +child-woman is quite left in the shade by one described +in a recent number of a western medical +journal, who <i>from her birth</i> had regular monthly +changes, and the full physical development which +marks the perfect woman!</p> + +<p>Thus, sometimes, a wide deviation from the average +age we have stated occurs, without having any +serious meaning. Yet at no time is such a deviation +to be neglected. In nine out of ten instances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +it is owing to some fault in the constitution, the +health, or formation, which should be ascertained +and corrected. Otherwise years of broken health +and mental misery may be the sad results. Mothers, +teachers, it is with you this responsibility rests. +The thousands of wretched wives, who owe their +wretchedness to a neglect of proper attention at +this turning-point of their lives, warn you how serious +is this responsibility.</p> + +<p>The foundation of old age, says a distinguished +author, is laid in childhood; but the health of +middle-life depends upon puberty. Never was there +a truer maxim. The two years which change the +girl to the woman often seal for ever the happiness +or the hopeless misery of her whole life. They decide +whether she is to become a healthy, helpful, +cheerful wife and mother, or a languid, complaining +invalid, to whom marriage is a curse, children an +affliction, and life itself a burden.</p> + +<p>We reiterate our warning: Mothers, teachers, you +to whom children are confided at this crisis of their +lives, look well to it that you appreciate, understand, +and observe the duties you have assumed. +Let no false modesty prevent you from learning and +enforcing those precautions, so necessary at this +period of life.</p> + + +<h3>WHAT HASTENS AND WHAT RETARDS PUBERTY?</h3> + +<p>As a rule, we find that those who develope early, +fade early. A short childhood portends a premature +old age. It often foreshadows, also, a feeble +middle-life.</p> + +<p>Having ascertained, therefore, what is the average<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +age at which puberty takes place with us, let us see +what conditions anticipate or retard this age.</p> + +<p>The most important is <i>climate.</i></p> + +<p>In hot climates, man, like the vegetation, has a +surprising rapidity of growth. Marriages are usual +at twelve or fourteen years of age. Puberty comes +to both sexes as early as at ten and eleven years. +We even read in the life of Mohammed, that one +of his wives, when but ten years of age, bore him a +son. Let another dozen years pass, and these +blooming maidens have been metamorphosed into +wrinkled, faded old women. The beauty of their +precocious youth has withered almost literally like +a flower which is plucked.</p> + +<p>Very different is it in the cold and barren regions +of the far north. There man, once more partaking +of the nature of his surroundings, yields as slowly to +the impulses of his passions as does the ice-bound +earth to the slanting rays of the summer sun. +Maturity, so quick to come, so swift to leave in the +torrid heats, arrives, chilled by the long winters, to +the girls of Lapland, Norway, and Siberia, only +when they are eighteen and nineteen years of age. +But, in return for this, they retain their vigor and +good looks to a green old age.</p> + +<p>Between these extremes, including as they do the +whole second decade of existence, this important +change takes place normally in different latitudes. +We have said that in the middle temperate zone the +proper age is fourteen years and six months. Let +us now see what conditions lead to deviations from +this age in our climate.</p> + +<p>First on the list is that sacred fire handed down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +to us from our ancestors, which we call, in our +material language, the <i>constitution.</i></p> + +<p>The females of certain races, certain families, it is +often noticed, mature earlier than their neighbours. +Jewesses, for example, are always precocious, earlier +by one or two years. So are colored girls, and +those of creole lineage. We can guess the reasons +here. No doubt these children still retain in their +blood the tropic fire which, at comparatively recent +periods, their forefathers felt under the vertical rays +of the torrid zone.</p> + +<p>Nor is this all. It is well ascertained, from numerous +observations, that brunettes develope sooner +than their blonde sisters; that those who will grow +to be large women are slower than those whose +stature will be small; that the dark-haired and +black-eyed are more precocious in this respect than +the light-haired and blue-eyed; that the fat, sluggish +girl is more tardy than the slender, active one; +that, in general, what is known as the nervo-bilious +temperament is ever ahead of that called the lymphatic +or phlegmatic.</p> + +<p>It is a familiar fact, that it is not a good sign to +see this change before the usual average time. It +betokens a weakly, excitable, diminutive frame. +Hard labor, vigorous, regular muscular exertion—prime +health, in other words—never tends to anticipate +this epoch, but rather to retard it.</p> + +<p>With this warning fresh in our ears, let us now +rehearse what causes constantly incline unduly to +hasten puberty, and thus to forestall wise Nature in +her plans for health and beauty. They are of two +kinds,—physical and mental.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>Idleness of body, highly-seasoned food, stimulating +beverages, such as beer, wine, liqueurs, and, in +a less degree, coffee and tea, irregular habits of +sleep,—these are the physical causes of premature +development. But the mental causes are still more +potent.</p> + +<p>Whatever <i>stimulates the emotions</i> leads to an unnaturally +early sexual life. Late hours, children's +parties, sensational novels, 'flashy' papers, love +stories, the drama, the ball-room, talk of beaux, +love, and marriage,—that atmosphere of riper years +which is so often and so injudiciously thrown around +childhood,—all hasten the event which transforms +the girl into the woman. A particular emphasis +has been laid by some physicians on the power of +music to awaken the dormant susceptibilities to +passion, and on this account its too general or +earnest cultivation by children has been objected +to. Educators would do well to bear this caution +in mind.</p> + +<p>How powerfully these causes work is evident +when we compare the average age of puberty in +large cities and in country districts. The females +in the former mature from six to eight months +sooner than those in the latter. This is unquestionably +owing to their mode of life,—physically indolent, +mentally over-stimulated. The result, too, is +seen with painful plainness in comparing the sturdy, +well-preserved farm-wife of thirty, with the languid, +pale, faded city lady of the same age.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE CHANGES IT WORKS.</h3> + +<p>Two short years change the awkward and angular +girl of fourteen into the trim and graceful maiden +of sweet sixteen. Wonderful metamorphosis! The +magic wand of the fairy has touched her, and she +comes forth a new being, a vision of beauty to bewitch +the world.</p> + +<p>Let us analyze this change.</p> + +<p>The earliest sign of approaching puberty is a +deposit of fat in the loose cellular tissue under the +skin. This gives roundness to the form, and grace +to the movements. According to a distinguished +naturalist (Buffon), it is first observable by a slight +swelling of the groins. Thence it extends over the +whole body. The breasts especially receive additions, +and develope to form the perfect bust.</p> + +<p>Parts of the body previously free from hair become +covered with a soft growth, and that which +covers the head acquires more vigor and gloss, +usually becoming one or two shades darker. The +eyes brighten, and acquire unwonted significance. +These windows of the soul betray to the close observer +the novel emotions which are arising in the +mind within.</p> + +<p>The voice, too, shares in the transformation. The +piping, slender articulation of the child gives way +to the rich, melodious, soft voice of woman—the +sweetest music man ever hears. To the student of +humanity, to the observant physician, nothing is +more symbolical of the whole nature than the voice. +Would you witness a proof of its power? Watch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +how a person born blind unerringly discriminates +the character of those he meets by this alone.</p> + +<p>Beyond all external modifications, we find others, +which indicate how profound is the alteration now +taking place. The internal organs of the body assume +new functions and new powers. The taste for +food changes, hinting that the system has demands +hitherto unknown. Those organs we have adverted +to, called the ovaries, increase in size, as also does +the uterus. The very framework of the structure +does not escape. The bones increase in weight, +and those around the hips expand, and give the +female her distinctive form, upon the perfection of +which her life and that of her children depend.</p> + + +<h3>MENTAL CHANGES.</h3> + +<p>Such are the changes which strike the eye. But +there are others which are not less significant, and +which demand far more urgently our watchful heed. +New thoughts, strange desires, are invading the +soul. A novel relation is assumed to the world. +It is vague, misunderstood, but disturbing all the +same.</p> + +<p>The once light-hearted girl inclines to reveries; +she seeks solitude; her mother surprises her in +causeless tears; her teacher discovers an unwonted +inattention to her studies, a less retentive memory, +a disinclination to mental labor; her father misses +her accustomed playfulness; he, perhaps, is annoyed +by her listlessness and inertia. What does it all +mean? What is the matter with the girl?</p> + +<p>Mother, teacher, father, it is for you to know the +answers to these questions. You have guarded this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +girl through years of helpless infancy and thoughtless +childhood. At the peril of her life, and of what +is of more value than life, do not now relax your +vigilance. Every day the reaper Death reaps with +his keen sickle the flowers of our land. The mothers +weep, indeed; but little do they realize that it is +because they have neglected to cherish them as was +their duty, that the Lord of Paradise has taken +them back unto Himself.</p> + + +<h3>THE COMPLETION OF PUBERTY.</h3> + +<p>The symptoms increase until at length the system +has acquired the necessary strength, and furnished +itself with reserve forces enough to complete its +transformation. Then the monthly flow commences.</p> + +<p>In thoroughly healthy girls it continues to recur +at regular intervals, from twenty-five to thirty days +apart. This is true of about three out of four. In +others, a long interval, sometimes six months, occurs +between the first and second sickness. If the +general health be not <i>in the least</i> impaired, this +need cause no anxiety. Irregularities are found in +the first year or two, which often right themselves +afterwards. But whenever they are associated with +the <i>slightest</i> signs of mental or bodily disorder, they +demand instant and intelligent attention.</p> + +<p>It used to be supposed that the periods of the +monthly sickness were in some way connected with +the phases of the moon. So general is this belief +even yet in France, that a learned Academician not +long since thought it worth while carefully to compare +over four thousand observations, to see whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +they did bear any relations to the lunar phases. It +is hardly worth while to add that he found none.</p> + +<p>We have known perfectly healthy young women +who were ill every sixteen days, and others in whom +a period of thirty-five or thirty-six days would +elapse. The reasons of such differences are not +clear. Some inherited peculiarity of constitution is +doubtless at work. Climate is of primary importance. +Travellers in Lapland, and other countries +in the far north, say that the women there are not +regulated more frequently than three or four times +a year. Hard labor and a phlegmatic temperament +usually prolong the interval between the periodical +illnesses.</p> + +<p>An equal diversity prevails in reference to the +<i>length of time</i> the discharge continues. The average +of a large number of cases observed in healthy +women, between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five, +is four days and a fraction. In a more general way, +we may say from two to six days is the proper duration. +Should it diverge widely from this, then it is +likely some mischief is at work.</p> + +<p>In relation to the <i>amount</i> of the discharge, every +woman is a law unto herself. Usually, it is four or +five ounces in all. Habits of life are apt to modify +it materially. Here, again, those exposed to prolonged +cold and inured to severe labor escape more +easily than their sisters petted in the lap of luxury. +Delicate, feeble, nervous women—those, in other +words, who can least afford the loss of blood—are +precisely those who lose the most. Nature, +who is no tender mother, but a stern step-mother, +thus punishes them for disregarding her laws.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +Soft couches, indolent ease, highly spiced food; +warm rooms, weak muscles,—these are the infractions +of her rules which she revenges with vigorous, +ay, merciless severity.</p> + +<p>It is well known, too, that excitement of the +emotions, whether of anger, joy, grief, hatred, or +love increases the discharge. Even the vulgar are +aware of this, and, misinterpreting it as half-knowledge +always does, suppose it a sign of stronger +animal passions. It bears no such meaning. But +the fact reads us a lesson how important it is to +cultivate a placid mind, free from strong desire or +fear, and to hold all our emotions in the firm leash +of reason.</p> + +<p>Physicians attach great importance to the <i>character</i> +of the discharge. It should be thin, watery, +dark-coloured, and never clot. If it clots, it is an +indication that something is wrong.</p> + + +<h3>THE DANGERS OF PUBERTY.</h3> + +<p>We have shown that there are constantly individual +deviations, quite consistent with health, from +any given standard. They only become significant +of disease when they depart decidedly from the +average, either in the frequency of the illness, its +duration, the amount of the discharge, or the +character. More or less pain, more or less prostration +and general disturbances at these epochs, are +universal and inevitable. They are part of the +sentence which at the outset He pronounced upon +the woman, when He said unto her, 'I will greatly +multiply thy sorrow and thy conception.' Yet with +merciful kindness He has provided means by which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +the pain may be greatly lessened, and the sorrow +avoided; and that we may learn and observe these +means, their neglect often increases a hundred-fold +the natural suffering.</p> + +<p>At this critical period, the seeds of hereditary and +constitutional diseases manifest themselves. They +draw fresh malignancy from the new activity of the +system. The first symptoms of tubercular consumption, +of scrofula, of obstinate and disfiguring skin +diseases, of hereditary insanity, of congenital epilepsy, +of a hundred terrible maladies, which from +birth have lurked in the child, biding the opportunity +of attack, suddenly spring from their lairs, +and hurry her to the grave or the madhouse. If we +ask why so many fair girls of eighteen or twenty +are followed by weeping friends to an early tomb, +the answer is, chiefly from diseases which had their +origin at the period of puberty.</p> + +<p>It is impossible for us here to rehearse all the +minute symptoms, each almost trifling in itself, +which warn the practised physician of the approach +of one of these fearful foes in time to allow him to +make a defence. We can do little more than iterate +the warning, that whenever, at this momentous +epoch, any disquieting change appears, be it physical +or mental, let not a day be lost in summoning +<i>skilled</i>, <i>competent</i> medical advice.</p> + +<p>There is, however, a train of symptoms so frequent, +so insidious, so fruitful with agony of mind +and body, that we shall mention them particularly. +They illustrate, at once, how all-important is close +observation, and how significant to the wise physician +are trifles seemingly light as air.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>If you notice a girl of fourteen or sixteen, who, in +walking, always gives one arm in preference to the +other to her companion; if, in sleeping, she mostly +lies on the same side; if, in sitting, she is apt to +prefer a chair with a low back, and throws one arm +over its back; if you perceive that she always sits +with one foot a little in advance of the other; if +she, on inquiry, confesses to slight, wandering pains +in one side of her chest,—do not chide her for awkwardness. +These are ominous portents. They +mean <i>spinal disease</i>, than which a more fearful +malady is hardly known to medicine.</p> + +<p>Not less stealthy is the approach of disease of +the hip-joint, of white swelling of the knee, of consumption,—all +curable if taken in hand at the very +first, all well-nigh hopeless when they have once +unmasked their real features.</p> + +<p>Apart from these general dangers, to which those +of thoroughly sound constitutions are not exposed, +there are disorders called functional, to which all +are subject.</p> + + +<h3>GREEN SICKNESS.</h3> + +<p>When we speak of the 'green sickness,' we mention +perhaps the most common of all, and one of +which every mother has heard. Doctors call it +<i>chlorosis</i>, which also means <i>greenness</i>; for one of +its most common and peculiar symptoms is a pale +complexion with a greenish tinge.</p> + +<p>It never occurs except at or near the age of +puberty, and was long supposed to be merely an +impoverishment of the blood. Now, however, we +have learned that it is a disease of the nervous sys<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>tem, +and one very often confounded by physicians +with other complaints.</p> + +<p>Its attack is insidious. A distaste for exertion +and society, a fitful appetite, low spirits,—these are +all the symptoms noticed at first. Then, one by +one, come palpitation of the heart, an unhealthy +complexion, irregularity, dyspepsia, depraved tastes,—such +as a desire to eat slate-pencil dust, chalk, or +clay,—vague pains in body and limbs, a bad temper; +until the girl, after several months, is a peevish, +wretched, troublesome invalid.</p> + +<p>Then, if a physician is called in, and gives her +iron, and tells her nothing is the matter, or is himself +alarmed, and imagines she has heart disease or +consumption, it is a chance if she does not rapidly +sink, out of mere fright and over-much dosing, into +some fatal complaint. Let it be well understood +that chlorosis, though often obstinate and obscure, +is always curable if properly and promptly treated. +The remedies must be addressed to the nervous +system, and can be administered with intelligence +only by a competent medical adviser. It can be +prevented by a hygienic mode of life, and, as its +most common causes are anxiety, home-sickness, +want of exercise, or overwork at school, nothing +is so salutary in its early stages as a change of +air and scene, cheerful company, a tour to the +mountains or some watering-place, and regular +exercise.</p> + +<p>Many young women suffer considerable pain +during their monthly illness. This may arise from +many different causes, such as, congestion, inflammation, +malformation, or a wrong position of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +parts, or over-sensitive nerves. They can only be +successfully treated when the cause is known; and +they may rest assured that this suffering, in nearly +every case, can be removed.</p> + +<p>Sometimes a girl grows to the age of eighteen or +twenty without having her periodical changes. We +have already said that this is not unusual in some +climates and in some families; so, as long as the +general health is good and the spirits cheerful,—always +an important point,—it need cause no +anxiety. But if the health grow poor, and especially +if there be pains and weakness recurring +monthly without discharge, then something is +wrong, and the doctor should be consulted.</p> + + +<h3>HYSTERICS.</h3> + +<p>There is a disease of the nerves to which girls +about the age of puberty are very subject, particularly +in the higher circles of society, where their +emotions are over-educated and their organization +delicate. It is called hysteria, and more commonly +<i>hysterics.</i> Frequently it deceives both doctor and +friends, and is supposed to be some dangerous complaint. +Often it puts on the symptoms of epilepsy, +or heart disease, or consumption. We have witnessed +the most frightful convulsions in girls of +fourteen or fifteen, which were brought on by this +complaint. Sometimes it injures the mind; and it +should always receive prompt and efficient attention, +as it is always curable.</p> + +<p>This disease is apt to produce a similar affection +in other girls of the same age who see the attacks. +For this reason, hysterical girls should not be sent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +to large schools, but cured at home. Often a strong +mental impression restores them. The anecdote is +told of a celebrated surgeon (Boerhaave) who was +called to a female seminary where there was a +number of hysterical girls. He summoned them +together, heated a number of iron instruments +before their eyes, and told them that the first one +who had a fit should be cauterized down the spine. +They all recovered immediately.</p> + + +<h3>SECRET BAD HABITS.</h3> + +<p>We now approach a part of our subject which we +would gladly omit, did not constant experience admonish +us of our duty to speak of it in no uncertain +tone. We refer to the disastrous consequences on +soul and body to which young girls expose themselves +by exciting and indulging morbid passions. +Years ago, Miss Catherine E. Beecher sounded a +note of warning to the mothers of America on this +secret vice, which leads their daughters to the grave, +the madhouse, or, worse yet, the brothel.</p> + +<p>Gladly would we believe that her timely admonition +had done away with the necessity for its repetition. +But though we believe such a habit is more +rare than many physicians suppose, it certainly +exists to a degree that demands attention. Surgeons +have recently been forced to devise painful +operations to hinder young girls from thus ruining +themselves; and we must confess that, in its worst +form, it is absolutely incurable.</p> + +<p>The results of the constant nervous excitement +which this habit produces are bodily weakness, loss +of memory, low spirits, distressing nervousness, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +capricious appetite, dislike of company and of study, +and finally, paralysis, imbecility, or insanity. Let +it not be supposed that there are many who suffer +thus severely; but, on the other hand, let it be +clearly understood that any indulgence whatever +in these evil courses is attended with bad effects, +especially because they create impure desires and +thoughts, which will prepare the girl to be a willing +victim to the arts of profligacy. There is no +more solemn duty resting on those who have the +charge of young females than to protect them +against this vice.</p> + +<p>But, it is exclaimed, is it not dangerous to tell +them anything about it? Such a course is unnecessary. +Teach them that any handling of the +parts, any indecent language, any impure thought, +is degrading and hurtful. See that the servants, +nurses, and companions with whom they associate +are not debased; and recommend scrupulous cleanliness.</p> + +<p>If the habit is discovered, do not scold nor whip +the child. It is <i>often</i> a result of disease, and induced +by a disagreeable local itching. Sometimes +this is connected with a disorder of the womb, and +very frequently with worms in the bowels. Let the +case be submitted to a judicious, skilful medical +adviser, and the girl will yet be saved. But do not +shut your eyes, and refuse to see this fact when it +exists. Mothers are too often unwilling to entertain +for a moment the thought that their daughters +are addicted to such a vice, when it is only too +plain to the physician.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE HYGIENE OF PUBERTY.</h3> + +<p>Concerning the maladies of puberty, we may +broadly say, that if we are obliged to have recourse +to medicine, it is because we have neglected hygiene. +That the period requires assiduous care, we +grant; but given that care, drugs will be needless.</p> + +<p>In a general way, we have already emphasized +the danger of indolence and the benefits of exercise +or labor; the perils of exciting the emotions, and +the advantages of a placid disposition; the impropriety +of premature development, and the wisdom +of simplicity and moderation. This is an old story—a +thrice-told tale. Let us go more into minutiæ.</p> + +<p>One of the most frequent causes of disease, +about the age of puberty, is <i>starvation.</i> Many a +girl is starved to death. Food is given her, but not +of the right quality, or in insufficient quantity, or +at improper hours. The system is not nourished, +and, becoming feeble, it is laid open to the attacks +of disease, and to no form of disease more readily +than to consumption.</p> + +<p>To correct this, let the food be varied, simply +prepared, and abundant. Good fresh milk should +be used daily, while tea and coffee should be withheld. +Fat meats and vegetable oils, generally disliked +by girls at this age, are exactly what they +need; and were they partaken of more freely, there +would be less inquiry at the druggists for cod-liver +oil.</p> + +<p>A modern writer of eminence lays it down as +one of the most common causes of consumption in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +young people, that just at the age when their physical +system is undergoing such important changes, +that invaluable article of diet, <i>milk</i>, is generally +dropped, and nothing equally rich in nitrogen substituted +in its place.</p> + +<p><i>Exercise</i>, whether as games, the skipping rope, +croquet, walking, dancing, riding, and calisthenics, +or as regular labor, is highly beneficial, especially +when it leads one into the fresh air, the sunshine, +and the country. A particular kind of exercise is +to be recommended for those whose chests are +narrow, whose shoulders stoop, and who have a +hereditary predisposition to consumption. If it is +systematically practised along with other means of +health, we would guarantee any child, no matter +how many relatives have died of this disease, +against its invasion. It is voluntary inspiration. +Nothing is more simple. Let her stand erect, +throw the shoulders well back, and the hands behind; +then let her slowly inhale pure air to the full capacity +of the lungs, and retain it a few seconds <i>by an +increased effort</i>; then it may be slowly exhaled. +After one or two natural inspirations, let her repeat +the act, and so on for ten or fifteen minutes, twice +daily. Not only is this simple procedure a safeguard +against consumption, but, in the opinion of +some learned physicians, it can even cure it when +it has already commenced.</p> + +<p>At first the monthly loss of blood exhausts the +system. Therefore, plenty of food, plenty of rest, +plenty of sleep, are required. That ancient prejudice +in favour of early rising should be discarded +now, and the girl should retire early, and if she will,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +should sleep late. Hard study, care, or anxiety +should be spared her. This is not the time for rigid +discipline.</p> + +<p><i>Clothing</i> is a matter of importance, and, if we +were at all sure of attention, there is much we would +say of it. The thought seriously troubles us, that so +long as women consent to deform themselves and +sacrifice their health to false ideas of beauty, it is +almost hopeless to urge their fitness for, and their +right to a higher life than they now enjoy. No +educated painter or sculptor is ignorant of what the +model of female beauty is; no fashionable woman +is content unless she departs from it as far as possible.</p> + +<p>Now beauty implies health, and ugliness of form +is attained not only at the expense of æsthetics, +but of comfort. The custom of fastening growing +girls in tight corsets, of flattening their breasts with +pads, of distorting their feet in small high-heeled +shoes, and of teaching them to stoop and mince in +gait, is calculated to disgust every observer of good +sense and taste, and, what is of more consequence, +to render these girls, when they become women, +more liable to every species of suffering connected +with child-bearing.</p> + +<p>The monthly change is the prelude to maternity. +On its healthful recurrence depends present comfort +and future health; and not these alone, but also +happiness in marriage, easy child-beds, and the constitution +of children to a degree the thoughtless girl +and even the mature woman rarely understand. +She, therefore, who neglects the due care of her own +condition, violates a duty owed to others as well as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +herself. We would have mothers impress this on +their daughters. Let no mistaken modesty prevent +them.</p> + +<p>Especially at their commencement should the +monthly changes be carefully watched. The mother +should prepare her daughter's mind betimes for +such an expected incident in her life, thus preventing +a useless fright, or the employment of injurious +means to stop what the child may look +upon as an accident.</p> + +<p>Nor should the maternal care cease here. Such +tender sympathy should exist on the one side, +such trusting confidence on the other, that the +mother should acquaint herself with every detail +of each recurring period until the function is +thoroughly established. She should inquire into +the duration of each epoch, the abundance of the +discharge, the presence of pain, and its effects on +the general health. She should convince herself +that all these do not vary from the standards of +health we have previously laid down. Or should +they do so, she should not delay to use the proper +means to bring them to that standard.</p> + +<p>Long observation proves that if, during the first +two or three years which follow the attainment +of puberty, the health of the girl is successfully +guarded, and this, her most important physical +distinction, meets with no derangement, her life-long +health is well-nigh secured; but, on the contrary, +if she commences her sexual life with pain +and disorder, she is likely to be a life-long +sufferer.</p> + +<p>We are about to approach a topic of vital im<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>portance, +therefore, in summing up as briefly as +may be, the precautions necessary to attain this +end. They can most conveniently be divided +into those to be observed during the monthly +changes, and those more general rules of health +to be obeyed in the intervals of the periods.</p> + + +<h3>PRECAUTIONS DURING THE MONTHLY CHANGES.</h3> + +<p>At the head of all cautions and warnings which +we could give about the care of the health at +these monthly periods, we put <i>rest</i>, <i>rest</i>, bodily +and mental. <i>Do less than usual</i>, we say to all, +whether the necessity for it is manifest or not. +Over-exertion is a most fruitful cause of disease. +Long walks, shopping, dancing, riding, hard work +whether for pleasure or profit, should be avoided to +the utmost.</p> + +<p>The advantages of rest cannot be over-estimated. +A striking example of it occurs to our mind. Most +readers are aware how toilsome are the lives of the +Indian women among our Western tribes, and also +how singularly easy and almost painless is their +child-bearing. The pangs of travail are almost unknown +to them. The cause of this has puzzled even +physicians. We can tell them. It is because it is an +inviolable, a sacred rule among all those tribes, for +the woman, when having her monthly sickness, to +drop all work, absent herself from the lodge, and +remain in perfect rest as long as the discharge continues.</p> + +<p>Traces of this wide-spread custom among primitive +people, extended themselves, are discoverable +among civilized lands. The famous general council<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +of the Christian Church held at Nice in the fourth +century, passed a rule disapproving of women coming +to church at the times of their menstrual sickness. +The cold and dampness of large edifices, the +mental excitement and its unfavourable effects and +the exertion requisite for long walks to and fro, +would justify this rule on purely hygienic grounds, +and such may have caused its adoption.</p> + +<p>A moderate and uniform temperature favors +health at such epochs; while exposure to heat or +cold, and the drinking freely of iced water or stimulants +should be shunned.</p> + +<p>The popular belief that bathing is hurtful, is +correct so far as either cold or hot baths are concerned; +but it is well to know, in the interests of +comfort and cleanliness, that a moderately warm-bath, +about 80° Fahr., <i>will do no injury.</i> Such a +bath can be taken without any hesitation.</p> + +<p>We sanction, also, another well-known rule, and +that is, that no purgative medicine should be taken +immediately before or during the change. If called +for by some other disorder, a mild laxative is all +that should be administered, unless by the direction +of a physician.</p> + + +<h3>PRECAUTIONS IN THE INTERVALS OF THE +MONTHLY CHANGES.</h3> + +<p>If girls suffer from irregularities in this respect, +the causes can generally be found either in some +affection threatening the general health, such as +scrofula, consumption, green sickness, etc., or else +in their mode of life. For the former, the family +physician must be consulted; but if it is the latter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +which is at fault, the remedy is in the hands of the +parents.</p> + +<p>Boarding-school life, city life, mental troubles—these +are the three fertile sources of disturbances in +the sexual functions of girlhood.</p> + +<p>No one rates at higher value than ourselves the +training of the mind; but we do not hesitate a +moment to urge that if perturbations of the functions +become at all marked in a girl at school, she +should be <i>taken away.</i> Better live at home in seeming +idleness a year at that time of life, than become +a dead-weight, through constant ill health, on her +husband in after life.</p> + +<p>So of the unwholesome excitement of a city life. +There is a poison in crowds, and it acts in a thousand +unseen ways. With the ceaseless noise, the +broken sleep, the late hours, the impure air, and the +nervous tension which all these produce, it requires +no strength of imagination to perceive that the +city is not the best place for the delicate girl.</p> + +<p>We have mentioned <i>mental troubles.</i> Perhaps +there are, among those who read this, some superficial +enough to smile at the possibility of serious +mental troubles in girlhood. There are, we know, +many unfeeling enough to give them no attention +when they do see them. But we have an unfailing +witness in the sympathetic heart of the mother. +She has not forgotten how bitter were the crosses +of her own younger years; she knows that the +sensitive soul of woman wakes early to the keenest +appreciation of grief as well as joy. If anything, +years blunt us, and the sorrows of youth are often +the bitterest of our lives.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>Let the mother, therefore, read with her wondrous +maternal instinct the trials of her daughter; let her +become her most intimate confidant, and pour upon +the wounded spirit that balm which none but a +woman, and that woman a mother, knows how to +apply. Such a relationship of mother and daughter +is no less natural and wholesome than it is beautiful.</p> + + +<h3>WHEN THE CHANGES ARE DELAYED.</h3> + +<p>In health an equal interval, or one nearly equal, +elapses between the monthly illnesses. Often in the +spring, however, their appearance anticipates the +expected date of their occurrence, and in the +autumn they are frequently a day or two late. +These variations are owing to the temperature, +heat accelerating and cold retarding the process of +ovulation.</p> + +<p>Such slight irregularities need not give rise to +anxiety; but if there is an unwonted delay, combined +with other symptoms of ill-health, as headache, +pain in the side and back, a sense of languor +and exhaustion, loss of appetite, and nausea, and +fitful sleep, then it is important that some steps be +taken to bring on the courses. For this purpose, +soaking the feet in hot-mustard water, a tumbler of +hot ginger or camomile-tea, a brisk walk, or a gentle +laxative will generally be found sufficient. Gently +kneading the lower abdomen and loins is a familiar, +and if intelligently done, a safe means for the same +purpose.</p> + +<p>More violent means than these should be eschewed. +Whichever are used subsequent to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +employment, rest, in a recumbent position, in a +warm room should be secured.</p> + + +<h3>WHEN THE CHANGES ARE PAINFUL.</h3> + +<p>There are wide individual differences in this respect. +Some young women suffer much from local +pains, headache and languor at such epochs, without +apparently losing anything in general health; others +experience no distress whatever.</p> + +<p>The causes of painful periods are various. Sometimes +they depend on a tendency to rheumatism or +to ague. Over-work, or excessive devotion to social +duties and pleasures, is often their source. Cold and +damp are common incidental causes. Green sickness +and general debility are sometimes to blame.</p> + +<p>Of course the treatment must depend on which +one of these is present. It is a good rule, however, +always to wear flannel next the skin; also, to avoid +exposure to the weather for several days before the +change is expected. A large, hot, linseed-meal +poultice, over which a dessert-spoonful of laudanum +has been sprinkled, or a large mustard-plaster, +spread on the lower abdomen, will afford much +relief. A hot brick or bottle of hot water wrapped +in flannel, and applied to the small of the back, +is often of great service. Rest in bed is always +to be recommended. A tea-spoonful of sweet +spirits of nitre will sometimes bring early relief.</p> + +<p>But if these simple means are not sufficient, it +would be better to consult a physician.</p> + +<p>A common belief is that such troubles are cured +by marriage. Sometimes they are, but we do not +approve the remedy. The state of marriage should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +be entered upon in perfect health and full vigor. +Upon it depends the health of future generations, +and it were better for them did only those assume +its bonds who are able to endow their children +with sound physical frames.</p> + + +<h3>THE AGE OF NUBILITY.</h3> + +<p>It does not follow, because a girl is capable of +marriage, that she is fit for it. Science teaches us +many valid objections to too early unions. It goes +farther, and fixes a certain age at which it is wisest +for woman to marry. This age is between twenty +and twenty-five years.</p> + +<p>Anatomists have learned that after puberty the +bones of a woman's body undergo important modifications +to fit her for child-bearing. This requires +time, and before twenty the process is not completed. +Until the woman is perfect herself, until +her full stature and completed form are attained, +she is not properly qualified to assist in perpetuating +the species.</p> + +<p>We might urge that up to this moment neither +does her self-knowledge qualify her to choose a +life-companion, nor can her education be finished, +nor is her experience sufficient for her to enter on +the duties of a matron. But we do not appeal to +these arguments. There are others still more +forcible. If her own health, life, and good looks +are of value to her, if she has any wish for healthy, +sound minded children, she will refrain from premature +nuptials.</p> + +<p>A too youthful wife finds marriage not a pleasure +but a pain. Her nervous system is prostrated by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +it; she is more liable to weakness and diseases of +the womb; and if of a consumptive family, she +runs great risk of finding that fatal malady manifest +itself after a year or two of wedded life. It is +very common for those who marry young to die +young.</p> + +<p>From statistics which have been carefully compiled, +it is proven that the first labors of very +young mothers are much more painful, tedious, and +dangerous to life, than others. As wives, they are +frequently visited either with absolute sterility, and +all their lives must bear the reproach of barren +women, or, what to many is hardly less distasteful, +they have an excessively numerous family.</p> + +<p>What adds to their sufferings in the latter event, +is that the children of such marriages are rarely +healthy. They are feeble, sickly, undersized, often +with some fault of mind or body, which is a cross +to them and their parents all their lives. They +inherit more readily the defects of their ancestors, +and, as a rule, die at earlier years than the progeny +of better-timed unions.</p> + +<p>These considerations are formidable enough, it +would seem, to prevent young girls from marrying, +without the need of a law, as exists in some countries. +Moreover, they are not imaginary, but real, +as many a woman finds out to her cost.</p> + +<p>The objections to marriage after the age of +twenty-five are less cogent. They extend only to +the woman herself. She should know that the first +labors of wives over thirty are nearly <i>twice</i> as fatal +as those between twenty and twenty-five. Undoubtedly +nature points to the period between the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +twentieth and twenty-fifth year as the fittest one +for marriage in the woman.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="LOVE" id="LOVE"></a><i>LOVE.</i></h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3>ITS POWER ON HUMANITY.</h3> + +<p>Love, pure love, true love, what can we say of +it? The dream of youth; the cherished reminiscence +of age; celebrated in the songs of poets; +that which impels the warrior to his most daring +deeds; which the inspired prophet chooses to typify +the holiest sentiments,—what new thing is it possible +to say about this theme?</p> + +<p>Think for a moment on the history or the literature +of the world. Ask the naturalist to reveal +the mysteries of life; let the mythologist explain +the origin and meaning of all unrevealed religions; +look within at the promptings of your own spirit, +and this whole life of ours will appear to you as +one grand epithalamium.</p> + +<p>The profoundest of English poets has said—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'All thoughts, all passions, all delights,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Whatever stirs this mortal frame,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All are but ministers of Love,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And feed his sacred flame.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>That life which is devoid of love is incomplete, +sterile, unsatisfactory. It fails of its chiefest end. +Nature, in anger, blots it out sooner, and it passes +like the shadow of a cloud, leaving no trace behind. +Admirable as it may be in other respects, to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +eye of the statesman, the physician, the lover of his +species, it remains but a fragment, a torso.</p> + +<p>Love is one thing to a woman, another to a man. +To him, said Madame de Staël, it is an episode; +to her, it is the whole history of life. A thousand +distractions divert man. Fame, riches, power, +pleasure, all struggle in his bosom to displace the +sentiment of love. They are its rivals, not rarely +its masters. But woman knows no such distractions. +One passion only sits enthroned in her bosom; one +only idol is enshrined in her heart, knowing no +rival, no successor. This passion is love! This idol +is its object.</p> + +<p>This is not fancy, not rhetoric; it is the language +of cold and exact science, pronounced from the +chair of history, from the bureau of the statistician, +from the dissecting table of the anatomist. We +shall gather up their well-weighed words, and present +them, not as fancy sketches, but as facts.</p> + +<p>This deep, all-absorbing, single, wondrous love of +woman, is something that man cannot understand. +This sea of unfathomed depth is to him a mystery. +The shallow mind sees of it nothing but the rippling +waves, the unstable foam-crests dashing hither +and thither, the playful ripples of the surface, and, +blind to the still and measureless waters beneath, +calls woman capricious, uncertain,—<i>varium et mutabile.</i> +But the thinker and seer, undeceived by +such externals, knows that beneath this seeming +change is stability unequaled in the stronger sex, +a power of will to which man is a stranger, a devotion +and purpose which strike him with undefined +awe.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>Therefore, in the myths and legends which the +early races framed to express their notions of divine +things,—the Fates, who spin and snip the thread of +life; the Norns, who</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lay down laws,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And select life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the children of time—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The destinies of men,—<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>are always females. The seeresses and interpreters +of oracles—those who, like the witch of Endor, +could summon from the grave the shades of the +departed—were women.</p> + +<p>Therefore, also, modern infidelity, going back, as +it ever does, to the ignorance of the past, and holding +it up as something new, makes woman the only +deity. Comte and his disciples, having reasoned +away all gods, angels, and spirits, and unable to +still the craving for something to adore, agree to +meet once a week to worship—woman. The French +revolutionists, having shut up the churches and +abolished God by a decree of the Convention, set +up in His stead—a woman.</p> + +<p>We could never exhaust this phase of world-history. +Everywhere we see the unexpected hand of +Love moulding, fashioning all things. The fortunes +of the individual, the fate of nations, the +destinies of races, are guided by this invisible thread. +Let us push our inquiries as to the nature of this +all-powerful agent.</p> + + +<h3>WHAT IS LOVE?</h3> + +<p>It has a divided nature. As we have an immortal +soul, but a body of clay; as the plant roots<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +itself in decaying earth, but spreads its flowers in +glorious sunlight,—so love has a physiological and +a moral nature. It is rooted in that unconscious +law of life which bids us perpetuate our kind; which +guards over the conservation of life; which enforces, +with ceaseless admonition, that first precept which +God gave to man before the gates of Eden had +been closed upon him: 'Be thou fruitful, and multiply, +and replenish the earth.' Nothing but a +spurious delicacy, or an ignorance of facts, can prevent +our full recognition that love looks to marriage, +and marriage to offspring, as a natural +sequence.</p> + +<p>Do we ask proofs of this? We have them in +abundance. Those unfortunate beings who are +chosen by Oriental custom to guard the seraglios +undergo a mutilation which disqualifies them from +becoming parents. Soon all traces of passion, all +regard for the other sex, all sentiments of love, +totally disappear. The records of medicine contain +not a few cases where disease had rendered it necessary +to remove the ovaries from women. At once +a change took place in voice, appearance, and +mind. They spoke like men, a slender beard commenced +on their faces, a masculine manner was +conspicuous in all their motions, and every thought +of sexual love passed away for ever. These are +the results in every case. What do they signify? +Undoubtedly that the passion of love is dependent +upon the capacity of having offspring, and that such +was the intention of Nature in implanting in our +bosom this all-powerful sentiment.</p> + +<p>But this is not all. Nature, as beneficent to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +those who obey her precepts as she is merciless to +those who disregard them, has added to this sentiment +of love a physical pleasure in its gratification,—an +honourable and proper pleasure, which none +but the hypocrite or the ascetic will affect to condemn, +none but the coarse or the lewd will regard +as the object of love. There is, indeed, a passion +which is the love of the body. We call it by its +proper name of <i>lust.</i> There is another emotion, +for which the rich tongue of the ancient Greeks had +a word, to which we have nothing to correspond. +Call it, if you will, Platonic love, and define it to +be an exalted friendship. But understand that +neither the one nor the other is <i>love</i>, in the true +sense of the word, and that <i>both</i> are inferior to it.</p> + +<p>Does the father, watching, with moistened eyes, +his child at its mother's breast; does the husband, +bending with solicitude over the sick-bed of his +wife; does the wife, clinging to her husband through +evil report and good report, through broken fortunes +and failing health, indicate no loftier emotion +than <i>lust</i>, no warmer sentiment than <i>friendship</i>? +What ignorance, what perversity is so gross as not +to perceive something here nobler than either? +Do you say that such scenes are, alas, rare? We +deny it. We see them daily in the streets; we +meet them daily in our rounds. Admitted, by our +calling, to the sacred precincts of many houses in +the trying hours of sickness and death, we speak +advisedly, and know that this is the prevailing +meaning of love in domestic life.</p> + +<p>A warm, rich affection blesses the one who gives +and the one who receives. Character developes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +under it as the plant beneath the sunlight. Happiness +is an unknown word without it. Love and +marriage are the only normal conditions of life. +Without them, both man and woman for ever miss +the best part of themselves. They suffer more, +they sin more, they perish sooner. These are not +hasty assertions. As a social law, let it be well +understood that science pronounces that</p> + + +<h3>LOVE IS A NECESSITY.</h3> + +<p>The single life is forced upon many of both +sexes, in our present social condition. Many +choose it from motives of economy, from timidity, +or as a religious step, pleasing to God. The latter +is a notion which probably arose from a belief that, +somehow, celibacy, strictly observed, means chastity. +It simply means continence. The chastest +persons have been, and are, not the virgins and +celibates, but the married. When this truth is +known better, we shall have fewer sects and more +religion.</p> + +<p>We know women who refrain from marrying to +keep out of trouble. The old saying is, that every +sigh drives a nail in one's coffin. They are not +going to worry themselves to death bearing children +and nursing them! It is too great a risk, too much +suffering. How often have we been told this! Yet +how false the reasoning is! Very carefully prepared +statistics show that between the ages of +twenty and forty-five years, more unmarried women +die than married, and few instances of remarkable +longevity in an old maid are known. The celebrated +Dr. Hufeland, therefore, in his treatise on the <i>Art</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +<i>of Prolonging Life</i>, lays it down as a rule, that to +attain a great age, one must be married.</p> + +<p>As for happiness, those who think they can best +attain it outside the gentle yoke of matrimony are +quite as wide of the mark. Their selfish and solitary +pleasures do not gratify them. With all the +resources of clubs, billiard-rooms, saloons, narcotics, +and stimulants, single men make but a mock show +of satisfaction. At heart every one of them envies +his married friends. How much more monotonous +and more readily exhausted are the resources of +woman's single life! No matter what 'sphere' she +is in, no matter in what 'circle' she moves, no +matter what 'mission' she invents, it will soon pall +on her. Would you see the result? We invoke +once more those dry volumes, full of lines and +figures, on vital statistics. Stupid as they look, +they are full of the strangest stories; and what is +more, the stories are all true. Some of them are +sad stories, and this is one of the saddest: Of +those unfortunates who, out of despair and disgust +of the world, jump from bridges, or take arsenic, +or hang themselves, or in other ways rush unbidden +and unprepared before the great Judge of all, +<i>nearly two-thirds</i> are unmarried, and in some years +nearly <i>three-fourths.</i> And of those other sad cases—dead, +yet living—who people the madhouses and +asylums, what of them? Driven crazy by their +brutal husbands, do you suggest? Not at all! In +France, Bavaria, Prussia, Hanover, four out of +every five are unmarried; and throughout the civilised +world there are everywhere three or four +single to one married woman in the establishments<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +for the insane, in proportion to the whole number +of the two classes above twenty-one years of age.</p> + +<p>Other women decline to marry because they +have, forsooth, a 'life work' to accomplish. Some +great project fills their mind. Perchance they emulate +Madame de Staël, and would electrify the +country by their novel views in politics; or they +have a literary vein they fain would exploit; or +they feel called upon to teach the freedmen, or to +keep their position as leaders of fashion. A husband +would trammel them. If they did marry, they +would take the very foolish advice of a contemporary, +and go through life with an indignant protest +at its littleness. Let such women know that +they underrate the married state, its powers and its +opportunities. There are no loftier missions than +can there be carried out, no nobler games than can +there be played. When we think of these objections, +coming, as they have to us, from high-spirited, +earnest girls, the queens of their sex, our memory +runs back to the famous women of history, the +brightest jewels in the coronet of time, and we find +as many, ay, more, married women than single who +pursued to their ends mighty achievements.</p> + +<p>If you speak of Judith and Joan of Arc, who +delivered their fatherlands from the enemy by a +daring no man can equal, we shall recall the peaceful +victories of her, wife of the barbarian Chlodwig, +who taught the rude Franks the mild religion of +Nazareth, and of her who extended from Byzantium +the holy symbol of the cross over the wilds of +Russia. The really great women of this age, are +they mostly married or single? They are mostly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +married, and they are good wives and tender +mothers.</p> + +<p>What we have just written, we read to an amiable +woman.</p> + +<p>'But,' she exclaimed, 'what have you to say to +her whom high duties or a hard fate condemns to a +single life, and to the name of the old maid?'</p> + +<p>Alas! what can we say to such? We feel that</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Earthlier happy is the rose distilled,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than that which, withering on the virgin thorn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Yet there is ever a blessing in store for those who +suffer here, and the hope of the future must teach +them to bear the present.</p> + + +<h3>LOVE IS ETERNAL.</h3> + +<p>We have said love is a necessity in the life of +either man or woman to complete their nature. Its +effects, therefore, are eternal. We do not intend +this as a figure of speech. It is a sober statement +of physiology.</p> + +<p>From the day of marriage the woman undergoes +a change in her whole structure. She is similar to +her former self, but not the same. It is often +noticed that the children of a woman in her second +marriage bear a marked resemblance to her first +husband. In the inferior races and lower animals +this obscure metamorphosis is still more apparent. +A negress who has borne her first child to a white +man, will ever after have children of a color lighter +than her own. Count Strzelewski, in his Travels in +Australia, narrates this curious circumstance: A<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +native woman who has once had offspring by a white +man, can never more have children by a male of +her own race. Dr. Darwin relates that a male +zebra was once brought to England, and a hybrid +race, marked by the zebra's stripes, was produced +from certain mares. Always after, the colts of +those mares bore the marks of the zebra on their +skins. In some way the female is profoundly altered +throughout her whole formation, and entirely independent +of her will, by the act of marriage, and the +alteration is never effaced.</p> + +<p>If the body is thus influenced, shall not the far +more susceptible mind and spirit be equally impressed?</p> + +<p>Another common observation supports what we +say, and extends it farther. Not the woman alone,—the +man also undergoes a change, and loses a +portion of his personality in his mate. They two +are one, not merely in a moral sense. We constantly +notice a decided resemblance in old couples +who have passed, say, two score years together. +They have grown to look alike in form, feature, +and expression. That for so long a time they have +breathed the same air, eaten the same fare, and been +subjected to the same surroundings, explains this to +some extent. But the greater part of the change +flows from mental sources. They have laughed and +wept together; they have shared the same joys and +pleasures; a smile or a tear on the face of one +has evoked a corresponding emotion and expression +on the face of the other. Their co-partnership has +become a unity. Even without speaking, they +sympathize. Their souls are constantly <i>en rapport.</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +The man is as different as the woman from his +former self.</p> + + +<h3>OF SECOND MARRIAGES.</h3> + +<p>Science, therefore, seems to say to woman, 'Your +first husband is your eternal husband.' How, then, +about second marriages? Are we to say that they +are not advisable?</p> + +<p>Let us not answer hastily. It is yet to be seen +whether ill-assorted marriages produce those impressions +we have mentioned. They may, indeed, +on the body, while the mind is free. One must remember, +also, that the exigencies of social life must +be consulted. If a woman cannot love two men +equally,—and she cannot,—other motives, worthy +of all respect, justify her in entering the marriage +life a second time. Then, the higher refinements +of the emotions are not given to all alike, nor do +they come at the same age to all. True love may +first dawn upon a woman after one or two husbands +have left her a widow. Orphan children, widow-hood, +want of property, or the care of property,—these +are sad afflictions to the lonely woman. Do +not blame her if she accepts a husband as a guardian, +a protector, whom she can no longer receive to her +arms as a lover. She is right.</p> + +<p>We cherish the memory of a lady of strong character, +who died past eighty. She had survived +three husbands. 'The first,' she said, 'I married +for love, the second for position, the third for friendship. +I was happy with them all.' But when, in +her mortal illness, this venerable friend sank into +the delirium which preceded death, she constantly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +called out the name of her first husband only. More +than half a century had not effaced the memory +of those few years of early love. This is fidelity +indeed.</p> + + +<h3>OF DIVORCE.</h3> + +<p>He of Nazareth laid down the law that whoever +puts away his wife for any cause except adultery, +and marries again, commits adultery; and that +whatever woman puts away her husband for any +cause save adultery, and marries again, herself +commits adultery.</p> + +<p>This has been found a hard saying.</p> + +<p>John Milton wrote a book to show that the Lawgiver +did not mean what He said, but something +quite different. Modern sects, calling themselves +<i>Christians</i>, after this Lawgiver, dodge the difficulty, +and refer it to State legislatures. State legislatures, +not troubling themselves at all about any previous +law or lawgiver, allow dozens of causes—scores of +them—as perfectly valid to put asunder those whom +God has joined together.</p> + +<p>Science, which never finds occasion to disagree +with that Lawgiver of Nazareth, here makes His +words her own.</p> + +<p>Whether we look at it as a question in social life, +in morals, or in physiology, the American plan of +granting absolute divorces is dangerous, and destructive +to what is best in life. It leads to hasty, +ill-assorted matches, to an unwillingness to yield to +each other's peculiarities, to a weakening of the +family ties, to a lax morality. Carry it a trifle +farther than it now is in some of the Western<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +States, and marriage will lose all its sacredness, +and degenerate into a physical union, not nobler +than the crossing of flies in the air.</p> + +<p>Separation of bed and board should always be +provided for by law; and whether single, married, +or separated, the woman should retain entire control +of her own property. But in the eyes of God and +nature, a woman or a man with two faithful spouses +living, to each of whom an eternal fidelity has been +plighted, is a monster.</p> + + +<h3>OF A PLURALITY OF WIVES OR HUSBANDS.</h3> + +<p>What has been said of divorce applies with tenfold +force to the custom of a woman living as wife +to several men, or of a man as husband to several +women. We should not speak of these customs, +but that we know both exist in America, not among +the notoriously wicked, but among those who claim +to be the peculiarly good—the very elect of God. +They prevail, not as lustful excesses, but as religious +observances.</p> + +<p>It is worth while to say that such practices lead +to physical degradation. The woman who acknowledges +more than one husband is generally sterile; +the man who has several wives has usually a weakly +offspring, principally males. Nature attempts to +check polygamy by reducing the number of females, +and failing in this, by enervating the whole +stock. The Mormons of Utah would soon sink into +a state of Asiatic effeminacy were they left to +themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>COURTSHIP.</h3> + +<p>A wise provision of nature ordains that <i>woman +shall be sought.</i> She flees, and man pursues. The +folly of modern reformers, who would annul this +provision, is evident. Were it done away with, +man, ever prone to yield to woman's solicitations, +and then most prone when yielding is most dangerous, +would fritter away his powers at an early +age, and those very impulses which nature has +given to perpetuate the race would bring about its +destruction.</p> + +<p>To prevent such a disaster, woman is endowed +with a sense of shame, an invincible modesty, her +greatest protection, and her greatest charm. Let +her never forget it, never disregard it; for without +it she becomes the scorn of her own sex and the +jest of the other.</p> + +<p>The urgency of man and the timidity of woman +are tempered by the period of courtship.</p> + +<p>This, as it exists in the United States, is something +almost peculiar to Americans. On the continent +of Europe, girls are shut up in convents or +in seminaries, or are kept strictly under the eyes of +their parents until marriage, or, at any rate, betrothal. +The liberty usual in America is something +unheard-of and inconceivable there. In Spain a +duenna, in France some aunt or elderly cousin, in +Germany some similar person, makes it her business +to be present at every interview which a young +lady has with an admirer. He never dreams of +walking, driving, or going out of an evening with +her alone. It is taken for granted that, should he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +invite her for such a purpose, the mother or aunt +is included in the party. They would look on +the innocent freedom of American girls as simply +scandalous.</p> + +<p>We have had opportunities to see society in these +various countries, and have failed to perceive that +the morality of either sex is at all superior to what +it is with us, while the effect of cloister-like education +on young women is to weaken their self-reliance, +and often prepare them for greater extravagances +when marriage gives them liberty.</p> + +<p>With us, the young woman is free until her wedding +day. After that epoch, she looks forward to +withdrawing more or less from society, and confining +her thoughts to family matters. In France, +Spain, or Italy, in the wealthier classes, precisely +the contrary is the rule. Marriage brings deliverance +from an irksome espionage and numberless +fetters; it is the avenue to a life in public and independent +action. How injurious to domestic happiness +this is, can readily be imagined.</p> + +<p>It is true that the liberty of American girls occasionally +leads to improprieties. But, except in +certain great cities, such instances are rare. The +safeguards of virtue are knowledge and self-command, +not duennas and <i>jalousies.</i> Let mothers +properly instruct their daughters, and they need +have no apprehension about their conduct.</p> + +<p>The period of courtship is one full of importance. +A young woman of unripe experience must decide +from what she can see of a man during the intercourse +of a few months, whether he will suit her +for a life-companion. She has no knowledge of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +human nature; and what would it avail her if she +had, when at such a time a suitor is careful only to +show his eligible traits? 'Go a-courting,' said old +Dr Franklin, in his homely language, 'in your +everyday clothes.' Not one man out of a thousand +is honest enough to take his advice.</p> + +<p>It is useless for her to ask aid of another. She +must judge for herself. What, then, is she to do?</p> + +<p>There is a mysterious instinct in a pure-minded +woman which is beyond all analysis,—a tact which +men do not possess, and do not readily believe in. +At such a crisis this instinct saves her. She feels in +a moment the presence of a base, unworthy nature. +An unconscious repulsion is manifest in her eye, her +voice. Where a suitor is not a man of low motive, +but merely quite incongruous in temper and disposition, +this same instinct acts, and the man, +without being able to say just why, feels that he is +laboring in vain. If he blindly insists in his +wooing, he has no one to chide but himself when +he is finally discarded.</p> + +<p>But if the man is worthy, and suitable, does this +blessed instinct whisper the happy news with like +promptness to the maiden's soul? Ah! that raises +another issue. It brings us face to face with that +difficult question of</p> + + +<h3>LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.</h3> + +<p>Jung Stilling, a German author of note, a religious +enthusiast, and full of queer fancies, was, +when young, a tutor in a private family. On one occasion +his employer took him to a strange house, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +introduced him to a roomful of company. Stilling +had not contemplated marriage; but, in the company, +he saw, for the first time, a young woman +who he felt was his destined wife. Walking across +the room, he addressed her with the utmost simplicity, +telling her that an inward monitor advised him +that she, of all womankind, was his predestined +helpmeet. She blushed, was confused, but presently +confessed that she had experienced the same conviction +on first beholding him. They married, and +the most curious part of the tale remains to tell,—it +is, that they proved a happy, well-matched couple.</p> + +<p>We do not advise others to follow their example. +Not many souls are capable of such reciprocity. +Choosing an associate for life is too serious a business +to be made the affair of a moment. Reason, +reflection, thought, prayer,—these are aids in such +a momentous question not to be lightly thrown +aside. Many a passing fancy, many an evanescent +preference, catches for a moment the new-fledged +affections. But for the long and tedious journey of +life we want a love rooted in knowledge.</p> + +<p>We are not blind to the fact, that often from the +first interview the maiden feels an undefined spell +thrown around her by him who will become her +husband. She feels differently in his presence; she +watches him with other eyes than she has for the +rest of men. She renders no account to herself of +this emotion; she attempts no analysis of it; she +does not acknowledge to herself that it exists. No +matter. Sooner or later, if true to herself, she will +learn what it is, and it will be a guide in that +moment, looked forward to with mingled hopes and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +fears, when she is asked to decide on the destiny, +the temporal and eternal destiny, of two human lives.</p> + +<p>That she may then decide aright, and live free +from the regrets of a false step at this crisis of life, +we shall now rehearse what medical science has to +say about</p> + + +<h3>HOW TO CHOOSE A HUSBAND.</h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Choose well. Your choice is<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Brief, and yet endless.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Woman holds as an inalienable right, in this +country, the privilege of choice. It is not left to +notaries, or parents, to select for her, as is the custom +in some other parts of the world.</p> + +<p>First comes the question of relationship. A +school-girl is apt to see more of her cousins than of +other young men. Often some of them seek at an +early hour to institute a far closer tie than that of +blood. Is she wise to accept it?</p> + + +<h3>SHALL COUSINS MARRY?</h3> + +<p>Hardly any point has been more warmly debated +by medical men. It has been said that in such +marriages the woman is more apt to be sterile; that +if she have children, they are peculiarly liable to be +born with some defect of body or mind,—deafness, +blindness, idiocy, or lameness; that they die early; +and that they are subject, beyond others, to fatal +hereditary diseases, as cancer, consumption, scrofula, +etc.</p> + +<p>An ardent physician persuaded himself so thoroughly +of these evils resulting from marriage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +of relatives, that he induced the Legislature of +Kentucky to pass a law prohibiting it within +certain degrees of consanguinity. Many a married +couple have been rendered miserable by the information +that they had unwittingly violated one +of nature's most positive laws. Though their children +may be numerous and blooming, they live +in constant dread of some terrible outbreak of +disease. Many a young and loving couple have +sadly severed an engagement, which would have +been a prelude to a happy marriage, when they +were informed of these disastrous results.</p> + +<p>For all such we have a word of consolation. We +speak it authoritatively, and not without a full +knowledge of the responsibility we assume.</p> + +<p>The risk of marrying a cousin, even a first cousin, +is greatly diminished, provided there is no decided +hereditary taint in the family. And when such +hereditary taint does exist, the danger is little more +than in marrying into any other family where it is +also found. Indeed, a certain German author has +urged the propriety of such unions, where the +family has traits of mental or physical excellence, +as a means of preserving and developing them!</p> + +<p>So far as sterility is concerned, an examination of +records shows, that whereas in the average of unions +one women in <i>eight</i> is barren, in those between relatives +but one in <i>ten</i> is so. And as for the early deaths +of children, while, on an average, fifteen children in +a hundred die under seven years, in the families of +nearly-related parents but twelve in a hundred is +the mortality as shown by French statistics.</p> + +<p>The investigations about idiotic and defective<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +children are by no means satisfactory, and are considered +by some of the most careful writers as not +at all proving a greater tendency to such misfortunes +in the offspring of cousins. Among a thousand +idiotic children recently examined in Paris, +not one was descended from a healthy consanguinity.</p> + +<p>But as few families are wholly without some +lurking predisposition to disease, it is not well, as a +rule, to run the risk of developing this by too repeated +unions. Stock-breeders find that the best +specimens of the lower animals are produced by +crossing nearly-related individuals a certain number +of times; but that, carried beyond this, such unions +lead to degeneracy and sterility. Such, also, has +been the experience of many human families.</p> + +<p>How slight a cause even of that most insidious +disease, consumption, such marriages are, may be +judged from the fact, that of a thousand cases +inquired into by Dr. Edward Smith, in only six +was there consanguinity of parents.</p> + + +<h3>THE MIXTURE OF RACES.</h3> + +<p>Mankind, say the school geographies, is divided +into five races, each distinguished by its own color. +They are the white, the black, the red, the yellow, +and the brown races. In this country, practically, +we have to do with but the white and black races; +and the question is constantly asked, Shall we +approve of marriages between them? Shall a white +woman choose a black man to be her husband?</p> + +<p>We are at the more pains to answer this, because +recently a writer—and this writer a woman, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +this woman one of the most widely known in our +land—has written a novel intended to advocate +the affirmative of this question. Moreover, it is +constantly mooted in certain political circles, and +is one of the social problems of the day.</p> + +<p>The very fact that it is so much discussed, shows +that such a union runs counter to a strong prejudice. +Such aversions are often voices of nature, +acting as warnings against acts injurious to the +species. In this instance it is not of modern origin, +created by peculiar institutions. Three centuries +ago, Shakspeare, who had probably never seen a +score of negroes in his life, with the divination of +genius, felt the repugnance which a refined woman +would feel to accepting one as her husband. The +plot of one of his plays turns on it. He makes Iago +say of Desdemona:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Not to affect many proposed matches<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of her own clime, complexion, and degree;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whereto, we see, in all things nature tends:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is, indeed, 'nature erring from itself' which +prompts to these marriages. They are not sterile, +but the children are sickly and short-lived. Very +few mulattoes reach an old age.</p> + +<p>Then it is well known that the black race cannot +survive a northern climate. Dr. Snow, of Providence, +Rhode Island, who has given great attention +to the study of statistics, says emphatically that, in +New England, the colored population inevitably +perish in a few generations, if left to themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +This debility no woman should wish to give to her +children.</p> + +<p>A mental inferiority is likewise apparent. Friends +of the negro are ready to confess this, but attribute +it to his long and recent period of servitude. We +deal with facts only. The inferiority is there, whatever +be its cause; and she who would willingly +curse her offspring with it, manifests indeed +'thoughts unnatural.'</p> + +<p>The children born of a union of the black and +red race, negroes and Indians, are on the contrary, +remarkable for their physical vigor and mental +acuteness; though, of course, the latter is limited to +the demands of a semi-barbarous life.</p> + + +<h3>SHOULD NATIVE WOMEN MARRY FOREIGNERS?</h3> + +<p>When we narrow the question of race to that of +nationality, entirely new elements come in.</p> + +<p>In speaking of the intermarriage of relatives, we +showed that a certain number of such unions in +healthy stocks was advantageous rather than otherwise, +but that too many of them lead to deterioration. +This law can be applied to nations. Historians +have often observed that the most powerful +states of the world arose from an amalgamation of +different tribes. Rome, Greece, England, are +examples of this. On the other hand, France, +Russia, Spain, China, Persia, which have suffered +no such crosses of blood, are either stationary, or +depend for their progress on foreigners.</p> + +<p>Physicians have contributed other curious testimony +on this point, the bearing of which they themselves +have not understood. Marriages between<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +nationalities of the same race are more fertile, and +the children more vigorous, than those between +descendants of the same nation. For instance, it +has been proved that if two descendants of the Pilgrim +Fathers in Massachusetts marry, they will +probably have but three children; while, if one of +them marries a foreigner, the children will number +five or six.</p> + +<p>So it is well ascertained that in the old and +stationary communes of France, where the same +families have possessed their small farms for generation +after generation, the marriages have become +gradually less and less productive, until it has seriously +interfered with the quota those districts send +to the army.</p> + +<p>American women have suffered many hard words +because they do not have more children. Several +New England writers have accused them of very +bad practices, which we shall mention hereafter. +But the effect of the law of production just now laid +down has been quite overlooked.</p> + +<p>As it is best that there should be four or five +children in a family in ordinary circumstances, the +union of American and foreign blood is very desirable. +We need to fuse in one the diverse colonies +of the white race annually reaching our shores. +A century should efface every trace of the German, +the Irish, the Frenchman, the English, the Norwegian, +and leave nothing but the American. To +bring about this happy result, free intermarriage +should be furthered in every possible way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE AGE OF THE HUSBAND.</h3> + +<p>The epoch of puberty comes to a boy at about +the same age as it does to a girl,—fourteen or fifteen +years. And an even greater period passes between +this epoch and the age it is proper for a man to +marry,—his age of nubility.</p> + +<p>Not only has he a more complete education to +obtain, not only a profession or trade to learn, and +some property to accumulate, some position to +acquire, ere he is ready to take a wife, but his +physical powers ripen more slowly than those of +woman. He is more tardy in completing his growth, +and early indulgence more readily saps his constitution.</p> + +<p>We have placed the best age for woman to marry +between twenty and twenty-five years; for similar +reasons, man is best qualified to become a husband +between twenty-three and thirty-three years.</p> + +<p>Previous to the twenty-third year, many a man is +incapable of producing healthy children. If he does +not destroy his health by premature indulgence, +he may destroy his happiness by witnessing his +children a prey to debility and deformity. An old +German proverb says, 'Give a boy a wife, and a +child a bird, and death will soon knock at the door.' +Even an author so old as Aristotle warns young +men against early marriage, under penalty of disease +and puny offspring.</p> + +<p>From the age of thirty-three to fifty years, men +who carefully observe the laws of health do not feel +any weight of years. Nevertheless, they are past +their prime. Then, also, with advancing years, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +chances of life diminish, and the probability increases +that they will leave a young family with no +natural protector. The half-century once turned, +their vigor rapidly diminishes. The marriages they +then contract are either sterile, or yield but few +and sickly children. Many an old man has +shortened his life by late nuptials; and the records +of medicine contain accounts of several who +perished on the very night of marriage.</p> + +<p>The relative age of man and wife is next to be +considered. Nature fits woman earlier for marriage, +and hints thereby that she should, as a rule, +be younger than her husband. So, too, the bard of +nature speaks:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i6">'Let still the woman take<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An elder than herself; so wears she to him,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So sways she level in her husband's heart.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The woman who risks her happiness with a man +many years younger than herself, violates a precept +of life; and when her husband grows indifferent, +or taunts her with her years, or seeks companions +of more suitable age, she is reaping a +harvest sown by her own hand.</p> + +<p>So commonly do such matches turn out badly, +that in 1828 the kingdom of Würtemberg prohibited +unions where the woman was more than +twelve years the senior, except by special dispensation.</p> + +<p>After forty-five years, most women cannot hope +for children. A marriage subsequent to this period +can at best be regarded as a close friendship. Marriage +in its full meaning has no longer an existence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>The relative age of man and wife has another +influence, and quite a curious one. It influences +the sex of the children. But this point we reserve +for discussion on a later page.</p> + +<p>The folly of joining a young girl to an old man +is happily not so common in America as in Europe. +It would be hard to devise any step more certain +to bring the laws of nature and morality into conflict.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'What can a young lassie do wi' an auld man?'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>What advice can we give to a woman who barters +her youthful charms for the fortune of an aged +husband? Shall we be cynical enough to agree +with 'auld Auntie Katie?'</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'My auld Auntie Katie upon me takes pity;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I'll do my endeavor to follow her plan:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll cross him, and rack him, until I heart-break him,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And then his auld brass will buy me a new pan.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>No! She has willingly accepted a responsibility. +It is her duty to bear it loyally, faithfully, uncomplainingly +to the end.</p> + +<p>Let us sum up with the maxim, that the husband +should be the senior, but that the difference of age +should not be more than ten years.</p> + + +<h3>WHAT SHOULD BE HIS TEMPERAMENT?</h3> + +<p>It is often hard to make out what doctors mean +by <i>temperaments.</i> It is supposed that our mental +and physical characters depend somehow on the +predominance of some organ or system which con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>trols +the rest. Thus a person who is nervous, quick, +sensitive to impressions, is said to have a <i>nervous</i> +temperament; one who is stout, full-blooded, red-faced, +has a <i>sanguine</i> temperament; a thin, dark-featured, +reticent person, is of a <i>bilious</i> temperament; +while a pale, fat, sluggish nature, is called +<i>phlegmatic</i>, or <i>lymphatic.</i></p> + +<p>In a general way these distinctions are valuable, +but they will not bear very exact applications. +They reveal in outline the constitution of mind and +body; and what is to our present purpose, they are +of more than usual importance in the question of +selecting a husband.</p> + +<p>Nature, hating incongruity, yet loves variety. +She preserves the limits of species, but within those +limits she seeks fidelity to one type. Therefore it +is that in marriage a person inclines strongly to +one of a different temperament—to a person quite +unlike himself.</p> + +<p>So true is this, that a Frenchman of genius, Bernardin +de St. Pierre, vouches for this anecdote of +himself. He was in a strange city, visiting a friend +whom he had not seen for years. The friend's +sister was of that age when women are most susceptible. +She was tall, a blonde, deliberate in +motion, with blue eyes and fair hair. In a jesting +way, St. Pierre, who had never seen her before, and +knew nothing of her personal life, said,—</p> + +<p>'Mademoiselle, you have many admirers. Shall +I describe him on whom you look with most +favor?'</p> + +<p>The lady challenged him to do so.</p> + +<p>'He is short in stature, of dark complexion, dark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +hair and eyes, slight in figure, active and nervous +in all his movements.'</p> + +<p>The lady blushed to her eyes, and cast a glance +of anger at her brother, who, she thought, had betrayed +her secret. But no! St. Pierre's only informant +was his deep knowledge of the human +heart.</p> + +<p>This instinct is founded upon the truth that the +perfect temperament is that happily balanced one +which holds all the organs in equilibrium,—in +which no one rules, where all are developed in proportion. +Nature ever strives to realize this ideal. +She instills in the nervous temperament a preference +for the lymphatic; in the sanguine, a liking +for the bilious constitution. The offspring should +combine the excellencies of both, the defects of +neither. We do well to heed her admonitions here, +and to bear in mind that those matches which combine +opposite temperaments, are, as a rule, the +most fortunate.</p> + + +<h3>THE MORAL AND MENTAL CHARACTER.</h3> + +<p>Very few words are necessary here. We have +already said we speak as physicians, not as moralists. +But there are some false and dangerous +ideas abroad, which it is our duty as physicians to +combat.</p> + +<p>None is more false, none more dangerous, than +that embodied in the proverb, 'A reformed rake +makes the best husband.' What is a rake? A +man who has deceived and destroyed trusting +virtue,—a man who has entered the service of the +devil to undermine and poison that happiness in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +marriage, which all religion and science are at such +pains to cultivate. We know him well in our capacity +as physicians. He comes to us constantly the +prey to loathsome diseases, the results of his vicious +life; which diseases he will communicate to his +wife, for they are contagious, and to his children, +for they are hereditary; and which no reform can +purge from his system, for they are ineradicable.</p> + +<p>Is this the man a pure woman should take to her +arms? Here repentance avails nothing. We have +witnessed the agony unspeakable which overwhelmed +a father when he saw his children suffering +under horrible and disgusting diseases, the +penalty of his early sins.</p> + +<p>Very few men of profligate lives escape these +diseases. They are alarmingly prevalent among +the 'fast' youths of our cities. And some forms +of them are incurable by any effort of skill. Even +the approach of such men should be shunned,—their +company avoided.</p> + +<p>A physician in central Pennsylvania lately had +this experience: A young lady of unblemished +character asked his advice for a troublesome affection +of the skin. He examined it, and to his horror +recognised a form of one of the loathsome diseases +which curse only the vilest or the most unfortunate +of her sex. Yet he could not suspect this girl. +On inquiry, he found that she had a small but +painful sore on her lip, which she first noticed a +few days after being at a picnic with a young man. +Just as he was bidding her good-night, he had +kissed her on the lips.</p> + +<p>At once everything was clear. This young man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +was a patient of the physician. He was a victim +to this vile disease, and even his kiss was enough +to convey it.</p> + +<p>The history of the sixteenth century contains +the account of an Italian duke, who on one occasion +was forced by his ruler to reconcile himself +with an enemy. Knowing he could not escape +obedience, he protested the most cheerful willingness, +and in the presence of the king embraced his +enemy, and even kissed him on the lips. It was +but another means of satisfying his hatred. For he +well knew that his kiss would taint his enemy's +blood with the same poison that was undermining +his own life.</p> + +<p>How cautious, therefore, should a woman be in +granting the most innocent liberties! How solicitous +should she be to associate with the purest +men!</p> + +<p>Would that we could say that these dangerous and +loathsome diseases are rare! But, alas! daily professional +experience forbids us to offer this consolation. +Every physician in our large cities, and even +in smaller towns, knows that they are fearfully prevalent.</p> + +<p>We have been consulted by wives, pure, innocent +women, for complaints which they themselves, and +sometimes their children, suffered from, the nature +of which we dared not tell them, but which pointed +with fatal finger to the unfaithfulness of the husband. +How utterly was their domestic happiness +wrecked when they discovered the cause of their +constant ill-health!</p> + +<p>Nor are such occurrences confined to the humbler<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +walks of life. There, perhaps, less than in any +other do they occur. It is in the wealthy, the +luxurious, the self-indulgent class that they are +found.</p> + +<p>Are we asked how such a dreadful fate can be +averted?</p> + +<p>There are, indeed, certain signs and marks which +such diseases leave with which physicians are conversant. +As if nature intended them as warnings, +they are imprinted on the most visible and public +parts of the body. The skin, the hair, the nose, +the voice, the lines on the face, often divulge to the +trained observer, more indubitably than the confessional, +a lewd and sensual life.</p> + +<p>Such signs, however, can only be properly estimated +by the medical counselor, and it would be +useless to rehearse them here. Those women who +would have a sure guide in choosing a man to be +their husband, have they not Moses and the prophets? +What is more, have they not Christ and +the apostles? Rest assured that the man who +scoffs at Christianity, who neglects its precepts and +violates its laws, runs a terrible risk of bringing +upon himself, his wife, and his children, the vengeance +of nature, which knows justice but not +mercy. Rest assured that the man who respects +the maxims of that religion, and abstains from all +uncleanness, is the only man who is worthy the +full and confiding love of an honorable woman.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE SYMBOLISM OF THE HUMAN BODY.</h3> + +<p>Philosophers say that every idle word which is +spoken continues to vibrate in the air through all +infinity. So it is with the passions and the +thoughts. Each impresses on the body some indelible +mark, and a long continuance of similar +thoughts leaves a visible imprint.</p> + +<p>Under the names of phrenology, physiognomy, +palmistry, and others, attempts have been made at +divers times to lay down fixed principles by which +we could judge of men by their outsides; but only +vague results have been obtained. A learned +German author, of high repute in exact science, +has gone a different way to work. He has studied +the body as a whole, and sought with the eye of +an anatomist how different avocations, passions, temperaments, +habits, mould and fashion the external +parts of man. His results are embraced in a +curious volume which he entitles <i>The Symbolism of +the Human Body.</i> We shall borrow some hints +from it, germane to our present theme.</p> + +<p>As to size, large-bodied and large-boned men +possess greater energy, a more masculine character, +but often less persistence, and are usually devoid of +the more delicate emotions. Fat people are +good-tempered, but indolent; thin people, full of life, +but irascible.</p> + +<p>The neck is a significant part of the body. +View it from in front, and it discloses the physical +constitution. There are the conduits of the food +and the air; there, the great blood-vessels pass to +the head, and its base is modified by their form as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +they pass from the heart. When broad and full, +it denotes a vigorous physical life,—a plethoric +constitution. A distinguished teacher of midwifery, +Professor Pajot of Paris, says that when he sees +one of those necks full in front, like that of Marie +Antoinette, as shown in her portraits, he prepares +himself to combat childbed convulsions. That +queen, it is well-known, nearly perished with them.</p> + +<p>The back of the neck contains the vertebral +column, and is close to the brain. It reveals the +mental constitution. The short round neck of the +prize-fighter betrays his craft. The slender, arched, +and graceful neck of the well-proportioned woman +is the symbol of health and a well-controlled mind. +Burke, in his <i>Essay on the Beautiful</i>, calls it the +most beauteous object in nature. It is a common +observation, that a sensual character is shown by +the thick and coarse development of this portion of +the body.</p> + +<p>The hair, also, has a significance. Fine whitish +hair, like that of a child, goes with a simple, child-like +disposition; black hair denotes a certain hardness +of character; red hair has long been supposed +to be associated with a sensual constitution, but it +rather indicates a physical weakness,—a tendency +to scrofula. This is, however, a tendency merely. +Thin hair is often the result of protracted mental +labor, though many other causes produce it.</p> + +<p>Every great man, says Herder, has a glance +which no one can imitate. We may go farther, +and say that every man of decided character reveals +it in his eyes. They are the most difficult organs +for the hypocrite to control. Beware of the man<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +who cannot look you in the eyes, and of him in +whose eyes there lurks an expression which allures +yet makes you shudder. The one has something +he dares not tell you, the other something you dare +not listen to.</p> + +<p>Symmetry, strength, grace, health,—these are +admirable qualities in a man. From the remotest +ages they have been the marks of heroes. Secondary +though they are to moral and mental qualities, +they should be ever highly valued. A <i>manly</i> man! +Nature designs such to be the sires of future generations. +No danger that we shall fall to worshiping +physical beauty again. The only fear is that in +this lank, puny, scrawny generation of ours, we +shall, out of vanity, underrate such beauty. Let it +be ever remembered that this is the ideal, from +which any departure is deterioration.</p> + + +<h3>THE ENGAGEMENT.</h3> + +<p>When our grandmothers were engaged, the +minister rose in his pulpit on Sunday morning, before +the assembled congregation, and proclaimed +the 'banns,' stating that if any one knew just cause +or lawful impediment why the lovers should not be +married, he should state it there and then. Sometimes +a great hubbub was created when some discarded +suitor rose, forbidding the banns, and +claimed that the capricious maiden had previously +promised herself to him. Perhaps it was to avoid +such an uncomfortable check on the freedom of +flirtation that the ancient custom was dropped.</p> + +<p>Certain it is, that to be 'engaged' sits very +lightly on the minds of both young men and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +maidens now-a-days. We know some of either +sex who make it a boast how often they have made +and unmade this slender tie. It is a dangerous +pastime. 'The hand of little use hath the daintier +touch,' and they who thus trifle with their affections +will end by losing the capacity to feel any real +affection at all.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly there occur instances where a +woman has pledged herself in all seriousness, and +afterwards sees her affianced in a light which warns +her that she cannot be happy with him,—that +the vows she will be called upon to pronounce at +the altar will be hollow and false. What is she to +do?</p> + +<p>We are not inditing the decrees of the Court of +Love. Here is the advice of another to her hand:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">'First to thine own self be true,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And then it follows, as the night the day,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That thou canst ne'er be false to any man.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3>CONCERNING LONG ENGAGEMENTS.</h3> + +<p>They are hurtful, and they are unnecessary. Is +love so vagrant that it must be tied by such a chain? +Better let it go. True love asks no oath; it casteth +out fear, and believes without a promise.</p> + +<p>There are other reasons, sound physiological +reasons, which we could adduce, if need were, to +show that the close personal relations which arise +between persons who are engaged should not be +continued too long a time. They lead to excitement +and debility, sometimes to danger and +disease. Especially is this true of nervous, excitable, +sympathetic dispositions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>If we are asked to be definite, and give figures, +we should say that a period not longer than a year, +nor shorter than three months, should intervene +between the engagement and the marriage.</p> + + +<h3>THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR TO MARRY.</h3> + +<p>Woman, when she marries, enters upon a new +life, and a trying one. Every advantage should be +in her favour. The season is one of those advantages. +Extreme heat and extreme cold both wear +severely on the human frame. Mid-winter and +mid-summer are, therefore, alike objectionable, +especially the latter.</p> + +<p>Spring and fall are usually chosen, as statistics +show, and the preference is just. On the whole, +the spring is rather to be recommended than the +autumn. In case of a birth within the year, the +child will have attained sufficient age to weather +its period of teething more easily ere the next +summer.</p> + + +<h3>THE RIGHT TIME IN THE MONTH TO MARRY.</h3> + +<p>We mean the woman's own month, that which +spans the time between her periodical sicknesses, be +it two or five weeks. Let her choose a day about +equidistant from two periods. The reasons for this +we shall specify hereafter.</p> + + +<h3>THE WEDDING TOUR.</h3> + +<p>Custom prescribes a journey immediately after +marriage, of a week or a month or two. It is an +unwise provision. The event itself is disturbance +enough for the system; and to be hurried hither<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +and thither, stowed in narrow berths and inconvenient +carriages, troubled with baggage, and annoyed +by the importunities of cabmen, waiters, and +hangers-on of every description, is enough, in +ordinary times, to test the temper of a saint.</p> + +<p>The foundation of many an unhappy future is +laid on the wedding tour. Not only is the young +wife tried beyond all her experience, and her nervous +system harassed, but the husband, too, partakes +of her weakness. Many men, who really love the +women they marry, are subject to a slight revulsion +of feeling for a few days after marriage. 'When +the veil falls, and the girdle is loosened,' says the +German poet Schiller, 'the fair illusion vanishes.' +A half regret crosses their minds for the jolly +bachelorhood they have renounced. The mysterious +charms which gave their loved one the air of +something more than human, disappear in the +prosaic sunlight of familiarity.</p> + +<p>Let neither be alarmed, nor lose their self-control. +Each requires indulgence, and management, from +the other; both should demand from themselves +patience and self-command. A few weeks, and +this danger is over; but a mistake now is the mistake +of a lifetime. More than one woman has +confessed to us that her unhappiness commenced +from her wedding tour; and when we inquired +more minutely, we have found that it arose from +an ignorance and disregard of just such little precautions +as we have been referring to.</p> + +<p>Yet it is every way advisable that the young pair +should escape the prying eyes of friends and relatives +at such a moment. Let them choose some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +quiet resort, not too long a journey from home, +where they can pass a few weeks in acquiring that +more intimate knowledge of each other's character +as essential to their future happiness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_WIFE" id="THE_WIFE"></a>THE WIFE.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><a name="HINTS_TO_YOUNG_WIVES" id="HINTS_TO_YOUNG_WIVES"></a><i>THE WEDDING NIGHT.</i></h3> + +<p>We now enter upon the consideration of the +second great period in the life of Woman. +The maiden becomes a Wife. She is born into a +new world. She assumes new relationships,—the +sweetest, and, at the same time, the most natural of +which she is capable.</p> + +<p>The great object of the conjugal union is the +transmission of life,—a duty necessary in order to +repair the constant ravages of death, and thus perpetuate +the race. In the fulfilment of this sublime +obligation, woman plays the more prominent part, +as she is the source and depositary of the future +being. It is of moment, therefore, that she should +not be altogether ignorant of the nature and responsibilities +of her position. Ignorance here +means suffering, disease, and sometimes death. +Let us then interrogate science in regard to these +matters, among the most interesting of all human +concerns.</p> + +<p>The initiation into marriage, like its full fruition, +maternity, is attended with more or less suffering. +Much, however, may be done to avert and to lessen +the pain which waits upon the first step in this new +life. For this purpose, regard must be had to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +selection of the day. We have said that a time +about midway between the monthly recurring +periods is best fitted for the consummation of +marriage. As this is a season of sterility, it recommends +itself on this account, in the interest of +both the mother and offspring. The first nuptial +relations should be fruitless, in order that the indispositions +possibly arising from them shall have +time to subside before the appearance of the disturbances +incident to pregnancy. One profound +change should not too quickly succeed the other. +About the tenth day after menstruation should +therefore be chosen for the marriage ceremony.</p> + +<p>It sometimes happens that marriage is consummated +with difficulty. To overcome this, care, +management, and forbearance should always be +employed, and anything like precipitation and +violence avoided. Only the consequences of unrestrained +impetuosity are to be feared. In those +rare cases in which greater resistance is experienced +than can be overcome by gentle means, the existence +of a condition contrary to nature may be +suspected. Violence can then only be productive +of injury, and is not without danger. Medical art +should be appealed to, as it alone can afford assistance +in such an emergency.</p> + +<p>Although the first conjugal approaches are ordinarily +accompanied by slight flooding, a loss of +blood does not always occur. Its absence proves +nothing. The appearance of blood was formerly +regarded as a test of virginity. The Israelites, +Arabs, and others carefully preserved and triumphantly +exhibited the evidence of it as an infallible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +sign of the virtue of the bride. They were in error. +Its presence is as destitute of signification as its +absence; for it is now well known that widows, +and wives long separated from their husbands, +often have a like experience. The temperament is +not without its influence. In those of lymphatic +temperament, pale blondes, who often suffer from +local discharge and weakness, the parts being relaxed, +there is less pain and little or no hæmorrhage. +In brunettes, who have never had any such +troubles, the case is reversed. The use of baths, +unguents, etc., by the young wife, however serviceable +they might prove, is obviously impracticable. +This great change sometimes also produces swelling +and inflammation of the glands of the neck.</p> + +<p>Marital relations ordinarily continue during the +first few weeks to be more or less painful. General +constitutional disturbance and disorders of the nervous +system often result. These troubles are all increased +by the stupid custom of hurrying the bride +from place to place, at a time when the bodily quiet +and the mental calmness and serenity so desirable +to her should be the only objects in view. Too +frequent indulgence at this period is a fruitful +source of various inflammatory diseases, and often +occasions temporary sterility and ill-health. The +old custom requiring a three days' separation after +the first nuptial approach was a wise one, securing +to the young wife the soothing and restoring influence +of rest. Nothing was lost by it, and much +gained.</p> + +<p>In a little while, however, all irritation should +subside, and no suffering or distress of any kind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +whether general or local, should attend upon the +performance of this important function. The presence +of suffering now becomes indicative of disease. +Of this we will speak hereafter.</p> + + +<h3>SHALL HUSBAND AND WIFE OCCUPY THE SAME +ROOM AND BED?</h3> + +<p>One-third of life is passed in sleep. This period +of unconsciousness and rest is necessary for the +renewal of vital strength, and upon its proper +management depends much of the health not +merely of the husband and wife, but of their offspring. +A great deal has been written upon the +effect on health and happiness of occupying separate +apartments, separate beds in the same apartment, +or the same bed. This vexed question it is +impossible to settle by absolute rules, suitable to +all cases. In general, it may be asserted that there +are no valid physiological reasons for desiring to +change the custom which now prevails in this and +most other countries. When both parties are in +good health, and of nearly the same age, one bed-chamber, +if sufficiently roomy, may be used without +any disadvantage to either. Such an arrangement +is also to be commended, because it secures closer +companionship, and thus developes and sustains +mutual affection.</p> + +<p>It is said that in Zurich, in the olden time, when +a quarrelsome couple applied for a divorce, the +magistrate refused to listen to them at first. He +ordered that they should be shut up together in +one room for three days, with one bed, one table, +one plate, and one cup. Their food was passed in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +by attendants, who neither saw nor spoke to them. +On the expiration of the three days, it was usual to +find that neither of them wanted a separation.</p> + +<p>As before stated, there are conditions under +which sleeping together is prejudicial to the health. +A certain amount of fresh air during the night is +required by every one. Re-breathed air is poisonous. +During sleep constant exhalations take +place from the lungs and from the skin, which are +injurious if absorbed. A room twelve feet square +is too small for two persons, unless it is so thoroughly +ventilated that there is a constant change of air. In +fact, a sleeping apartment for two persons should +contain an air-space of at least twenty-four hundred +cubic feet, and the facilities for ventilation should +be such that the whole amount will be changed in +an hour,—that is, at the rate of forty cubic feet per +minute; for it has been ascertained that twenty +cubic feet of fresh air a minute are required for +every healthy adult.</p> + +<p>Very young and very old people should never +occupy the same bed. When the married couple +hold the relation to each other, in regard to age, of +grandfather and granddaughter, separate apartments +should be insisted upon.</p> + +<p>Certain diseases can be produced by sleeping together. +The bed of a consumptive, it is well +known, is a powerful source of contagion. In Italy +it is the custom, after death, to destroy the +bed-clothes of consumptive patients. Tubercular +disease has, within the past few years, been transferred +from men to animals by inoculation. Authentic +cases are upon record of young robust girls<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +of healthy parentage, marrying men affected with +consumption, acquiring the disease in a short time, +and dying, in some instances, before their husbands. +In these significant cases, the sickly emanations +have apparently been communicated during +sleep. When, therefore, either husband or wife is +known to have consumption, it would be highly +imprudent for them to pass the long hours of the +night either in the same bed or in the same room.</p> + + +<h3>WHAT KIND OF BED IS MOST HEALTHFUL?</h3> + +<p>Feather-beds are not conducive to the health of +either sex. Mattresses made of wool, or of wool +and horsehair, are much better. The bed should +be opened, and its contents exposed to the air and +sunlight, once every year. Beds long saturated +with the night exhalations of their occupants are +not wholesome. A number of ancient writers have +alleged—and it has been reasserted by modern +authorities—that sleeping on sponge is of service to +those who desire to increase their families. The +mattresses of compressed sponge recently introduced, +therefore, commend themselves to married +people thus situated. Hemlock boughs make a bed +which has a well-established reputation for similar +virtues.</p> + +<p>The odor of cone-bearing trees has a well-known +influence upon the fruitfulness of wedlock. Those +who live in pine forests have ordinarily large +families of children.</p> + +<p>Excessive clothing at night is highly injurious. +So also is a fire in the bed-room, except in case of +sickness. If the body be too much heated during<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +sleep, perspiration occurs, or the action of the heart +is increased, and the whole economy becomes excited. +Either condition prevents sound sleep and +reinvigoration of the body. Wives in feeble health, +and those liable to attacks of flooding, should +therefore have a particular regard to the quantity +of clothing on their beds.</p> + + +<h3>THE DIGNITY AND PROPRIETY OF THE SEXUAL +INSTINCT.</h3> + +<p>A distinguished medical writer has divided +women into three classes in regard to the intensity +of the sexual instinct. He asserts that a larger +number than is generally supposed have little or no +sexual feeling. A second class of women, more +numerous than these, but still small as compared +with the whole of their sex, are more or less subject +to strong passion. Those of the first class can +no more form an idea of the strength of the impulse +in other women, than the blind can of colors. +They therefore often err in their judgments. The +third class comprises the vast majority of women, +in whom the sexual appetite is as moderate as all +other appetites.</p> + +<p>It is a false notion, and contrary to nature, that +this passion in a woman is a derogation to her sex. +The science of physiology indicates most clearly +its propriety and dignity. There are wives who +plume themselves on their repugnance or their distaste +for their conjugal obligations. They speak of +their coldness and of the calmness of their senses, +as if these were not defects. Excepting those +afflicted with vices of conformation, or with dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>orders +of sensibility,—which amount to the same +thing,—all wives are called upon to receive and pay +the imposts of love; and those who can withdraw +themselves from the operation of this mysterious +law without suffering and with satisfaction, show +themselves by that fact to be incomplete in their +organization, and deficient in the special function +of their being. There should be no passion for +one which is not shared by both. Generation is a +duty. The feeling which excites to the preservation +of the species is as proper as that which +induces the preservation of the individual. Passionate, +exclusive, and durable love for a particular +individual of the opposite sex, it has been well said, +is characteristic of the human race, and is a mark +of distinction from other animals. The instinct of +reproduction in mankind is thus joined to an affectionate +sentiment, which adds to its sweetness and +prolongs infinitely its duration.</p> + +<p>Many physiologists have assigned to the feelings +an important <i>rôle</i> in conception, the possibility of +which has even been doubted if there be no passion +on the side of the woman. Although this extreme +view is not tenable in the light of modern research, +yet all recent authorities agree that conception is +more assured when the two individuals who co-operate +in it participate at the same time in the +transports of which it is the fruit. It is also without +doubt true that the disposition of the woman +at that time has much power in the formation of +the fœtus, both in modifying its physical constitution +and in determining the character and temperament +of its mind. The influence, long ago<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +attributed by Shakspeare to 'a dull, stale, tired +bed' in creating a 'tribe of fops,' is not a mere +poet's fancy.</p> + +<p>In this manner also may be explained the results +of prolonged continence upon the offspring, for +desires are usually vivid in proportion to the previous +period of rest. The father of Montaigne, +returning after an absence of thirty-two years, +during which he was engaged in the wars of Italy, +begot his son, so justly celebrated in French literature. +The father of J. J. Rousseau, after a considerable +absence in Constantinople, brought to his +wife the reward of a long fidelity.</p> + +<p>Sexual passion exerts, therefore, a marked influence +upon the future being before conception, by +the impression made upon the elements which come +together to form it. The question now occurs; +What effect does its presence and gratification +produce upon the parents? We answer; It is a +natural and healthful impulse. Its influence is +salutary. A marked improvement in the physical +condition of delicate women often follows a happy +marriage. This sometimes occurs even in those +cases where, from the nature of the disorder, the +reverse might be expected. The utility of the +passions, well directed, has become a maxim in +medicine as in morality. And what passion is +more important and fervent than that of which we +write? The fathers in medicine, and their modern +followers, agree in ascribing to the pleasures of +love, indulged in with moderation, activity and +lightness of the body, vigor and vivacity of the +mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<p>Music, apart from its immense influence on the +nervous system in general, seems sometimes to exercise +a special action on the sexual instinct. Science +possesses at the present day some facts beyond dispute, +which prove the great power of music in this +respect.</p> + + +<h3>ON THE INDULGENCE AND THE RESTRAINT OF +SEXUAL DESIRE.</h3> + +<p>The act of generation is a voluntary one. But +nature has so placed it under the empire of pleasure, +that the voice of discretion is no longer heard, and +the will is often led captive. Hence it is well, for +hygienic reasons, to consider its laws.</p> + +<p>The too frequent repetition of the reproductive +act is known to be followed by consequences injurious +to the general health. Too rigid continence is +not unattended, in many constitutions, with danger, +for the victory over passion may be dearly bought. +Science recommends the adoption of a wise mean +between two extremes equally destructive. By following +her counsel, women may escape from the +hysterical and other disorders which often wait as +well upon excess as upon too great denial of that +passion, which claims satisfaction as a natural right.</p> + +<p>As men have made laws upon all subjects, we +need not be surprised to learn that they have legislated +upon this. History informs us that the legislators +of ancient times have not failed to occupy +themselves with this grave question of conjugal +economy. The ordinances of Solon required that +the married should acquit themselves of their duties +at least three times a month; those of Zoroaster<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +prescribed once a week. Mohammed ordered that +any wife neglected by her husband longer than a +week could demand and obtain a divorce. It is not, +however, in these, and other enactments which might +be quoted, that guidance is to be sought. The principles +derived from nature and experience are more +valuable than human laws, however venerable; for +these too often serve only to reflect the profound +ignorance of their makers.</p> + +<p>Moderation should here prevail. Health is thus +preserved and strengthened, and the gratification +doubled. The art of seasoning pleasures in general, +consists in being avaricious with them. To abstain +from enjoyment, is the philosophy of the sage, the +epicurism of reason.</p> + +<p>Proper self-denial in the gratification of the wants +of physical love is a source of good, not only to the +individual practising it, but to the community, as +we shall show hereafter. It may be observed for +one's own profit only, or for the benefit of another. +The latter is in the end more conducive to self-interest +than the former. A double advantage is +derived therefrom,—gratitude and sympathy returned, +and increase of appetite and of power for +future enjoyment. Excess of indulgence results in +the pain of surfeit and the extinction of affection. +Earnest love, satisfying itself with small gratifications, +is a more copious source of happiness than that +frequently quenched by full gratification.</p> + +<p>What, then, is this moderation which both Hygeia +and Venus command? Here, again, invariable rules +are not possible. Science rarely lays down laws so +inflexible as those of the Medes and Persians. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +designates limits. The passage between Scylla and +Charybdis is often a wide one. The folly of the +ancient statutes which have been referred to, consists +mainly in their failure to recognise the diverse influence +of age, temperament, seasons, etc.</p> + +<p>It almost appears as if there were but one <i>season</i> +for generation, that in which the sun re-warms and +vivifies the earth, trees dress in verdure, and animals +respire the soft breath of spring. Then every living +thing reanimates itself. The impulse of reproduction +is excited. Now, also, its gratification is most +beneficial to the individual and to the species. Children +conceived in the spring time have greater +vitality, are less apt to die during infancy, than those +conceived at any other time of the year. The statistics +of many thousand cases, recently carefully +collated in England, prove this beyond peradventure. +It is well known that a late calf, or one born +at the end of the summer, is not likely to become a +well-developed and healthy animal. This has been +attributed to the chilling influence of approaching +winter; but it is capable of another and, perhaps, a +truer explanation. Nature's impulses, therefore, in +the spring of the year are for the good of the race, +and may then be more frequently indulged without +prejudice to the individual. Summer is the season +which agrees the least with the exercise of the generative +functions. The autumn months are the +most unfruitful. Then, also, derangements of the +economy are readily excited by marital intemperance.</p> + +<p>The <i>temperaments</i> exert over reproduction, as +over all the other functions of the body, a power<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>ful +influence. Love is said to be the ruling passion +in the sanguine temperament, as ambition is in the +bilious. There is also in some cases a peculiar condition +of the nervous system which impels to, or +diverts from, sexual indulgence. In some women, +even in moderation, it acts as a poison, being +followed by headache and prostration, lasting for +days.</p> + +<p>With advancing years, the fading of sexual desire +calls attention to the general law, that animals and +plants, when they become old, are dead to reproduction. +What in early life is followed by temporary +languor, in matured years is succeeded by a train of +symptoms much graver and more durable.</p> + +<p>Those who are in feeble health, and particularly +those who have delicate chests, ought to be sober in +the gratification of love. Sexual intercourse has +proved mortal after severe hæmorrhages.</p> + +<p>All organized beings are powerfully affected by +propagation. Animals become depressed and dejected +after it. The flower which shines so brilliantly +at the moment of its amours, after the consummation +of that act, withers and falls. It is wise, therefore, +in imparting life, to have a care not to shorten +one's own existence. Nothing is more certain than +that animals and plants lessen the duration of their +lives by multiplied sexual enjoyments. The abuse +of these pleasures produces lassitude and weakness. +Beauty of feature and grace of movement are sacrificed. +When the excess is long continued, it occasions +spasmodic and convulsive affections, enfeeblement +of the senses, particularly that of sight, +deprivation of the mental functions, loss of memory,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +pulmonary consumption and death. One of the +most eminent of living physiologists has asserted +that 'development of the individual and the reproduction +of the species stand in a reverse ratio to +each other,' and that 'the highest degree of bodily +rigor is inconsistent with more than a very modest +indulgence in sexual intercourse.'</p> + +<p>The general principles we have just enunciated +are of great importance in the regulation of the +health. They are more suggestive and useful than +the precise rules which have from time to time been +laid down on this subject.</p> + + +<h3>TIMES WHEN MARITAL RELATIONS SHOULD BE +SUSPENDED.</h3> + +<p>There are times at which marital relations are +eminently improper. We are told, <span class="smcap">I</span> Cor. vii. 3, 4, +that neither husband nor wife has the power to +refuse the conjugal obligation when the debt is demanded. +But there are certain legitimate causes +for denial by the wife.</p> + +<p>A condition of intoxication in the husband is a +proper ground for refusal. Fecundation taking +place while either parent has been in this state has +produced idiots and epileptics. This has happened +again and again. The cases on record are so +numerous and well-authenticated, as to admit of +no doubt in regard to the fatal effect upon the +mind of the offspring of conception under such circumstances.</p> + +<p>Physical degeneracy is also often a consequence +of procreation during the alcoholic intoxication of +one or both parents. A peculiar arrest of growth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +and development of body and mind takes place, +and, in some instances, the unfortunate children, +although living to years of manhood, remain permanent +infants, just able to stand by the side of a +chair, to utter a few simple sounds, and to be +amused with childish toys.</p> + +<p>During convalescence from a severe sickness, or +when there is any local or constitutional disease +which would be aggravated by sexual intercourse, +it should be abstained from. There is reason for +believing that a being procreated at a period of ill-humour, +bodily indisposition, or nervous debility, +may carry with it, during its whole existence, some +small particles of these evils. When there exists +any contagious disease, refusals are of course valid, +and often a duty to the unborn. Poverty, or the +wish to have no more children, can only be exceptionally +allowed as a reason for the denial of all +conjugal privileges.</p> + +<p>The opinion that sexual relations practised during +the time of the menses engender children liable +to scrofulous disease, is a mere popular prejudice. +But there are other and better-founded reasons for +continence during these periods.</p> + +<p>The question of intercourse during pregnancy +and suckling will come up for consideration when +speaking of these conditions hereafter.</p> + + +<h3>CONDITIONS WHEN MARITAL RELATIONS ARE +PAINFUL.</h3> + +<p>Nature has not designed that a function of great +moment to the human race—one involving its very +existence—should be attended with pain. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +presence of pleasure is indicative of health, its +absence of disease. But to a woman who has systematically +displaced her womb by years of imprudence +in conduct or dress, this act, which should be +a physiological one, and free from any hurtful tendencies +becomes a source of distress and even of +illness. The diseases of the womb which sometimes +follow matrimony are not to be traced to +excessive indulgence in many cases, but to indulgence +<i>to any extent</i> by those who have altered the +natural relation of the parts before marriage. A +prominent physician, Prof. T. Gaillard Thomas, of +New York, has said that 'upon a woman who has +enfeebled her system by habits of indulgence and +luxury, pressed her uterus entirely out of its normal +place, and who perhaps comes to the nuptial bed +with some marked uterine disorder, the result of +imprudence at menstrual epochs, sexual intercourse +has a <i>poisonous</i> influence. The taking of food into +the stomach exerts no hurtful influence on the +digestive system; but the taking of food by a +dyspeptic, who has abused and injured that organ, +does so.'</p> + +<p>When excessive pain exists, and every attempt +occasions nervous trepidation and apprehension, it +is absolutely certain that there is some diseased +condition present, for which proper advice should +be secured at once. Delay in doing so will not +remove the necessity for medical interference in +the end, while it will assuredly aggravate the +trouble. Prompt intelligent aid, on the contrary, +is usually followed by the happiest results in such +cases.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>STERILITY.</h3> + +<p>Wives who never become mothers are said to be +sterile or barren. This condition is frequently a +cause of much unhappiness. Fortune may favor the +married couple in every other respect, yet if she refuse +to accord the boon of even a single heir to heart +and home, her smiles will bear the aspect of frowns. +It is then of some interest to inquire into the causes +of this condition, and how to prevent or remedy +their operation.</p> + +<p>Dr. Duncan, of Edinburgh, has shown, by +elaborate research, that in those wives who are +destined to have children, there intervenes, on the +average, about seventeen months between the marriage +ceremony and the birth of the first child, and +that the question whether a woman will be sterile +is decided in the first three years of married life. +If she have no children in that time, the chances +are thirteen to one against her ever having any. +In those cases, therefore, in which the first three +years of married life are fruitless, it is highly desirable +for those wishing a family to ascertain whether +or not the barrenness is dependent upon any +defective condition capable of relief.</p> + +<p>The age of a wife at the time of marriage has +much to do with the expectation of children. As +the age increases over twenty-five years, the interval +between the marriage and the birth of the first child +is lengthened. For it has been ascertained that +not only are women most fecund from twenty to +twenty-four, but that they begin their career of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +child-bearing sooner after marriage than their +younger or elder sisters. Early marriages (those +before the age of twenty) are sometimes more fruitful +than late ones (those after twenty-four). The +interesting result has further been arrived at in +England, that about one in fourteen of all marriages +of women between fifteen and nineteen are without +offspring; that wives married at ages from twenty +to twenty-four inclusive, are almost all fertile; and +that after that age the chances of having no +children gradually increases with the greater age +at the time of marriage.</p> + +<p>There are two kinds of sterility which are +physiological, natural to all women,—that of +young girls before puberty, and that of women +who are past the epoch of the cessation of the +menses. In some very rare cases, conception +takes place after cessation. In one published +case, it occurred nine months afterwards, and in +another eighteen months. In some very rare cases, +also, conception has taken place before the first +menstruation.</p> + +<p>The older a woman is at the time of her marriage, +the longer deferred is the age at which she +naturally becomes sterile. She bears children later +in life, in order to compensate, as it were, for her +late commencement. But although she continues +to have children until a more advanced age than +the earlier married, yet her actual child-bearing +period is shorter. Nature does not entirely make +up at the end of life for the time lost from the +duties of maternity in early womanhood; for the +younger married have really a longer era of fer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>tility +than the older, though it terminates at an +earlier age.</p> + +<p>A wife who, having had children, has ceased for +three years to conceive, will probably bear no more, +and the probability increases as time elapses. After +the first, births take place with an average interval, +in those who continue to be fertile, of about twenty +months.</p> + +<p>Nursing women are generally sterile, above all, +during the first months which follow accouchement, +because the vital forces are then concentrated on the +secretion of the milk. In a majority of instances, +when suckling is prolonged to even nineteen or +twenty months, pregnancy does not take place at +all until after weaning.</p> + +<p>Climate has also an influence upon the fertility of +marriages. In southern regions more children are +born, fewer in northern. The number of children +is in inverse proportion to the amount of food in a +country and in a season. In Belgium, the higher +the price of bread the greater the number of children, +and the greater the number of infant deaths.</p> + +<p>The seasons exert a power over the increase of +population. The spring of the year, as has already +been stated, is the most favourable to fecundity. +It is not known whether day and night have any +effect upon conception.</p> + +<p>The worldly condition seems to have much to do +with the size of a family. Rich and fashionable +women have fewer children than their poor and +hard-worked neighbours. Wealth and pleasure +seem to be often gladly exchanged for the title +of mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>But it is our more particular object now to inquire +into the <i>causes of absolute sterility</i> in individual +cases, rather than to discuss the operation of general +laws upon the fertility of the community at large, +however inviting such a discussion may be. When +marriages are fruitless, the wife is almost always +blamed. It is not to be supposed that she is always +in fault. Many husbands are absolutely sterile; +for it is a mistake to consider that every man must +be prolific who is vigorous and enjoys good health. +Neither does it follow, because a woman has never +given birth to a living child, that she has not conceived. +About one marriage in eight is unproductive +of living children, and therefore fails to add to +the population. The seeds of life have, however, +been more extensively sown among women than +these figures would seem to indicate. If the life of +an infant for a long time after birth is a frail one, +before birth its existence is precarious in the extreme. +It often perishes soon after conception. A +sickness, unusually long and profuse, occurring in a +young married woman a few days beyond the +regular time, is often the only evidence she will +ever have that a life she has communicated has +been ended almost as soon as begun. A tendency +to miscarriage may therefore be all that stands in +the way of a family. This is generally remediable.</p> + +<p>It is a well-known fact that frigidity is a frequent +cause of barrenness, as well as a barrier to +matrimonial happiness. Its removal, so desirable, +is in many cases possible by detecting and doing +away with the cause. The causes are so various, +that their enumeration here would be tedious and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +unprofitable, for most of them can only be discovered +and remedied by a practical physician who +has studied the particular case under consideration. +So also in regard to the various displacements +and diseases of the womb preventing conception. +Proper medical treatment is usually followed by +the best results.</p> + +<p>While the fact that pleasure is found in the +marital relation is a favourable augury for impregnation, +it has been long noticed that Messalinas are +sterile. It was observed in Paris, that out of one +thousand only six bore children in the course of a +year, whereas the ordinary proportion in that city +for that time is three and a half births for every +one hundred of the population.</p> + +<p>In some women, nothing seems amiss but too +intense passion. Such cases are much more rare +than instances of the opposite extreme producing +the same effect.</p> + +<p>A condition of debility, or the presence of certain +special poisons in the blood, may prevent conception, +or, what is to all intents the same thing, cause +miscarriage. Many apparently feeble women have +large families. But in numerous instances a tonic +and sometimes an alternative constitutional treatment +is required before pregnancy will take place. +On the contrary, there are well-authenticated cases +of women who were stout and barren in opulence +becoming thin and prolific in poverty.</p> + +<p>The stimulus of novelty to matrimonial intercourse +imparted by a short separation of husband +and wife, is often salutary in its influence upon +fertility.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>To show upon what slight constitutional differences +infertility often depends, it is merely necessary +to allude to the fact, known to every one, that +women who have not had children with one husband +often have them with another. This condition +of physiological incompatibility is evidently not +altogether one of the emotional nature, for it is +observed in animals, among whom it is by no +means rare to find certain males and females who +will not breed together, although both are known +to be perfectly fruitful with other females and males. +The ancients, believing that sterility was more +common with couples of the same temperament +and condition, advised, with Hippocrates, that +blonde women should unite with dark men, thin +women with stout men, and <i>vice versâ.</i></p> + +<p>Barren women should not despair. They sometimes +become fecund after a long lapse of years. +In other words, they are sterile only during a certain +period of their lives, and then, a change occurring +in their temperament with age, they become +fruitful. History affords a striking example of this +eccentricity of generation, in the birth of Louis +<span class="smcap">xiv.</span>, whom Anne of Austria, Queen of France +brought into the world after a sterility of twenty-two +years. Catherine de Medicis, wife of Henry <span class="smcap">ii.</span>, +became the mother of ten children after a sterility +of ten years. Dr. Tilt, of London, mentions the +case of a woman who was married at eighteen, but +although both herself and her husband enjoyed +habitual good health, conception did not take place +until she was forty-eight, when she bore a child. +Another case is reported where a well-formed female<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +married at nineteen, and did not bear a child until +she had reached her fiftieth year.</p> + +<p>Families often suffer from the effects of sterility. +Civilised nations never do. Recent researches have +been carefully instituted in several countries to determine +the exact power of the human race to preserve +its numbers against the ravages of death. It +has been ascertained that during periods of peace +the population can be maintained to the same point +by the additions made to it through the procreating +capacity of only one-half of the women in the community. +Nature, therefore, has made ample provision +for preventing a decrease of population through +failure of reproduction.</p> + +<p>She has also instituted laws to prevent its undue +increase. It would seem as if the extension of +material mental and social comfort and culture has +a tendency to render marriage less prolific, and +population stationary or nearly so. So evident is +this tendency, that it has been laid down as a +maxim in sociology by Sismondi, that 'where the +number of marriages is proportionally the greatest, +where the greatest number of persons participate in +the duties and the virtues and the happiness of +marriage, the smaller number of children does each +marriage produce.' Thus, to a certain extent, does +nature endorse the opinions of those political economists +who assert that increase of population beyond +certain limits is an evil happily averted by wars, +famines, and pestilences, which hence become +national blessings in disguise. She, however, points +to the extension of mental and moral education +and refinement as gentler and surer means of re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>ducing +plethoric population than those suggested +by Malthus and Mill.</p> + +<p>Many causes of sterility, it will therefore be seen, +are beyond the power of man to control. They +operate on a large scale for the good of the whole. +With these we have little concern. But there are +others which may be influenced by intelligent endeavor. +Some have been already alluded to, and +the remedy suggested; but we will proceed to give +more specific</p> + + +<h3>ADVICE TO WIVES WHO DESIRE TO HAVE +CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>It has long been known that menstruation presents +a group of phenomena closely allied to +fecundity. The first eruption of the menses is an +unequivocal sign of the awakening of the faculty of +reproduction. The cessation of the menstrual +epochs is a sign equally certain of the loss of the +faculty of reproduction. When conception has +taken place, the periodical flow is interrupted. +Labor occurs at about the time in which the +menses would have appeared. In short, it is a fact, +now completely established, that the time immediately +before, and particularly that after the monthly +sickness, is the period the most favorable to fecundation. +It is said that, by following the counsel to +this effect given him by the celebrated Fernel, +Henry <span class="smcap">ii.</span>, the King of France, secured to himself +offspring after the long sterility of his wife before +referred to. Professor Bedford, of New York, says +that he can point to more than one instance in +which, by this advice, he has succeeded in adding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +to the happiness of parties who for years had been +vainly hoping for the accomplishment of their +wishes.</p> + +<p>Repose of the woman, and, above all, sojourn on +the bed after the act of generation, also facilitates +conception. Hippocrates, the great father of medicine, +was aware of this, and laid stress upon it in +his advice to sterile wives.</p> + +<p>The womb and the breasts are bound together by +very strong sympathies: that which excites the +one will stimulate the other. Dr. Charles Loudon +mentions that four out of seven patients, by acting +on this hint, became mothers. A similar idea occurred +to the illustrious Marshall Hall, who advised +the application of a strong infant to the breast. +Fomentations of warm milk to the breasts and +the corresponding portion of the spinal column, +and the use of the breast-pump two or three +times a day, just before the menstrual period, +have also been recommended by good medical +authorities. Horseback exercise, carried to fatigue, +seems occasionally to have conduced to pregnancy.</p> + +<p>The greatest hope of success against sterility is to +change the dominant state of the constitution. But +this can only be effected under suitable medical +advice. The treatment of sterility—thanks to the +recent researches of Dr. Marion Sims—is much more +certain than formerly; and the intelligent physician +is now able to ascertain the cause, and point +out the remedy, where before all was conjecture +and experiment. The sterile wife should, herefore, +be slow in abandoning all hope of ever +becoming a mother.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>ON THE LIMITATION OF OFFSPRING.</h3> + +<p>No part of our subject is more delicate than this. +Very few people are willing to listen to a dispassionate +discussion of the propriety or impropriety +of limiting within certain bounds the number of +children in a family. On the one side are many +worthy physicians and pious clergymen, who, without +listening to any arguments, condemn every +effort to avoid large families; on the other, are +numberless wives and husbands, who turn a deaf +ear to the warnings of doctors and the thunders +of divines, and, eager to escape a responsibility +they have assumed, hesitate not to resort to the +most dangerous and immoral means to accomplish +this end.</p> + +<p>We ask both parties to lay aside prejudice and +prepossession, and examine with us this most important +social question in all its bearings.</p> + +<p>Let us first inquire whether there is such a thing +as <i>over-production</i>—having <i>too many</i> children. Unquestionably +there is. Its disastrous effects on both +mother and children are known to every intelligent +physician. Two-thirds of all cases of womb disease, +says Dr. Tilt, are traceable to child-bearing in feeble +women. Hardly a day passes that a physician in +large practice does not see instances of debility and +disease resulting from over-much child-bearing. +Even the lower animals illustrate this. Every +farmer is aware of the necessity of limiting the offspring +of his mares and cows. How much more +severe are the injuries inflicted on the delicate +organization of woman! A very great mortality,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +says Dr. Duncan of Edinburgh, attends upon confinements +when they become too frequent.</p> + +<p>The evils of a too rapid succession of pregnancies +are likewise conspicuous in the children. There is +no more frequent cause, says Dr. Hillier,—whose +authority in such matters none will dispute,—of +rickets than this. Puny, sickly, short-lived offspring +follows over-production. Worse than this, the carefully +compiled statistics of Scotland show that such +children are peculiarly liable to idiocy. Adding to +an already excessive number, they come to over-burden +a mother already overwhelmed with progeny. +They cannot receive at her hands the attention they +require. Weakly herself, she brings forth weakly +infants. 'Thus,' concludes Dr. Duncan, 'are the +accumulated evils of an excessive family manifest.'</p> + +<p>Apart from these considerations, there are certain +social relations which have been thought by some to +advise small families. When either parent suffers +from a disease which is transmissible, and wishes to +avoid inflicting misery on an unborn generation, it +has been urged that they should avoid children. +Such diseases not unfrequently manifest themselves +after marriage, which is answer enough to the objection +that if they did not wish children they should +not marry. There are also women to whom pregnancy +is a nine months' torture, and others to +whom it is nearly certain to prove fatal. Such +a condition cannot be discovered before marriage, +and therefore cannot be provided against by a +single life. Can such women be asked to immolate +themselves?</p> + +<p>It is strange, says that distinguished writer, John<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +Stuart Mill, that intemperance in drink, or in any +other appetite, should be condemned so readily, but +that incontinence in this respect should always meet +not only with indulgence but praise. 'Little improvement' +he adds, 'can be expected in morality +until the producing too large families is regarded +with the same feeling as drunkenness, or any other +physical excess.' A well-known medical writer, Dr. +Drysdale, in commenting on these words, adds: 'In +this error, if error it be, I also humbly share.'</p> + +<p>'When dangerous prejudices,' says Sismondi, the +learned historian of southern Europe, 'have not become +accredited, when our true duties towards those +to whom we give life are not obscured in the name +of a sacred authority, no married man will have +more children than he can bring up properly.'</p> + +<p>Such is the language of physicians and statesmen; +but a stronger appeal has been made for the +sake of morality itself. The detestable crime of +<i>abortion</i> is appallingly rife in our day; it is abroad +in our land to an extent which would have shocked +the dissolute women of pagan Rome. Testimony +from all quarters, especially from New England, has +accumulated within the past few years to sap our +faith in the morality and religion of American +women. This wholesale, fashionable murder, how +are we to stop it? Hundreds of vile men and women +in our large cities subsist by this slaughter of the +innocents, and flaunt their ill-gotten gains—the price +of blood—in our public thoroughfares. Their advertisements +are seen in the newspapers; their soul and +body destroying means are hawked in every town. +With such temptation strewn in her path, what will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +the woman threatened with an excessive family do? +Will she not yield to evil, and sear her conscience +with the repetition of her wickedness? Alas! daily +experience in the heart of a great city discloses to +us only too frequently the fatal ease of such a +course.</p> + +<p>In view of the injuries of excessive child-bearing +on the one hand, and of this prevalent crime on the +other, a man of genius and sympathy, Dr. Raciborski +of Paris, took the position that the avoidance +of offspring to a certain extent is not only legitimate, +but should be recommended as a measure of public +good. 'We know how bitterly we shall be attacked,' +he says, 'for promulgating this doctrine; but if our +ideas only render to society the services we expect +of them, we shall have effaced from the list of +crimes the one most atrocious without exception, +that of child-murder, before or after birth, and we +shall have poured a little happiness into the bosoms +of despairing families, where poverty is allied to +the knowledge that offspring can be born only to +prostitution or mendicity. The realization of such +hopes will console us under the attacks upon our +doctrines.'</p> + +<p>It has been eagerly repeated by some, that the +wish to limit offspring arises most frequently from +an inordinate desire of indulgence. We reply to +such, that they do not know the human heart, and +that they do it discredit. More frequently the wish +springs from a love of children. The parents seek +to avoid having more than they can properly nourish +and educate. They do not wish to leave their sons +and daughters in want. 'This,' says a writer in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +<i>The Nation</i> (of New York), in an article on this interesting +subject,—'this is not the noblest motive of +action, of course, but there is something finely +human about it.'</p> + +<p>'Very much indeed is it to be wished,' says Dr. +Edward Reich, after reviewing the multitudinous +evils which result to individuals and society from a +too rapid increase in families, 'that the function of +reproduction be placed under the dominion of the +will.'</p> + +<p>Men are very ready to find an excuse for self-indulgence; +and if they cannot get one anywhere else, +they seek it in religion. They tell the woman it is +her duty to bear all the children she can. They +refer her to the sturdy, strong-limbed women of +early times, to the peasant women of northern +Europe, who emigrate to America, and ask and expect +their wives to rival them in fecundity. Such +do not reflect that they have been brought up to +light indoor employment, that their organization is +more nervous and frail, that they absolutely have +not the stamina required for many confinements.</p> + +<p>Moreover, they presume too much in asking her +to bear them. 'If a woman has a right to decide +on any question,' said a genial physician in the +Massachusetts Medical Society a few years since, 'it +certainly is as to how many children she shall bear.' +'Certainly,' say the editors of a prominent medical +journal, 'wives have a right to demand of their +husbands at least the same consideration which a +breeder extends to his stock.' 'Whenever it becomes +unwise that the family should be increased,' +says Sismondi again, '<i>justice</i> and <i>humanity</i> require<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +that the husband should impose on himself the +same restraint which is submitted to by the unmarried.'</p> + +<p>An eminent writer on medical statistics, Dr. +Henry MacCormac, says: 'The brute yields to the +generative impulse when it is experienced. He is +troubled by no compunction about the matter. +Now, a man ought not to act like a brute. He has +reason to guide and control his appetites. Too +many, however, forget, and act like brutes instead +of as men. It would, in effect, prove very greatly +conducive to man's interests were the generative impulses +placed absolutely under the sway of right +reason, chastity, forecast, and justice.'</p> + +<p>There is no lack of authorities, medical and non-medical, +on this point. Few who weigh them well +will deny that there is such a thing as too large a +family; that there does come a time when a mother +can rightfully demand rest from her labours, in the +interest of herself, her children, and society. When +is this time? Here again the impossibility meets +us of stating a definite number of children, and +saying, 'This many and no more.' As in every +other department of medicine, averages are of no +avail in guiding individuals. There are women +who require no limitation whatever. They can +bear healthy children with rapidity, and suffer no +ill results. There are others—and they are the +majority—who should use temperance in this as in +every other function; and there are a few who +should bear no children at all. It is absurd for +physicians or theologians to insist that it is either +the physical or moral duty of the female to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +as many children as she possibly can have. It is +time that such an injurious prejudice was discarded, +and the truth recognised, that while marriage looks +to offspring as its natural sequence, there should be +inculcated such a thing as marital continence, and +that excess here as elsewhere is repugnant to +morality, and is visited by the laws of physiology +with certain and severe punishment on parent and +child.</p> + +<p>Continence, self-control, a willingness to deny +himself,—that is what is required from the husband. +But a thousand voices reach us from suffering +women in all parts of our land that this will not +suffice; that men refuse thus to restrain themselves; +that it leads to a loss of domestic happiness +and to illegal amours, or that it is injurious +physically and mentally,—that, in short, such advice +is useless, because impracticable.</p> + +<p>To such sufferers we reply that Nature herself +has provided to some extent against over-production, +and that it is well to avail ourselves of her +provisions. It is well known that women when +nursing rarely become pregnant, and for this reason, +if for no other, women should nurse their own +children, and continue the period until the child is +at least a year old. Be it remembered, however, +that nursing, continued too long, weakens both +mother and child, and, moreover, ceases to accomplish +the end for which we now recommend it.</p> + +<p>Another provision of nature is, that for a certain +period between her monthly illnesses every woman +is sterile. The vesicle which matures in her ovaries, +and is discharged from them by menstruation, re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>mains +some days in the womb before it is passed +forth and lost. How long its stay is we do not +definitely know, and probably it differs in individuals. +From ten to twelve days at most are +supposed to elapse after the <i>cessation</i> of the flow +before the final ejection of the vesicle. For some +days after this the female is incapable of reproduction. +But for some days <i>before</i> her monthly illness +she is liable to conception, as for that length of +time the male element can survive. This period, +therefore, becomes a variable and an undetermined +one, and even when known, its observation demands +a large amount of self-control.</p> + +<p>There is one method widely in use in this country +for the limitation of offspring which deserves only +the most unqualified condemnation, which is certain +to bring upon the perpetrators swift and terrible +retribution, and which is opposed to every sentiment +of nature and morality. We mean</p> + + +<h3>THE CRIME OF ABORTION.</h3> + +<p><i>From the moment of conception</i> a new life commences; +a new individual exists; another child is +added to the family. The mother who deliberately +sets about to destroy this life, either by want of +care, or by taking drugs, or using instruments, +commits as great a crime, is just as guilty, as if she +strangled her new-born infant, or as if she snatched +from her own breast her six-months' darling and +dashed out its brains against the wall. Its blood is +upon her head, and as sure as there is a God and a +judgment, that blood will be required of her. The +crime she commits is <i>murder</i>, <i>child-murder</i>,—the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +slaughter of a speechless, helpless being, whom it +is her duty, beyond all things else, to cherish and +preserve.</p> + +<p>This crime is common; it is fearfully prevalent. +Hundreds of persons are devoted to its perpetration. +It is their trade. In nearly every village its +ministers stretch out their bloody hands to lead the +weak woman to suffering, remorse, and death. +Those who submit to their treatment are not generally +unmarried women who have lost their virtue, +but the mothers of families, respectable <i>Christian</i> +matrons, members of churches, and walking in the +better classes of society.</p> + +<p>We appeal to all such with earnest and with +threatening words. If they have no feeling for the +fruit of their womb, if maternal sentiment is so +callous in their breasts, let them know that such +produced abortions are the constant cause of violent +and dangerous womb diseases, and frequently of +early death; that they bring on mental weakness, +and often insanity; that they are the most certain +means to destroy domestic happiness which can be +adopted. Better, far better, to bear a child every +year for twenty years than to resort to such a +wicked and injurious step; better to die, if needs +be, in the pangs of childbirth, than to live with such +a weight of sin on the conscience.</p> + +<p>There is no need of either. By the moderation +we have mentioned, it is in the power of any woman +to avoid the evils of an excessive family, without +injury and without criminality.</p> + +<p>We feel obliged to speak in plain language of +this hidden sin, because so many are ignorant that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +it is a sin. Only within a few years have those +who take in charge the public morals spoken of it +in such terms that this excuse of ignorance is no +longer admissible.</p> + +<p>Bishop Coxe, of New York, in a pastoral letter, +the late Archbishop Spaulding, Catholic Primate of +the United States, in an address at the close of a +recent Provincial Council at Baltimore, the Old and +New School Presbyterian Churches, at a meeting +in Philadelphia, have all pronounced the severest +judgments against those guilty of antenatal infanticide. +Appeals through the press have been made +by physicians of high standing, and by eminent +divines, which should be in the hands of every +one.</p> + +<p>The chiefest difficulty hitherto has been, that +while women were warned against the evils of +abortion, they were offered no escape from the exhaustion +and dangers of excessive child-bearing. +This difficulty we have fully recognised and fairly +met, and, we believe, in such a manner that neither +the accuracy of our statements nor the purity of +our motives can be doubted. Should our position +be attacked, however, the medical man must know +that in opposing our views, he opposes those of the +most distinguished physicians in Europe and in +America; and the theologian should be warned +that, when a neglect of physical laws leads to moral +evil, the only way to correct this evil is to remedy +the neglect. In this case the neglect is over-production; +the evil is abortion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>NATURE OF CONCEPTION.</h3> + +<p>The theories which have been advanced to explain +the manner in which the human species is +continued and reproduced are very numerous. Including +the hypotheses of the ancient philosophers, +some two hundred and fifty have been promulgated +by the greatest thinkers of all times. The older ones +do not deserve mention, as they are replete with +absurdities. Such, for instance, is that of Pythagoras, +which supposed that a vapor descended +from the brain and formed the embryo. The Scythians +therefore took blood from the veins behind +the ears to produce impotence and sterility. Modern +science has shown the total error of this and many +other views formerly entertained on this subject. +Has galvanism or electricity any share in the +mysterious function? Some among the modern +physiologists have supposed that there is an electrical +or magnetic influence which effects generation. +Even within a few months, Dr. Harvey L. Byrd, +Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical Department +of Washington University of Baltimore, has asserted +that he has 'every reason for believing that fecundation +or impregnation is always an electrical phenomenon;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">... it results from the completion of an</span><br /> +electric circle,—the union of positive and negative +electricities.' This, however, is not accepted by all +as the dictum of modern science. Physiology has +clearly established that the new being is the result +of contact between the male element, an independent, +living animal, on the one part, and the female +element, a matured egg, on the other, involving the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +union of the contents of two peculiar cells. Without +such contact, fecundation cannot take place.</p> + +<p>The only matter of practical moment in connection +with this most interesting function which we +have to announce, is the influence of the mind on +the offspring at the time of generation. This influence +has long been remarked in regard to animals +as well as men. Jacob was aware of it when he +made his shrewd bargain with Laban for 'all the +speckled and spotted cattle' as his hire. For we +are told that then 'Jacob took him rods of green +poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree, and +pilled white strakes in them, and made the white +appear which was in the rods. And he set the rods +which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters +in the watering-troughs, when the flocks came to +drink, that they should conceive when they came +to drink. And the flocks conceived before the rods, +and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and +spotted. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and +set the faces of the flocks towards the ringstraked +and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he +put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not +unto Laban's cattle. And it came to pass, whenever +the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob +laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the +gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. +But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not +in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger +Jacob's.'</p> + +<p>The impressions conveyed to the brain through +the sense of sight are here asserted by the writer of +Genesis to have influenced the system of the ewes so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +that they brought forth young marked in the same +manner as the rods placed before their eyes. It is +not said that there was any miraculous interposition; +but the whole account is given as if it were an +everyday, natural, and well-known occurrence.</p> + +<p>The Greeks, a people renowned for their physical +beauty, seemed to be aware of the value of mental +impressions; for in their apartments they were +lavish of statues and paintings representing the +gods and goddesses, delineated in accordance with +the best models of art.</p> + +<p>Dionysus, tyrant of Syracuse, caused the portrait +of the beautiful Jason to be suspended before +the nuptial bed, in order to obtain a handsome +child.</p> + +<p>The following is related of the celebrated Galen:—A +Roman magistrate, little, ugly, and hunch-backed, +had by his wife a child exactly resembling +the statue of Æsop. Frightened at the sight of this +little monster, and fearful of becoming the father +of a posterity so deformed, he went to consult Galen, +the most distinguished physician of his time, who +counseled him to place three statues of love +around the conjugal bed, one at the foot, the others, +one on each side, in order that the eyes of his young +spouse might be constantly feasted on these charming +figures. The magistrate followed strictly the +advice of the physician, and it is recorded that his +wife bore him a child surpassing in beauty all his +hopes.</p> + +<p>The fact that the attributes of the child are determined +to an important extent by the bodily and +mental condition of the parents at the time of con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>ception, +explains the marked difference almost constantly +observed between children born to the same +parents, however strong the family likeness may be +among them. The changes constantly going on in +the physical, intellectual, and emotional states of +the parents, produce a corresponding alteration in +offspring conceived at successive intervals. Twins +generally resemble each other very closely in every +respect.</p> + +<p>Inasmuch, therefore, as the moment of generation +is of much more importance than is commonly believed +in its effect upon the moral and physical life +of the future being, it is to be wished that parents +would pay some attention to this subject. It is the +moment of creation,—that in which the first vital +power is communicated to the new creature. Not +without reason has nature associated with it the +highest sensual exaltation of our existence. Dr. +Hufeland, the author of <i>The Art of Prolonging +Life</i>, has said, 'In my opinion it is of the utmost +importance that this moment should be confined to +a period when the sensation of collected powers, +ardent passion, and a mind cheerful and free from +care, invite to it on both sides.'</p> + + +<h3>SIGNS OF FRUITFUL CONJUNCTION.</h3> + +<p>There are some women in whom the act of conception +is attended with certain sympathetic affections, +such as faintness, vertigo, etc., by which they +know that it has taken place.</p> + +<p>Swelling of the neck was regarded in ancient times +as a sign of conception. Its truthfulness has been +reaffirmed by modern authorities.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>It has also been asserted that impregnation generally +excites a universal tremor in all parts of the +body, and that it is associated with more than an +ordinary degree of pleasure.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed, however, that enjoyment +and impregnation bear necessarily to each other the +relation of cause and effect, although this is the +popular opinion. From too implicit a reliance upon +this current belief, wives are often incredulous as to +their true condition.</p> + +<p>It is a fact that in some cases sickness at the +stomach manifests itself almost simultaneously with +the act of fecundation. Authentic instances are on +record of wives reckoning their confinement nine +months from the first feeling of nausea, without ever +making a mistake.</p> + +<p>In conclusion, it may be said that peculiar sensations +are often experienced, frequently of a character +difficult to explain; and many modern authors +attach to them a marked value. In this manner it +is possible for a woman to be satisfied at the moment +as to the change which has taken place; yet +the evidence is often deceptive, and sometimes +nothing peculiar is noticed.</p> + +<p>From the period of conception the mother has no +direct knowledge of the process that is going on +within, excepting by the effects of the increasing +pressure upon other parts, until 'quickening' takes +place, which belongs to another part of our subject.</p> + +<p>The signs and symptoms of pregnancy will be +explained in full when we come to treat of the +pregnant condition in a future chapter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>HOW TO RETAIN THE AFFECTIONS OF A +HUSBAND.</h3> + +<p>Ah! this is a secret indeed!—worth the wand of +the magician, the lamp of Aladdin, or the wishing-cap +of the fairy. What could any of these give in +exchange for the love of a husband? Yet this +pearl of great price, how often is it treated as lightly +and carelessly as if it was any bauble of Brummagem!</p> + +<p>'My husband,' we have heard young wives say, +'why, it is his duty to love me. Why did he marry +me if he is not going to love me, love me fondly, +love me ever?'</p> + +<p>Yes, we all know</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Love the gift, is love the debt.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But in this world of ours it is often hard to get +one's own; and when got, our care must never cease, +lest it be wrested from us. The plant you bought +at the greenhouse, and that now blossoms on your +window-sill, became yours by purchase, but it has +required your daily care to keep it alive and persuade +it to unfold its blossoms. Infinitely more +delicate is this plant of love. It, too, you purchased. +You gave in exchange for it your own heart. It +too, you must daily tend with constant solicitude, +lest it wither and die.</p> + +<p>In this country, some women think that anything +is good enough to wear at home. They go about in +slatternly morning dresses, unkempt hair, and +slippers down at heel. 'Nobody will see me,' they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +say 'but my husband.' Let them learn a lesson +from the wives of the Orient.</p> + +<p>In those countries a married woman never goes +abroad except in long sombre robes and thick veil. +An English lady visiting the wife of one of the +wealthy merchants, found her always in full dress, +with toilet as carefully arranged as if she were going +to a ball.</p> + +<p>'Why!' exclaimed the visitor, at length, 'is it +possible that you take all this trouble to dress for +nobody but your husband?'</p> + +<p>'Do, then,' asked the lady in reply, 'the wives of +Englishmen dress for the sake of pleasing other +men?'</p> + +<p>The visitor was mute.</p> + +<p>Not that we would wish our women to be for ever +in full costume at home. That would be alarming. +But she who neglects neatness in attire, and, above +all, cleanliness of person, runs a great danger of +creating a sentiment of disgust in those around her. +Nothing is more repugnant to the husband's senses +than bad odors, and, for reasons which every woman +knows, women who neglect cleanliness are peculiarly +liable to them. When simple means do not remove +them, recourse should be promptly had to a medical +adviser.</p> + +<p>So it is with bad breath. This sometimes arises +from neglect of the teeth, sometimes from diseases +of the stomach, lungs, etc. A man of delicate olfactories +is almost forced to hold at arm's length a wife +with a fetid breath.</p> + +<p>There are some women—we have treated several—who +are plagued with a most disagreeable perspi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>ration, +especially about the feet, the arms, etc. Such +should not marry until this is cured. It is a rule +among army surgeons, to be chary about giving +men their discharge from military service on surgeon's +certificate. But fetid feet are at times so +horribly offensive, that they are considered an +allowable cause for discharge. No doubt, in some +of our States they would be received as a valid +ground for divorce!—certainly with quite as much +reason as many of the grounds usually alleged.</p> + +<p>In short, the judicious employment of all the +harmless arts of the toilet, and of those numerous +and effective means which modern science offers, +to acquire, to preserve, and to embellish beauty, is +a duty which woman, whether married or single, +should never neglect. With very little trouble, the +good looks and freshness of youth can be guarded +almost to old age; and, even when hopelessly gone, +simple and harmless means are at hand to repair +the injuries of years, or at least to conceal them. +But this is an art which would require a whole +volume to treat of, and which we cannot here touch +upon.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INHERITANCE" id="INHERITANCE"></a>INHERITANCE.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<p>We now come to the consideration of a very wonderful +subject,—that of inheritance. It is one of +absorbing interest, both because of the curious facts +it presents, and of the great practical bearing it has +upon the welfare of every individual.</p> + +<p>In order to the better understanding of this matter, +it is necessary at the outset to make a distinction +between four kinds or varieties of inheritance. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +most generally recognised is <i>direct inheritance</i>,—that +in which the children partake of the qualities +of the father and mother. But a child may not resemble +either parent, while it bears a striking likeness +to an uncle or aunt. This constitutes <i>indirect</i> +inheritance. Again, a child may be more like one +of its grandparents than either its father or mother. +Or, what is still more astonishing, it may display +some of the characteristics possessed only by a remote +ancestor. This form of inheritance is known +by the scientific term <i>atavism</i>, derived from the +Latin word <i>atavus</i>, meaning an ancestor. It is +curious to note in this connection that sometimes a +son resembles more closely his maternal than his +paternal grandsire in some male attribute,—as a +peculiarity of beard, or certain diseases confined to +the male sex. Though the mother cannot possess +or exhibit such male qualities, she has transmitted +them through her blood, from her father to +her son.</p> + +<p>The fourth variety of inheritance is that in which +the child resembles neither parent, but the first +husband of its mother. A woman contracting a +second marriage, transmits to the offspring of that +marriage the peculiarities she has received through +the first union. Breeders of stock know this tendency, +and prevent their brood-mares, cows, or +sheep from running with males of an inferior stock. +Thus the diseases of a man may be transmitted to +children which are not his own. Even though +dead, he continues to exert an influence over the +future offspring of his wife, by means of the ineffaceable +impress he had made in the conjugal rela<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>tion +upon her whole system, as we have previously +mentioned. The mother finds in the children of +her second marriage</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'... the touch of a vanished hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the sound of a voice that is still.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>A child may therefore suffer through the operation +of this mysterious and inexorable law, for sins +committed not by its own father, but by the first +husband of its mother. What a serious matter, +then, is that relation between the sexes called marriage! +How far-reaching are its responsibilities!</p> + +<p>A distinction must here be drawn between hereditary +transmission and the possession of qualities +at birth, which have not been the result of any impression +received from the system of father or +mother, but due to mental influences or accidents +operating through the mother. A child may be +born idiotic or deformed, not because either parent +or one of its ancestors was thus affected, but from +the influence of some severe mental shock received +by the mother during her pregnancy. This subject +of maternal impressions will come up for separate +consideration in the discussion of pregnancy. +Again, a child may be epileptic, although there is +no epilepsy in the family, simply because of the +intoxication of the father or mother at the time of +the intercourse resulting in conception. Such cases +are not due to hereditary transmission, for that +cannot be hereditary which has been possessed by +neither the parents nor any other relatives.</p> + +<p>In considering the effects of inheritance, we will +first pass in review those connected with the phy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>sical +constitution. These are exceedingly common +and universally known. Fortunately, not merely are +evil qualities inherited, but beauty, health, vigor, +and longevity also.</p> + + +<h3>BEAUTY.</h3> + +<p>Good looks are characteristic of certain families. +Alcibiades, the handsomest among the Grecians of +his time, descended from ancestors remarkable for +their beauty. So well and long has the desirable +influence of inheritance in this respect been recognised, +that there existed in Crete an ancient law +which ordained that each year the most beautiful +among the young men and women should be chosen +and forced to marry, in order to perpetuate the type +of their beauty. Irregularities of feature are transmitted +from parent to child through many generations. +The aquiline nose has existed some centuries, +and is yet hereditary in the Bourbon family. +The hereditary under-lip of the House of Hapsburg +is another example. When the poet Savage +speaks of</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'The tenth transmitter of a foolish face,'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>he scarcely exaggerates what is often seen in +families where some strongly-marked feature or +expression is long predominant or reappears in +successive generations.</p> + + +<h3>NECK AND LIMBS.</h3> + +<p>The form and length of the neck and limbs are +frequently hereditary, as is also the height of the +body. The union of two tall persons engenders<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +tall children. The father of Frederick the Great +secured for himself a regiment of men of gigantic +stature, by permitting the marriage of his guards +only with women of similar height. A tendency to +obesity often appears in generation after generation +of a family. Yet such cases are within the reach of +medical art.</p> + + +<h3>COMPLEXION.</h3> + +<p>Even the complexion is not exempt from this influence. +Blondes ordinarily procreate blondes, and +dark parents have dark-skinned children. An +union in marriage of fair and dark complexions +results in an intermediate shade in the offspring. +Not always, however; for it has been asserted that +the complexion chiefly follows that of the father. +The offspring of a black father and a white mother +is much darker than the progeny of a white father +and a dark mother. In explanation of this fact, it +has been said that the mother is not impressed by +her own color, because she does not look upon +herself, while the father's complexion attracts her +attention, and thus gives a darker tinge to the +offspring. Black hens frequently lay dark eggs; +but the reverse is more generally found to be +the case.</p> + + +<h3>PHYSICAL QUALITIES TRANSMITTED BY EACH +PARENT.</h3> + +<p>In general, it may be said that there exists a +tendency on the part of the father to transmit the +external appearance, the configuration of the head +and limbs, the peculiarities of the senses and of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +skin and the muscular condition; while the size of +the body, and the general temperament or constitution +of the child, are derived from the mother. +Among animals, the mule, which is the produce of +the male ass and the mare, is essentially a modified +ass having the general configuration of its sire, but +the rounded trunk and larger size of its dam. On +the other hand, the hinny, which is the offspring of +the stallion and the she-ass, is essentially a modified +horse, having the general configuration of the +horse, but being a much smaller animal than its +sire, and therefore approaching the dam in size as +well as in the comparative narrowness of its trunk. +The operation of this principle, though general, is +not universal. Exceptions may easily be cited. +In almost every large family it will be observed +that the likeness to the father predominates in +some children, while others most resemble the +mother. It is rare to meet with instances in which +some distinctive traits of both parents may not be +traced in the offspring.</p> + + +<h3>HAIR.</h3> + +<p>Peculiarities in the colour and structure of the +hair are transmitted. Darwin mentions a family in +which, for many generations, some of the members +had a single lock differently coloured from the rest +of the hair.</p> + + +<h3>TEMPERAMENT.</h3> + +<p>The law of inheritance rules in regard to the production +of the temperament. The crossing of one +temperament with another in marriage, produces a +modification in the offspring generally advantageous.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>FERTILITY.</h3> + +<p>A peculiar aptitude for procreation is sometimes +hereditary. The children of prolific parents are +themselves prolific. It is related that a French +peasant woman was confined ten times in fifteen +years. Her pregnancies, always multiple, produced +twenty-eight children. At her last confinement she +had three daughters, who all lived, married, and +gave birth to children,—the first to twenty-six, the +second to thirty-one, and the third to twenty-seven. +On the contrary, sometimes a tendency to sterility +is found fixed upon certain families, from which +they can only escape by the most assiduous care.</p> + + +<h3>LONGEVITY.</h3> + +<p>In the vegetable kingdom, the oak inherits the +power to live many years, while the peach-tree +must die in a short time. In the animal kingdom, +the robin becomes grey and old at ten years of +age; the rook caws lustily until a hundred. The +ass is much longer-lived than the horse. The mule +illustrates in a striking manner the hereditary tendency +of longevity. It has the size of the horse, +the long life of the ass. The weaker the ass, the +larger, the stronger, and the shorter-lived and more +horse-like the mule. It is also a curious and instructive +fact, that this animal is the toughest after +it has passed the age of the horse: the inherited +influence of the horse having been expended, the +vitality and hardiness of the ass remain.</p> + +<p>It is universally conceded, that longevity is the +privileged possession of some lineages. That<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +famous instance of old age, Thomas Parr, the best +authenticated on record, may be mentioned in illustration. +It is vouched for by Harvey, the distinguished +discoverer of the circulation of the blood. +Parr died in the reign of Charles the First, at the +age of 152, after having lived under nine sovereigns +of England. He left a daughter aged 127. His +father had attained to a great age, and his great-grandson +died at Cork at the age of 103.</p> + + +<h3>DEFORMITIES.</h3> + +<p>Deformities are undoubtedly sometimes transmitted +to the progeny. It is by no means rare to +find that the immediate ancestors of those afflicted +with superfluous fingers and toes, club-feet, or hare-lips, +were also the subjects of these malformations. +There are one or two families in Germany whose +members pride themselves upon the possession of +an extra thumb; and there is an Arab chieftain +whose ancestors have from time immemorial been +distinguished by a double thumb upon the right +hand. Darwin gives many similar instances. A +case of curious displacement of the knee-pans is +recorded, in which the father, sister, son, and the +son of the half-brother by the same father, had all +the same malformation.</p> + + +<h3>PERSONAL PECULIARITIES.</h3> + +<p>Gait, gestures, voice, general bearing, are all inherited. +Peculiar manners, passing into tricks, are +often transmitted, as in the case, often quoted, of the +father who generally slept on his back with his right +leg crossed over the left, and whose daughter, whilst<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +an infant in the cradle, followed exactly the same +habit, though an attempt was made to cure her. +Left-handedness is not unfrequently hereditary. It +would be very easy to go on multiplying instances, +but we forbear.</p> + + +<h3>HOW TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>A practical question now naturally suggests itself. +How can the vices of conformation be avoided, and +beauty secured? The art of having handsome children, +known under the name of <i>callipædia</i>, has received +much attention, more, perhaps, in years gone +by than of late. The noted Abbot Quillet wrote a +book in Latin on the subject. Many other works, +in which astrology plays a prominent part, were +written on this art in the sixteenth and seventeenth +centuries.</p> + +<p>We have already stated that well-formed parents +will transmit these qualities to their children, with +scarcely an exception. Like begets like. Unfortunately, +all parents are not beautiful. Yet all desire +beautiful offspring. The body of the child can +be influenced by the mind of the parent, particularly +of the mother. A mind habitually filled with +pleasant fancies and charming images is not without +its effect upon the offspring.</p> + +<p>The statues of Apollo, Castor and Pollux, Venus, +Hebe, and the other gods and goddesses which +were so numerous in the gardens and public places +in Greece, reproduced themselves in the sons and +daughters of the passers-by. We know also that +marriages contracted at an age too early or too late, +are apt to give imperfectly-developed children. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +crossing of temperaments and of nationalities +beautifies the offspring. The custom which has +prevailed, in many countries, among the nobility, of +purchasing the handsomest girls they could find +for their wives, has laid the foundation of a higher +type of features among the ruling classes. To obtain +this desired end, conception should take place +only when both parents are in the best physical +condition, at the proper season of the year, and +with mutual passion. (We have already hinted +how this can be regulated.) During pregnancy the +mother should often have some painting or engraving +representing cheerful and beautiful figures before +her eyes, or often contemplate some graceful statue. +She should avoid looking at, or thinking of ugly +people, or those marked with disfiguring diseases. +She should take every precaution to escape injury, +fright, and disease of any kind, especially chicken-pox, +erysipelas, or such disorders as leave marks on +the person. She should keep herself well nourished, +as want of food nearly always injures the child. +She should avoid ungraceful positions and awkward +attitudes, as by some mysterious sympathy these +are impressed on the child she carries. Let her +cultivate grace and beauty in herself at such a +time, and she will endow her child with them. +As anger and irritability leave imprints on the +features, she should maintain serenity and calmness.</p> + + +<h3>INHERITANCE OF TALENT AND GENIUS.</h3> + +<p>The effects of inheritance are perhaps more +marked upon the mind than upon the body. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +need not surprise us. If the peculiar form of the +brain can be transmitted, the mental attributes, the +result of its organization, must necessarily also be +transmitted.</p> + +<p>It is a matter of daily observation, that parents +gifted with bright minds, cultivated by education, +generally engender intelligent children; while the +offspring of those steeped in ignorance are stupid +from birth. It may be objected, that men the +most remarkable in ancient or modern times, as +Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Shakspeare, Milton, +Buffon, Cuvier, etc., have not transmitted their +vast intellectual powers to their progeny. In explanation, +it has been stated that what is known as +genius is not transmissible. The creation of a man +of genius seems to require a special effort of +Nature, after which, as if fatigued, she reposes a +long time before again making a similar effort. +But it may well be doubted whether even those +complex mental attributes on which genius and +talent depend are not inheritable, particularly when +both parents are thus endowed. That distinguished +men do not more frequently have distinguished +sons, may readily be accounted for when it is recollected +that the inherited character is due to the +combined influence of both parents. The desirable +qualities of the father may therefore be neutralized +in the offspring by the opposite or defective qualities +of the mother. That contrasts in the disposition +of parents are rather the rule than the +exception, we have already shown. Every one +tends to unite himself in friendship or love with a +different character from his own, seeking thereby<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +to supplement the qualities in which he feels his +own nature to be deficient. The mother, therefore, +may weaken, and perhaps obliterate, the qualities +transmitted by the father. Again, the influence of +some remote ancestors may make itself felt upon +the offspring through the operation of the law of +atavism, before alluded to, and thus prevent the +children from equaling their parents in their natural +endowments. Notwithstanding the workings of +these opposing forces, and others which might be +mentioned, we find abundant illustration of the +hereditary nature of talent and character.</p> + +<p>Of six hundred and five names occurring in a biographical +dictionary devoted to men distinguished +as great founders and originators, between the years +1453 and 1853, there were, as has been pointed out +by Mr. Galton, no less than one hundred and two +relationships, or one in six. Walford's <i>Men of the +Time</i> contains an account of the distinguished men +in England, the Continent, and America, then living. +Under the letter A there are eighty-five names, and +no less than twenty-five of these, or one in three +and a half, have relatives also in the list; twelve +of them are brothers, and eleven fathers and sons. +In Bryan's <i>Dictionary of Painters</i>, the letter A +contains three hundred and ninety-one names of +men, of whom sixty-five are near relatives, or one +in six; thirty-three of them are fathers and sons, +and thirty are brothers. In Fétis's <i>Biographie Universelle +des Musiciens</i>, the letter A contains five +hundred and fifteen names, of which fifty are near +relatives, or one in ten. Confining ourselves to +literature alone, it has been found that it is one to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +six and a half that a very distinguished literary man +has a very distinguished literary relative; and it is +one to twenty-eight that the relation is father and +son, or brother and brother, respectively. Among +the thirty-nine Chancellors of England, sixteen had +kinsmen of eminence; thirteen of them had kinsmen +of great eminence. These thirteen out of +thirty-nine, or one in three, are certainly remarkable +instances of the influence of inheritance. A similar +examination has been instituted in regard to the +judges of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and +other American States, with like results. The +Greek poet Æschylus counted eight poets and four +musicians among his ancestors. The greater part +of the celebrated sculptors of ancient Greece descended +from a family of sculptors. The same is +true of the great painters. The sister of Mozart +shared the musical talent of her brother. As there +are reasons, to be detailed hereafter, for believing +that the influence of the mother is even greater +than that of the father, how vastly would the offspring +be improved if distinguished men united +themselves in marriage to distinguished women for +generation after generation!</p> + + +<h3>INFLUENCE OF FATHERS OVER DAUGHTERS; +OF MOTHERS OVER SONS.</h3> + +<p>We have already called attention to the parts of +the physical organization transmitted by the father +and by the mother. It would seem, moreover, that +each parent exercises a special influence over the +child according to its sex. The father transmits to +the daughters the form of the head, the framework<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +of the chest and of the superior extremities, while +the conformation of the lower portion of the body +and the inferior extremities is transmitted by the +mother. With the sons this is reversed. They +derive from the mother the shape of the head and +of the superior extremities, and resemble the father +in the trunk and inferior extremities. From this it +therefore results, that boys procreated by intelligent +women will be intelligent, and that girls procreated +by fathers of talent will inherit their mental capacity. +The mothers of a nation, though unseen and +unacknowledged in the halls of legislation, determine +in this subtle manner the character of the +laws.</p> + +<p>History informs us that the greater part of the +women who have been celebrated for their intelligence, +reflected the genius of their fathers. Arete, +the most celebrated woman of her time, on account +of the extent of her knowledge, was the daughter +of the distinguished philosopher Aristippus, disciple +of Socrates. Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi, +was a daughter of Scipio. The daughter of the +Roman emperor Caligula was as cruel as her father. +Marcus Aurelius inherited the virtues of his mother, +and Commodus the vices of his. Charlemagne +shut his eyes upon the faults of his daughters, +because they recalled his own. Genghis-Khan, the +renowned Asiatic conqueror, had for his mother a +warlike woman. Tamerlane, the greatest warrior +of the fourteenth century, was descended from +Genghis-Khan by the female side. Catherine de +Medicis was as crafty and deceitful as her father, +and more superstitious and cruel. She had two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +sons worthy of herself,—Charles <span class="smcap">ix.</span>, who shot the +Protestants, and Henry <span class="smcap">iii.</span>, who assassinated the +Guises. Her daughter, Margaret of Valois, recalled +her father by her gentle manners. The cruel deeds +of Alexander VI., the dark records of which will +for ever stain the pages of history, are only rivaled +in atrocity by those of his children, the infamous +Borgias. Arete, Hypatia, Madame de Staël, +and George Sand,—all four had philosophers for +their fathers. The mother of Bernardo Tasso had +the gift of poetry. Buffon often speaks of the rich +imagination of his mother. The poet Burns, 'Rare +Ben Jonson,' Goethe, Walter Scott, Byron, and +Lamartine,—all were born of women remarkable +for their vivacity and brilliancy of language. Byron, +in his journal, attributes his hypochondria to a hereditary +taint derived from his mother, who was its +victim in its most furious form; and her father +'was strongly suspected of suicide.' He was said +to have resembled more his maternal grandfather +than any of his father's family. The daughter of +Molière was like her father in her wit and humor. +Beethoven had for a maternal grandmother an excellent +musician. The mother of Mozart gave the +first lessons to her son. A crowd of composers +have descended from John Sebastian Bach, who +long stood unrivaled as a performer on the organ, +and composer for that instrument. It may be remarked +here, that it is almost invariably true that +the ability or inability to acquire a knowledge of +music is derived from the ancestry. Parents who +cannot turn a tune or tell one note from another, +bring forth children equally unmoved 'with concord<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +of sweet sounds.' Examples could easily be adduced +at still greater length, illustrating the direct +influence of the father over the daughter, and +of the mother over the son. Those given will +suffice.</p> + + +<h3>INFLUENCE Of EDUCATION OVER INHERITED +QUALITIES.</h3> + +<p>In correcting the evil effects of inheritance on +the mind, education plays a very important part. +A child born with a tendency to some vice or intellectual +trait, may have this tendency entirely overcome, +or at least modified, by training. So, also, +virtues implanted by nature may be lost during the +plastic days of youth, in consequence of bad associations +and bad habits.</p> + +<p>Education can therefore do much to alter inherited +mental and moral qualities. Can it be +invoked to prevent the transmission of undesirable +traits, and secure the good? Everything that we +have at birth is a heritage from our ancestors. +Can virtuous habits be transmitted? Can we +secure virtues in our children by possessing them +ourselves? Science sadly says, through her latest +votaries, that we are scarcely more than passive +transmitters of a nature we have received, and +which we have no power to modify. It is only +after exposure during several generations to changed +conditions or habits, that any modification in the +offspring ensues. The son of an old soldier learns +his drill no more quickly than the son of an artisan. +We must therefore come to the conclusion with +Mr. Galton, that to a great extent our own embryos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +have sprung immediately from the embryos whence +our parents were developed, and these from the +embryos of their parents, and so on for ever. +Hence we are still barbarians in our nature. We +show it in a thousand ways. Children, who love +to dig and play in the dirt, have inherited that +instinct from untold generations of ancestors. Our +remote forefathers were barbarians, who dug with +their nails to get at the roots on which they lived. +The delicately-reared child reverts to primeval +habits. In like manner, the silk-haired, parlor-nurtured +spaniel springs from the caressing arms of +its mistress, to revel in the filth of the roadside. +It is the breaking out of inherited instinct.</p> + + +<h3>TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE.</h3> + +<p>Perhaps the most important part of the subject +of inheritance, is that which remains for us to consider +in relation to the transmission of disease, or +of a predisposition to it.</p> + +<p>Consumption,—that dread foe of modern life,—is +the most frequently encountered of all affections +as the result of inherited predisposition. Indeed +some of the most eminent physicians have believed +it is never produced in any other way. Heart +disease, disease of the throat, excessive obesity, +affections of the skin, asthma, disorders of the brain +and nervous system, gout, rheumatism, and cancer, +are all hereditary. A tendency to bleed frequently, +profusely and uncontrollably, from trifling wounds, +is often met with as a family affection.</p> + +<p>The inheritance of diseased conditions is also <i>influenced +by the sex.</i> A parent may transmit disease<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +exclusively to children of the same sex, or exclusively +to those of the opposite sex. Thus, a horn-like +projection on the skin peculiar to the Lambert +family was transmitted from the father to his sons +and grandsons alone. So mothers have through +several generations transmitted to their daughters +alone supernumerary fingers, color-blindness, and +other deformities and diseases. As a general rule, +any disease acquired during the life of either parent, +strongly tends to be inherited by the offspring of +the same sex rather than the opposite. We have +spoken of the apparently reverse tendency in regard +to the transmission of genius and talent.</p> + + +<h3>ARE MUTILATIONS INHERITABLE?</h3> + +<p>How, it may be inquired, is it in regard to the +inheritance of parts mutilated and altered by injuries +and disease during the life of either parent? +In some cases mutilations have been practised for +many generations, without any inherited result. +Different races of men have knocked out their +upper teeth, cut off the joints of their fingers, made +immense holes through their ears and nostrils, and +deep gashes in various parts of their bodies, and +yet there is no reason for supposing that these +mutilations have been inherited. The <i>Comprachicos</i>, +a hideous and strange association of men and +women, existed in the seventeenth century, whose +business it was to buy children and make of them +monsters. Victor Hugo, in a recent work, has +graphically told how they took a face and made of +it a snout, how they bent down growth, kneaded the +physiognomy, distorted the eyes, and in other ways<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +disfigured 'the human form divine,' in order to +make fantastic playthings for the amusement of the +noble-born. But history does not state that these +deformities were inherited; certainly no race of +monsters has resulted. The pits from small-pox +are not inherited, though many successive generations +must have been thus pitted by that disease +before the beneficent discovery of the immortal +Jenner. Children born with scars left by pustules +have had small-pox in the womb, acquired +through the system of the mother. On the other +hand, the lower animals, cats, dogs, and horses, +which have had their tails and legs artificially +altered or injured, have produced offspring with the +same condition of parts. A man who had his little +finger on the right hand almost cut off, and which +in consequence grew crooked, had sons with the +same finger on the same hand similarly crooked. +The eminent physiologist Dr. Brown-Séquard mentions, +that many young guinea-pigs inherited an +epileptic tendency from parents which had been +subjected to an operation at his hands resulting in +the artificial production of fits; while a large number +of guinea-pigs bred from animals which had not +been operated on were not thus affected. At any +rate, it cannot but be admitted that injuries and +mutilations which cause disease, are occasionally +inherited. But many cases of deformities existing +at birth, as hare-lip, are not due to inheritance, +although present in the father. They arise from a +change effected in the child while in the womb, +through an impression made upon the mind of the +mother, as will be shown hereafter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>LATE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE EFFECTS OF +INHERITANCE.</h3> + +<p>Not only are diseases inherited which make their +appearance at birth, but those which defer their exhibition +until a certain period of life corresponding +with that at which they showed themselves in the +parents. Thus in the Lambert family, before referred +to, the porcupine excrescence on the skin +began to grow in the father and sons at the same +age, namely, about nine weeks after birth. In an +extraordinary hairy family, which has been described, +children were produced during three generations +with hairy ears: in the father, the hair +began to grow over his body at six years old; in +his daughter somewhat earlier, namely, at one year; +and in both generations the milk teeth appeared +late in life, the permanent teeth being deficient. +Greyness of hair at an unusually early age has been +transmitted in some families. So, also, has the premature +appearance of baldness.</p> + + +<h3>HOW TO AVOID THE TENDENCY OF INHERITANCE.</h3> + +<p>These facts suggest the practical consideration, +that in those diseases the predisposition to which +alone is inherited, and which break out only after a +lapse of time, it is often altogether possible to prevent +the predisposition being developed into positive +disease. Thus, for instance, the inherited +tendency to <i>consumption</i> remains asleep in the system +until about the age of puberty, or later. Therefore, +by the use of a diet in which animal food +forms a large portion, properly regulated, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +systematic exercise in the open air, the practice of +the long inhalations before recommended, warm, +comfortable clothing, together with a residence, if +practicable, during the changeable and inclement +seasons of the year, in an equable climate, we can +often entirely arrest the development of the disease. +Prevention here is not only better than cure, but +often all that is possible. Those in whom the +disease has become active, must too often, like those +who entered Dante's infernal regions, 'abandon +hope.' Let our words of caution therefore be +heeded.</p> + +<p>When there is reason to believe that an individual +possesses an inherent tendency to any disease, it is +the duty of the medical adviser to study the constitution +of the patient thoroughly, and after such +study to recommend those measures of prevention +best suited to avert the threatened disorder. Above +all, let the physician look closely to the child at the +period of life when any grave constitutional inheritable +disease attacked the parent. This supervision +should be carried into adult years, for there are instances +on record of inherited diseases coming on at +an advanced age, as in that of a grandfather, father, +and son, who all became insane and committed +suicide near their fiftieth year. Gout, apoplexy, +insanity, chronic disease of the heart, epilepsy, consumption, +asthma, and other diseases, are all more +or less under the control of preventive measures. +Some hereditary diseases, such as idiocy and cancer, +we are impotent to prevent, in the present state of +our knowledge.</p> + +<p>A singular fact in connection with the transmis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>sion +of disease is the readiness with which a whole +generation is passed over, the affection appearing in +the next. A father or mother with consumption +may in some instances have healthy children, but +the grandchildren will die of the disease. Nature +kindly favors one generation, but only at the expense +of the next.</p> + +<p>Some diseases require, in addition to the general +means of prevention to be found in a strict observance +of the laws of health, some special measures +in order to effectually ward off their appearance. +But the extent of this work will not admit of their +discussion. Already, indeed, have we unduly, perhaps, +extended our remarks upon inheritance. The +interest and importance of the facts must be our +justification.</p> + + +<h3>WHY ARE WOMEN REDUNDANT?</h3> + +<p>It cannot be without interest to look into the relative +proportion of men and women now living. It +will interest us still more to inquire into the reason +why one sex preponderates over the other in numbers. +This done, we will answer the question; Is the +production of sex at all under the influence of the +human will?</p> + +<p>The female sex is the more numerous in all +thickly populated parts of the world where we +have trustworthy statistics. In Austria, England, +and Wales, there are nearly one hundred and five +women for every one hundred men. In Sweden +they are as one hundred and nine to one hundred. +In all cities the disproportion is greater than in +the country. In London there are one hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +and thirteen women to every one hundred men; +and in the large towns of Sweden they stand as +one hundred and sixteen to one hundred.</p> + +<p>This is not true, however, of newly-populated +regions. The relative difference is reversed in recent +and thinly-settled localities. In our Western +States, for instance, the number of the men exceeds +that of the women. In California they are +as three to one; in Nevada as eight to one; in +Colorado, twenty to one. In the State of Illinois +there were, according to a recent United States +census, ninety-three thousand more men than +women. In Massachusetts, on the contrary, there +are between fifty and sixty thousand more women +than men.</p> + +<p>The disproportion of men to women in new +countries is due to the disinclination of women to +emigrate. They are also unfitted for the hardships +of pioneer life.</p> + +<p>How is this general preponderance in the number +of women produced? Is it because there are more +girls born than boys? Not at all. The statistics +of over fifty-eight millions of persons show that there +are one hundred and six living boys born to every +one hundred girls. In the state of Rhode Island, +for instance, the proportion for three years, from +1853 to 1855, was one thousand and sixty-four boys +born to one thousand girls. But now we meet with +the wonderful arrangement of nature, that a larger +proportional number of male infants die during the +first year of their lives than of females. In the +second year, the mortality, though less excessive, +still remains far greater on the male side. It sub<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>sequently +decreases, and at the age of four or five +years is nearly equal for both sexes. In after life, +from the age of fifteen to forty, the mortality is +something greater among women, but not sufficiently +so to make the number of the two sexes +equal. The greater tendency of male offspring to +die early is seen even before birth, for more male +children are still-born than female,—namely, as +three to two. For this reason, the term 'the stronger +sex,' applied to men, has been regarded by some +authors as a misnomer. They are physically weaker +in early life, and succumb more readily to noxious +influences.</p> + +<p>Having thus pointed out that there are more +women actually living in the world than men, +although a larger number of boys are born than +girls, we will consider for a moment some of the +laws of nature which determine the number of the +sexes. Without giving the figures,—which would +make dry reading,—we will state in brief the conclusions +derived from many observations, extending +over many years and many nationalities. The +relative age of the parents has an especial influence +upon the sex of the children. Seniority on the +father's side gives excess of male offspring. Equality +in the parents' age gives a slight preponderance of +female offspring. Seniority on the mother's side +gives excess of female offspring. This tallies with +the fact that in all civilized countries, as has been +stated, the proportion of male births is greater than +that of females; for, in accordance with the +customs of society, the husband is generally older +than the wife. A curious instance, in confirmation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +of this law, has recently come under our observation. +A patient, married for the second time, is ten +years older than her husband. She has two children +by him, both girls. Singular to relate, her former +husband was ten years older than herself, and by +him she had four children, of whom three were +boys, the fourth (a girl) having a twin brother.</p> + +<p>Still, the relative age is not the sole cause which +fixes the sex of the child. Its operation is sometimes +overruled by conflicting agencies. In some +districts of Norway, for example, there has been a +constant deficiency in boys, while in others the reverse +has been the case. The circumstance is well +known, that after great wars, and sometimes epidemics, +in which a disproportionate number of men +have died, more boys are born than usual. Men +who pass a sedentary life, and especially scholars +who exhaust their nervous force to a great extent, +beget more girls than boys. So, also, a very advanced +age on the man's side diminishes the number +of males among the offspring. The quantity and +the quality of the food; the elevation of the abode; +the conditions of temperature; the parents' mode +of life, rank, religious belief, frequency of sexual intercourse,—have +all been shown to be causes contributing +to the disproportion of the sexes, besides +the relative ages of the parents.</p> + +<p>Some writers have stated that a southerly or +warm and humid constitution of the year is most +favorable to the birth of female infants, while in +cold and dry years most males are produced. This +statement has not been supported by trustworthy +statistics in regard to the human race, but in respect<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +of domestic animals the agriculturists of France have +long observed that the season has much to do with +the sex. When the weather is dry and cold, and +the wind northerly, mares, ewes, and heifers produce +more males than when the opposite meteorological +condition prevails.</p> + +<p>The saying among nurses, that 'This is the year +for sons or daughters,' is based upon the erroneous +supposition that mothers bring forth more male infants +in one year than in another.</p> + +<p>That, however, which concerns us the most in this +connection, is the question:</p> + + +<h3>CAN THE SEXES BE PRODUCED AT WILL?</h3> + +<p>This question was asked many centuries ago. It +was a hard one, and remained without a satisfactory +answer until quite recently. Science has at last replied +to it with authority. M. Thury, Professor in +the Academy of Geneva, has shown how males and +females may be produced in accordance with our +wishes.</p> + +<p>Some families are most anxious for male offspring, +others ardently desire daughters. And +would it not often be a matter of national concern +to control the percentage of sexes in the population? +Is it not a 'consummation most devoutly +to be wished,' to bring about that Utopian condition +when there would be no sighing maids at +home, nor want of warriors in the field? The discussion +of this subject is therefore important and +allowable.</p> + +<p>It has been observed that queen-bees lay female +eggs first, and male eggs afterwards. So with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +hens: the first-laid eggs give female, the last male +products. Mares shown the stallion late in their +periods, drop horse-colts rather than fillies.</p> + +<p>Professor Thury, from the consideration of these +and other like facts, formed this law for stock-raisers: +'If you wish to produce females, give the +male at the first signs of heat; if you wish males, +give him at the end of the heat.' But it is easy to +form a theory. How was this law sustained in +practice? We have now in our possession the +certificate of a Swiss stock-grower, son of the +President of the Swiss Agricultural Society, Canton +de Vaud, under date of February 1867, which +says:</p> + +<p>'In the first place, on twenty-two successive occasions +I desired to have heifers. My cows were of +Schurtz breed, and my bull a pure Durham. I +succeeded in these cases. Having bought a pure +Durham cow, it was very important for me to have +a new bull, to supersede the one I had bought at +great expense, without leaving to chance the production +of a male. So I followed accordingly the +prescription of Professor Thury, and the success +has proved once more the truth of the law. I have +obtained from my Durham bull six more bulls +(Schurtz-Durham cross) for fieldwork; and having +chosen cows of the same color and height, I obtained +perfect matches of oxen. My herd amounted +to forty cows of every age.</p> + +<p>'In short, I have made in all twenty-nine experiments +after the new method, and in every one I +succeeded in the production of what I was looking +for—male and female. I had not one single<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +failure. All the experiments have been made by +myself, without any other person's intervention; +consequently, I do declare that I consider as real +and certainly perfect the method of Professor +Thury.'</p> + +<p>A perfectly trustworthy observer communicates +by the <i>Medical and Surgical Reporter</i> of Philadelphia +for May 2, 1868, the results of similar experiments +on animals, with like conclusions.</p> + +<p>The plan of M. Thury was also tried on the +farms of the late Emperor of the French, with, it +is asserted, the most unvarying success.</p> + +<p>What is the result of the application of this law +to the human race? Dr. F. J. W. Packman, of +Wimborne, has stated in the <i>Lancet</i>, that, 'in the +human female, conception in the first half of the +time between menstrual periods produces female +offspring, and male in the latter. When a female +has gone beyond the time she calculated upon, it +will generally turn out to be a boy.'</p> + +<p>In the Philadelphia <i>Medical and Surgical Reporter</i> +for February 8, 1868, a respectable physician +writes that, in numerous instances that have come +under his observation, Professor Thury's theory has +proved correct, 'Whenever intercourse has taken +place in from two to six days after the cessation +of the menses, girls have been produced; and +whenever intercourse has taken place in from nine +to twelve days after the cessation of the menses, +boys have been produced. In every case I have +ascertained not only the date at which the mother +placed conception, but also the time when the +menses ceased, the date of the first and subsequent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +intercourse for a month or more after the cessation +of the menses,' etc.</p> + +<p>Again, a physician writes to the same journal for +June 20, 1868, recording the result of his own experience.</p> + +<p>A farmer in Louisiana states, in the <i>Turf, Field, +and Farm</i>, in support of this law, that 'I have +already been able in many cases to guess with certainty +the sex of a future infant. More than thirty +times, among my friends, I have predicted the sex +of a child before its birth, and the event proved +nearly every time that I was right.'</p> + +<p>The wife, therefore, who would wish, as Macbeth +desired of his, to</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Bring forth men-children only,'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>should avoid exposing herself to conception during +the early part of the time between her menstrual +periods.</p> + +<p>The prediction of the sex of the child before +birth can now be with some accuracy made by the +intelligent and skilful physician. The method of +doing so will be mentioned in treating of pregnancy.</p> + + +<h3>TWIN-BEARING.</h3> + +<p>As a rule, a woman has one child at a time. +Twins, when they occur, are looked upon with disfavor +by most people. There is a popular notion +that they are apt to be wanting in physical and +mental vigor. This opinion is not without foundation. +A careful scientific examination of the subject +has shown, that of imbeciles and idiots a much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +larger proportion is actually found among the twins +born than in the general community. In families +where twinning is frequent, bodily deformities likewise +occur with frequency. Among the relatives +of imbeciles and idiots, twin-bearing is common. +In fact, the whole history of twin-births is of an +exceptional character, indicating imperfect development +and feeble organization in the product, and +leading us to regard twins in the human species as +a departure from the physiological rule, and therefore +injurious to all concerned. Monsters born +without brains have rarely occurred except among +twins.</p> + +<p>The birth of twins occurs once in about eighty +deliveries. A woman is more apt to have no children +than to have more than one at a time. In +view of the increased danger to both mother and +child, this rarity of a plural birth is fortunate.</p> + + +<h3>WHY ARE TWINS BORN?</h3> + +<p>What are the causes or favouring circumstances +bringing about this abnormal child-bearing? For +it is brought about by the operation of laws. It is +not an accident. There are no accidents in nature. +By some it is supposed to be due to the mother, by +some to the father. There are facts in favour of +both opinions. Certain women married successively +to several men have always had twins, while +their husbands with other wives have determined +single births. Certain men have presented the +same phenomenon. We can scarcely cite an +example more astonishing than that of a countryman +who was presented to the Empress of Russia<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +in 1755. He had had two wives. The first had +fifty-seven children in twenty-one confinements; +the second, thirty-three in thirteen. All the confinements +had been quadruple, triple, or double. +A case has come under our own observation in +which the bearing of twins has seemed to be due to +a constitutional cause. The wife has nine children. +The first was a single birth, a girl; the others were +all twin-births, and boys.</p> + +<p>It has been asserted that compound pregnancies +are more frequent in certain years than in others. +But that which seems to exert the greatest actual +influence over the production of twins is the age of +the mother. Very extensive statistics have demonstrated +that, from the earliest child-bearing period +until the age of forty is reached, the fertility of +mothers in twins gradually increases. Between the +ages of twenty and thirty, fewest wives have twins. +The average age of the twin-bearer is older than +the general run of bearers. It is well known that +by far the greater number of twins are born of +elderly women. While three-fifths of all births +occur among women under thirty years of age, +three-fifths of all the twins are born to those over +thirty years of age. Newly-married women are +more likely to have twins at the first labour the +older they are. The chance that a young wife +from fifteen to nineteen shall bear twins is only as +one to one hundred and eighty-nine; from thirty-five +to thirty-nine the chance is as one to forty-five,—that +is, the wives married youngest have fewest +twins; and there is an increase as age advances, +until forty is reached.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>Race seems to have some influence over plural +births. They occur relatively oftener among the +Irish than among the English.</p> + + +<h3>INFLUENCE OF TWIN-BEARING ON SIZE OF +FAMILIES.</h3> + +<p>Do women bearing twins have in the end larger +families than those never having but one at a time? +Popular belief would answer this question in the +affirmative. Such a reply would also seem to receive +support from the fact, well established, that +twins are more frequently additions to an already +considerable family than they are either the first of +a family or additional to a small family. But +statistics have not answered this question as yet +positively. They seem, however, in favour of the +supposition that twin-bearing women have larger +families than their neighbors.</p> + +<p>Women are more apt to have twins in their first +pregnancy than any other, but after the second confinement +the bearing of twins increases in frequency +with the number of the pregnancy. It becomes, +therefore, an indication of an excessive family, and +is to be deplored.</p> + + +<h3>MORE THAN TWO CHILDREN AT A BIRTH.</h3> + +<p>Cases of the birth of more than two children at a +time are still less frequently met with than twins. +They are scarcely ever encountered, excepting in +women who have passed their thirtieth year. Such +cases are all more or less unfortunate both for the +mother and the children.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THREE AT A BIRTH.</h3> + +<p>The births of triplets are not exclusively confined +to women above thirty years, but in those younger +they are so rare as to be great curiosities. Neither +are they apt to occur in the first pregnancy. In +this respect they differ from twins, who, as has just +been said, are peculiarly prone to make their appearance +at the first childbirth. Only four cases of +treble births occurred among the 36,000 accouchements +which have taken place in the Hospice de +Maternité of Paris in a determined time. Out of +48,000 cases of labor in the Royal Maternity +Charity in London, only three triplets occurred. +History informs us that the three Roman brothers, +the Horatii, were triplets. They fought and conquered +the three Curiatii of Alba (667 B. C.) who +were likewise triplets.</p> + +<p>As an interesting fact in connection with this +subject, we may mention that in the St. Petersburg +Midwives' Institute, between 1845-59, there were +three women admitted, who, in their fifteenth pregnancies, +had triplets, and each had triplets three +times in succession. Happily, the fifteenth pregnancy +is not reached by most women.</p> + + +<h3>FOUR AT A BIRTH.</h3> + +<p>Instances of quadruplets are fewer than triplets. +But four vigorous infants have been born at one +birth.</p> + + +<h3>FIVE AT A BIRTH.</h3> + +<p>The birth of <i>five</i> living children at a time is very +exceptional, and is usually fatal to the offspring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +A remarkable case of this kind is reported in a late +medical journal. A woman aged thirty, the wife +of a laborer, and the mother of six children, was +taken in labor about the seventh month of her +pregnancy. Five children, and all alive, were given +birth to,—three boys and two girls. Four of the +children survived an hour, and died within a few +moments of each other. The fifth, a female, and +the last born, lived six hours, and was so vigorous +that, notwithstanding its diminutive size, hopes were +entertained of its surviving.</p> + +<p>Another case is reported in a recent French +medical journal. The woman was forty years old. +She had had twins once, and single children five +times. On her seventh pregnancy, when five months +gone, she was as large as women usually are at the +end of their full term. At the close of the month +she was delivered of five children. They were all +born alive, and lived from four to seven minutes. +All five children were males, well built and as well +developed as fœtuses of five and one-half months +usually are in a single birth. The woman made a +good recovery. Other cases of five at a birth +might be quoted. They are known to medical +science as very singular and noteworthy occurrences.</p> + + +<h3>INCREDIBLE NUMBERS.</h3> + +<p>Some books speak of seven, eight, nine, ten, and +more, children at a birth. But these statements are +so marvelous, so incredible, and unsupported by +proper testimony, that they do not merit any degree +of confidence. The climax of such extraor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>dinary +assertions is reached, and a good illustration +of the credulity of the seventeenth century furnished, +by a writer named Goftr. This traveller, +in 1630, saw a tablet in a church at Leusdown +(Lausdunum), about five miles from the Hague, +with an inscription stating that a certain illustrious +countess, whose name and family he records, brought +forth at one birth, in the fortieth year of her age, in +the year 1276, 365 infants. They were all baptized +by Guido, the Suffragan. The males were called +John, and the females Elizabeth. They all, with +their mother, died on the same day, and were buried +in the above-mentioned church. This monstrous +birth was said to have been caused by the sin of +the countess in insulting a poor woman with twins +in her arms, who prayed that her insulter might +have at one birth the same number of children as +there were days in the year. Of course, notwithstanding +the story being attested by a tablet in a +church, it must be placed among the many other +instances of superstition afforded by an ignorant +and credulous era.</p> + +<p>We may remark, in closing this subject, that +fewer plural births come to maturity than pregnancies +with single children. Miscarriages are comparatively +more frequent in such pregnancies than in +ordinary ones.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREGNANCY" id="PREGNANCY"></a>PREGNANCY</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><i>VENERATION FOR THE PREGNANT.</i></h3> + +<p>We have been considering woman hitherto as +maiden and wife. She now approaches the sacred +threshold of maternity. She is with child. In no +period of her life is she the subject of an interest so +profound and general. The young virgin and the +new wife have pleased by their grace, spirit, and +beauty. The pregnant wife is an object of active +benevolence and religious respect. It is interesting +to note how, at all times and in all countries, she +has been treated with considerate kindness and +great deference. She has been made the subject of +public veneration, and sometimes even of religious +worship. At Athens and at Carthage the murderer +escaped from the sword of justice if he sought refuge +in the house of a pregnant woman. The Jews +allowed her to eat forbidden meats. The laws of +Moses pronounced the penalty of death against all +those who by bad treatment or any act of violence +caused a woman to abort. Lycurgus compared +women who died in pregnancy to the brave +dead on the field of honour, and accorded to them +sepulchral inscriptions. In ancient Rome, where +all citizens were obliged to rise and stand during +the passage of a magistrate, wives were excused +from rendering this mark of respect, for the reason<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +that the exertion and hurry of the movement might +be injurious to them in the state in which they were +supposed to be. In the kingdom of Pannonia all +enceinte women were in such veneration, that a man +meeting one on the road was obliged, under penalty +of a fine, to turn back and accompany and protect +her to her place of destination. The Catholic +Church has in all times exempted pregnant wives +from fasts. The Egyptians decreed, and in most +Christian countries the law at the present time obtains, +that if a woman shall be convicted of an +offence the punishment of which is death, the sentence +shall not be executed if it be proved that she +is pregnant.</p> + + +<h3>SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PREGNANCY.</h3> + +<p>1. The sign most commonly relied upon is the <i>cessation +of the monthly sickness.</i> The wife who misses +the expected return of her illness, is apt to conclude +that conception has taken place. This sign is far +from being an infallible one.</p> + +<p>It should be borne in mind that young married +women sometimes have a slight show for two or +three periods after their first impregnation. Ignorance +of this fact has very frequently led to a miscalculation +of the time of confinement. On the +other hand, the menses will sometimes become +arrested soon after marriage, and continue so for +one or two months, without there existing any +pregnancy. The temporary disappearance of the +monthly sickness in such cases is due to the profound +impression made upon the system by the +new relations of the individual.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>It not unfrequently happens that menstruation +continues with regularity during the whole period +of pregnancy. Exceptional cases are given by +distinguished writers on midwifery, of women menstruating +during their pregnancy, and at no other +time.</p> + +<p>As a general rule, when a healthy wife misses +her monthly sickness, she is pregnant. But this +symptom, though a strong one, must be supported +by others before it can be regarded as establishing +anything.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Morning sickness</i> is a very common, a very +early, and, in the opinion of most mothers, a very +conclusive symptom of pregnancy. We have already +had occasion to remark that it sometimes makes its +appearance almost simultaneously with conception. +It usually comes on in the first few weeks, and continues +until the third or fourth month or until +quickening. This symptom is apt to be a troublesome +one. Often the vomiting is slight, and immediately +followed by relief. But it may produce +violent and ineffectual straining for some time. It +is, however, not to be called a disease: unless it +proceeds to an exhausting degree, it must be looked +upon as favorable and salutary. There is an old +and true proverb, that 'a sick pregnancy is a safe +one.' The absence of nausea and vomiting is a source +of danger to the mother and child. Women who +habitually fail to experience them, are exceedingly +apt to miscarry. In such cases medical skill should +be invoked to bring about the return of these symptoms, +of such importance to healthful pregnancy.</p> + +<p>Morning sickness is therefore a very general,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +almost constant, accompaniment of the pregnant +condition; and great dependence may be placed +upon it as a sign.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Changes in the breasts</i> are valuable as symptoms. +They become larger and firmer, and the +seat of a pricking or stinging sensation. The nipples +are swollen, prominent, and sometimes sore or +painful. The veins beneath the skin appear more +conspicuous, and of a deeper blue than ordinary. +The peculiar circles of rose-coloured skin which +surround the nipples increase in extent, change to +a darker color, and become covered with a number +of little elevations. Subsequently, numerous mottled +patches, or round spots of a whitish hue, scatter +themselves over the outer part of this circle.</p> + +<p>The time at which these changes make their appearance +is variable. They may begin to develope +themselves in two or three weeks, oftener not until +the second or third month, and in women of a delicate +build, sometimes not until the latter end of +pregnancy. Occasionally no alteration whatever +occurs in the breasts until after confinement, in +which cases the secretion of milk is delayed for +several days after the birth of the child. In some +rare instances the breasts never assume maternal +proportions, and the mother is debarred from the +pleasure and duty of nursing her own child.</p> + +<p>4. <i>Quickening</i> is the next symptom we will consider. +By this term is meant the arrival of that +time when the mother first becomes conscious by +the movements of the child of its presence. The +ancients thought that then life was imparted to the +new being. Modern physiology emphatically con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>demns +this absurdity. The embryo is as much +alive in the very earliest moments of pregnancy as +at any future stage of its existence. Let every +woman therefore remember that she who produces +abortion is equally guilty in the eyes of science and +of Heaven, whether the act be committed before or +after the period of quickening.</p> + +<p>How is quickening produced? Undoubtedly by +the movements of the child. So soon as its nervous +and muscular systems become sufficiently developed +to enable it to move its limbs, the mother, if the +movements be sufficiently active, is rendered sensible +of her situation. But the muscular contractions +may not be strong enough to impart any sensation +to the mother. In many cases in which they are +too feeble to be noticed by herself, the skilled accoucheur +is capable of recognizing them. And the +movements of the fœtus may be excited in various +ways known to physicians.</p> + +<p><i>Time of quickening.</i>—This symptom usually +occurs about the middle of pregnancy, near the +eighteenth week. Some women feel the movements +of the fœtus as early as the third month of +pregnancy, others not till the sixth month. Cases +occur in which no movement whatever is felt until +the eighth or ninth month, or even not at all. It +has been suggested that a fœtus which does not +indicate its presence in this way is a kind of 'Lazy +Lawrence,' too indolent to move. Certainly, many +of both sexes exhibit after birth such indomitable +love of repose, that it can readily be supposed they +were equally passive in fœtal life.</p> + +<p>The non-occurrence of this sign may, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +be due to the debility of the young child, or to a +want of sensibility in the walls of the womb itself.</p> + +<p>A woman may be deceived, and suppose she has +quickened, when her sensations are to be traced to +flatulence of the bowels, or perhaps a dropsical effusion. +Many ludicrous instances of self-deception +are on record. The historian Hume states that +Queen Mary, in her extreme desire to have issue, +so confidently asserted that she felt the movements +of the child, that public proclamation was made of +the interesting event. Despatches were sent to +foreign courts; national rejoicings were had; the +sex of the child was settled, for everybody was certain +it was going to be a male; and Bonner, Bishop +of London, made public prayers, saying that Heaven +would pledge to make him beautiful, vigorous, and +witty. But all those high hopes and eager expectations +were destined never to be realized. The +future disclosed that the supposed quickening was +merely a consequence of disordered health, and +commencing dropsy.</p> + +<p>Some women possess the power of imitating the +movements of a fœtus, by voluntary contraction of +the abdominal muscles. A well-known colored +woman of Charleston, 'Aunt Betty,' had a great +reputation as having 'been pregnant for fifteen +years.' She made a good deal of money, by exhibiting +to physicians and medical students who +were curious, the pretended movements of her unborn +child. She was repeatedly presented to the +medical classes in the city. No pregnancy existed, +as was revealed by a <i>post-mortem</i> examination. +She imposed upon the credulous by the habit she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +had acquired of jerking her muscles at pleasure, +and thus closely simulating the movements of an +embryo.</p> + +<p>5. <i>Changes in the abdomen.</i>—In the first two +months of pregnancy the abdomen is <i>less</i> prominent +than usual: it recedes, and presents a flat appearance. +The navel is also drawn in and depressed. +About the third month a swelling frequently shows +itself in the lower part of the abdomen, and then +diminishes, thus leading the wife to suppose that +she was mistaken in her condition, for she finds +herself at the fourth month smaller than at the +third. After this, however, there is a gradual increase +in the size and hardness of the abdomen. +What is of more value, is the peculiar form of the +swelling. It is pear-shaped, and is thus distinguished +from the swelling of dropsy and other +affections. The navel begins to come forward, and +finally protrudes. The pouting appearance it then +presents is very characteristic.</p> + +<p>In this connection it may be remarked that, +towards the change of life, childless married women +often think they perceive that 'hope deferred' is +about to be gratified. An enlargement of the +abdomen takes place at this time, from a deposit +of fatty matter. The nervous perturbations and +the cessation of the menses, which are natural to +this period, are looked upon as confirmations +of the opinion that pregnancy exists. But +the day of generation with them has passed. +These symptoms herald the approach of the +winter of life, which brings with it death to the +reproductive system.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>6. <i>Changes in the skin.</i>—The alterations occurring +in the skin are worth observing. Those women +who have a delicate complexion and are naturally +pale take a high color, and vice versâ. In some +cases a considerable quantity of hair appears on +those parts of the face occupied by the beard in +men; it disappears after labor, and returns on +every subsequent pregnancy. Oftentimes the skin +becomes loose and wrinkled, giving a haggard, +aged air to the face, and spoiling good looks. +Women who ordinarily perspire freely, have now a +dry, rough skin; whereas those whose skin is not +naturally moist, have copious perspiration, which +may be of a peculiarly strong odor. Copper-colored +or yellow blotches sometimes appear upon +the skin, mole spots become darker and larger, +and a dark ring developes itself beneath the eyes. +The whole appearance is thus in many cases +altered. On the other hand, obstinate, long-existing +skin affections sometimes take their departure +during pregnancy, perhaps never to return. These +alterations do not occur in all women, nor in all +pregnancies of the same woman.</p> + +<p>7. We may now group together a number of less +important and less constant signs, such as <i>depraved +appetite, longings for unnatural food, excessive formation +of saliva in the mouth, heartburn, loss of appetite</i> +in the first two or three months, succeeded by a +voracious desire for food, which sometimes compels +the woman to rise at night in order to eat, <i>toothache, +sleepiness, diarrhœa, palpitation of the heart, pain in +the right side</i>, etc. These, when they occur singly, +are of little value as evidence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>Among these, that of <i>depraved appetite</i> is by far +the most important, and may be regarded as quite +significant. A married woman in her ordinary +health, suddenly feeling this morbid taste for chalk, +charcoal, slate pencil, and other unusual articles of +food, may look upon it as a strong presumptive evidence +of impregnation.</p> + +<p>When any or all of this group of symptoms accompany +the ceasing to be 'regular,' the morning +sickness, the changes in the breasts and the other +signs which have been enumerated, the wife may be +quite sure that she is pregnant.</p> + +<p>8. <i>Changes in the mind.</i>—The most wonderful of +all the changes which attend pregnancy are those +in the nervous system. The woman is rendered +more susceptible, more impressible. Her character +is transformed. She is no longer pleasant, confiding, +gentle, and gay. She becomes hasty, passionate, +jealous, and bitter. But in those who are naturally +fretful and bad-tempered a change for the better is +sometimes observed, so that the members of the +household learn from experience to hail with delight +the mother's pregnancy as a period when clouds +and storms give place to sunshine and quietness. +In some rare cases, also, pregnancy confers increased +force and elevation to the ideas, and augmented +power to the intellect.</p> + +<p>As this book is written for women only, we do +not mention any of the signs or symptoms of pregnancy +which medical men alone can recognize. We +will merely state that there are many other signs +besides these referred to, of great value to the +doctor. One, the sound of the heart of the child,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +which the practised ear can detect at about the +fifth month, is positive and conclusive.</p> + + +<h3>MISCARRIAGE.</h3> + +<p>Miscarriage is a fruitful source of disease, and +often of danger, to wives. It also causes a frightful +waste of human life. Unborn thousands annually +die in this manner.</p> + +<p><i>Frequency.</i>—Miscarriage is by no means a rare +occurrence. Statistics show that thirty-seven out +of one hundred mothers miscarry before they attain +the age of thirty years. But this accident is much +more apt to occur during the latter than during the +first half of the child-bearing period; and therefore +it is estimated that ninety out of one hundred of all +women who continue in matrimony until the change +of life, miscarry.</p> + +<p><i>Influence of age of mother.</i>—A woman who +marries at forty is very much disposed to miscarry; +whereas, had she married at thirty, she might have +borne children when older than forty. As a mother +approaches the end of her child-bearing period, it is +likely that she will terminate her career of fertility +with a premature birth. The last pregnancies are +not only most commonly unsuccessful, but there is +also reason to believe that the occurrence of idiocy +in a child may be associated with the circumstance +of its being the last-born of its mother. It has been +asserted, in this connection, that men of genius are +frequently the first-born. First pregnancies are also +fraught with the danger of miscarriage, which occurs +more often in them than in others, excepting the +latest. A woman is particularly apt to miscarry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +with her first child, if she be either exceedingly +nervous or full-blooded.</p> + +<p><i>Influence of period of pregnancy.</i>—Miscarriage is +most frequent in the earlier months of pregnancy—from +the first to the third. It is also very prone to +happen about the sixth month. Habit makes itself +felt here; for women who have many times experienced +this sad accident, encounter it nearly always +at the same epoch of their pregnancy.</p> + +<p><i>How early can the child live?</i>—The infant is incapable, +as a rule, of an independent existence, if +brought into the world before the end of the sixth +month. The law of France regards a child born +one hundred and eighty days after wedlock as not +only capable of living, but as legitimate and worthy +of all legal and civil rights. There are many cases +mentioned, by the older medical writers, of children +born previous to this period living. One of the +most curious is that recorded by Van Swieten. The +boy Fortunio Liceti was brought into the world +before the sixth month, in consequence of a fright +his mother had at sea. When born, it is said, he +was the size of a hand, and his father placed him +in an oven, for the purpose, probably, it has been +suggested, of making him <i>rise.</i> Although born +prematurely, he died late, for we are told that he +attained his seventy-ninth year. Professor Gunning +S. Bedford of New York records the case of a +woman in her fourth confinement, who, before she +had completed her sixth month, was delivered of a +female infant weighing two pounds nine ounces. +The surface of the body was of a scarlet hue. It +breathed, and in a short time after birth cried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +freely. After being wrapped in soft cotton, well +lubricated with warm sweet-oil, it was fed with the +mother's milk, by having a few drops at a time put +into its mouth. At first it had great difficulty in +swallowing, but gradually it succeeded in taking +sufficient nourishment, and is now a vigorous, +healthy young woman.</p> + +<p><i>Dangers to mother.</i>—Wives are too much in the +habit of making light of miscarriages. They are +much more frequently followed by disease of the +womb than are confinements at full terms. There +is a greater amount of injury done to the parts +than in natural labor. While after confinement +ample time is afforded by a long period of repose +for the bruised and lacerated parts to heal, after a +miscarriage no such rest is obtained. Menstruation +soon returns; conception may quickly follow. Unhappily, +there is no custom requiring husband and +wife to sleep apart for a month after a miscarriage, +as there is after a confinement. Hence, especially +if there be any pre-existing uterine disease, or a +predisposition thereto, miscarriage is a serious +thing.</p> + +<p><i>Causes.</i>—The irritation of hemorrhoids or straining +at stool will sometimes provoke an early expulsion +of a child. Excessive intercourse by the newly +married is a very frequent cause. Bathing in the +ocean has been known to produce it. Nursing is +exceedingly apt to do so. It has been shown by a +distinguished medical writer, that, in a given number +of instances, miscarriage occurred in seventeen +per cent. of cases in which the woman conceived +while nursing, and in only ten per cent. where con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>ception +occurred at some other time. A wife, +therefore, who suspects herself to be pregnant, +should wean her child. The extraction of a tooth, +over-exertion and over-excitement, a fall, a blow, +any violent emotion, such as anger, sudden and +excessive joy, or fright, running, dancing, horseback +exercise, or riding in a badly-built carriage +over a rough road, great fatigue, lifting heavy +weights, the abuse of purgative medicines, disease +or displacement of the womb, small-pox, or a +general condition of ill-health, are all fruitful and +well-known exciting causes of this unfortunate mishap, +in addition to those which have been before +mentioned.</p> + +<p><i>Prevention.</i>—The eminent practitioner, Dr. Tilt, +says, 'The way to prevent miscarriage is to lead a +quiet life, particularly during those days of each +successive month when, under other circumstances, +the woman would menstruate; and to abstain +during those days not only from long walks and +parties, but also from sexual intercourse.'</p> + +<p>It is especially desirable to avoid a miscarriage +in the first pregnancy, for fear that the habit of +miscarrying shall then be set up, which it will be +very difficult to eradicate. Therefore newly-married +women should carefully avoid all causes which are +known to induce the premature expulsion of the +child. If it should take place in spite of all precautions, +extraordinary care should be exercised in +the subsequent pregnancy, to prevent its recurrence. +Professor Bedford of New York has said he has +found that an excellent expedient in such cases is, +as soon as pregnancy is known to exist, 'to inter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>dict +sexual intercourse until after the fifth month; +for if the pregnancy pass beyond this period, the +chances of miscarriage will be much diminished.'</p> + +<p>If the <i>symptoms of miscarriage</i>, which may be +expressed in the two words <i>pain</i> and <i>flooding</i>, +should make their appearance, the doctor ought at +once to be sent for, the wife awaiting his arrival in +a recumbent position. He may even then be able +to avert the impending danger. At any rate, his +services are as necessary, and often even more so, +as in a labor at full term.</p> + + +<h3>MOTHER'S MARKS.</h3> + +<p>It is a popular belief that the imagination of the +mother affects the child in the womb. It is asserted +that infants are often born with various +marks and deformities corresponding in character +with objects which had made a vivid impression on +the maternal mind during pregnancy. This is +a subject of great practical interest. We shall +therefore give it the careful attention which it deserves.</p> + +<p>We have already discussed the operation of the +laws of inheritance. It was then stated that the +whole story of maternal influence had not been told—that +the mother could communicate qualities she +never possessed. The potency of imagination at +the time of conception over the child has been +mentioned. It is now our design to consider its +effects, during the period of pregnancy, upon the +physical structure and the mental attributes of the +offspring. We shall have occasion hereafter, in +speaking of nursing, to illustrate the manner in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +which the child may be affected by maternal impressions +acting through the mother's milk. What +can be more wonderful than this intimate union +between the mother and her child? It is only +equaled by that mysterious influence of the husband +over the wife, by which he so impresses her +system that she often comes in time to resemble +him both in mental and physical characteristics, +and even transmits his peculiarities to her children +by a second marriage. Father, mother, and child +are one.</p> + +<p>We wish here to premise that our remarks will +be based upon the conclusions of skilled and +scientific observers only, whose position and experience +no medical man will question. All the +instances to be related are given upon unimpeachable +authority. They are not the narrations of +ignorant, credulous people; they are all fully +vouched for. We record here, as elsewhere, only +the sober utterances of science. The great importance +and utility of an acquaintance with them will +be patent to every intelligent man and woman.</p> + +<p>The effect of the mind upon the body is well +known. Strong, long-continued mental emotion +may induce or cure disease. Heart disease may be +produced by a morbid direction of the thoughts to +that organ. Warts disappear under the operation +of a strong belief in the efficacy of some nonsensical +application. In olden time, scrofula, or the 'king's +evil', was cured by the touch of the king. The +mind of the patient, of course, accomplished the +cure. Under the influence of profound mental +emotion, the hair of the beautiful Marie Antoinette<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +became white in a short time. During the solitary +voyage of Madame Condamine down the wild and +lonely Amazon, a similar change took place. Many +other instances might be adduced; but those given +are sufficient to show that strong and persistent +mental impressions will exert a mysterious transforming +power over the body. These facts will +pave the way to the consideration of corresponding +effects, through the mother's mind, upon the development +of the unborn child, forming a part of +herself <i>in utero.</i></p> + +<p><i>Influence of mind of mother on form and color of +infant.</i>—There are numerous facts on record which +prove that <i>habitual</i>, long-continued mental conditions +of the mother at an early period of pregnancy, +induce deformity or other abnormal development +of the infant.</p> + +<p>Professor William A. Hammond of New York +relates the following striking case, which occurred +in his own experience, and which scarcely admits +of a doubt as to the influence of the maternal mind +over the physical structure of the fœtus.</p> + +<p>A lady in the third month of her pregnancy was +very much horrified by her husband being brought +home one evening with a severe wound of the face, +from which the blood was streaming. The shock +to her was so great that she fainted, and subsequently +had a hysterical attack, during which she +was under Dr. Hammond's care. Soon after her +recovery she told him that she was afraid her child +would be affected in some way, and that even then +she could not get rid of the impression the sight of +her husband's bloody face had made upon her. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +due time the child, a girl, was born. She had +a dark red mark upon the face, corresponding in +situation and extent with that which had been +upon her father's face. She also proved to be +idiotic.</p> + +<p>Professor Dalton of New York states that the +wife of the janitor of the College of Physicians +and Surgeons of that city, during her pregnancy, +dreamed that she saw a man who had lost a part +of the ear. The dream made a great impression +upon her mind, and she mentioned it to her husband. +When her child was born, a portion of one +ear was deficient, and the organ was exactly like +the defective ear she had seen in her dream. +When Professor Dalton was lecturing upon the +development of the fœtus as affected by the mind +of the mother, the janitor called his attention to +the foregoing instance. The ear looks exactly +as if a portion had been cut off with a sharp +knife.</p> + +<p>Professor J. Lewis Smith of Bellevue Hospital +Medical College, New York, has met with the following +cases:—An Irishwoman, of strong emotions +and superstitions, was passing along a street, in +the first months of her pregnancy, when she was +accosted by a beggar, who raised her hand, destitute +of thumb and fingers, and in 'God's name' +asked for alms. The woman passed on, but, reflecting +in whose name money was asked, felt that +she had committed a great sin in refusing assistance. +She returned to the place where she had met the +beggar, and on different days, but never afterwards +saw her. Harassed by the thought of her imaginary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +sin, so that for weeks, according to her statement, +she was distressed by it, she approached her confinement. +A female infant was born, otherwise +perfect, but lacking the fingers and thumb of one +hand. The deformed limb was on the same side, +and it seemed to the mother to resemble precisely +that of the beggar. In another case which Professor +Smith met, a very similar malformation was +attributed by the mother of the child to an accident +occurring, during the time of her pregnancy, to a +near relative, which necessitated amputation. He +examined both of these children with defective +limbs, and has no doubt of the truthfulness of the +parents. In May, 1868, he removed a supernumerary +thumb from an infant, whose mother, a +baker's wife, gave the following history:—No one +of the family, and no ancestor, to her knowledge, +presented this deformity. In the early months of +her pregnancy she sold bread from the counter, +and nearly every day a child with a double thumb +came in for a penny roll, presenting the penny +between the thumb and the finger. After the third +month she left the bakery, but the malformation +was so impressed upon her mind, that she was not +surprised to see it reproduced in her infant.</p> + +<p>In all these cases the impression was produced +in the early months of pregnancy; but many have +been recorded in which malformations in the infant +appeared distinctly traceable to strong mental emotions +of the mother only a few months previous to +confinement, these impressions having been persistent +during the remaining period of the pregnancy, +and giving rise to a full expectation on the part of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +the mother that the child would be affected in the +particular manner which actually occurred. Professor +Carpenter, the distinguished physiologist, is +personally cognisant of a very striking case of the +kind which occurred in the family of a near connection +of his own.</p> + +<p>All the above instances have been those of the +effects of persistent mental emotion. But it is also +true that <i>violent and sudden emotion</i> in the mother +leaves sometimes its impress upon the unborn infant, +although it may be quickly forgotten.</p> + +<p>It is related on good authority that a lady, who +during her pregnancy was struck with the unpleasant +view of leeches applied to a relative's +foot, gave birth to a child with the mark of a +leech coiled up in the act of suction on the intended +spot.</p> + +<p>Dr. Delacoux of Paris says that, in the month of +January 1825, he was called to attend a woman in +the village of Batignoles, near Paris, who the evening +before had been delivered of a six months' +fœtus, horribly deformed. The upper lip was in a +confused mass with the jaw and the gums, and the +right leg was amputated at the middle, the stump +having the form of a cone. The mother of this +being, who was a cook, one morning, about the +third month of her pregnancy, on entering the house +where she was employed, was seized with horror at +the sight of a porter with a hare-lip and an amputated +leg.</p> + +<p>At a meeting of the Society of Physicians at +Berlin, in August 1868, Herr Dupré stated that a +woman saw, in the first weeks of her third preg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>nancy, +a boy with a hare-lip; and not only was the +child she then carried born with a frightful hare-lip, +but also three children subsequently. Another one, +a woman in the fifth week of pregnancy, saw a sheep +wounded, and with its bowels protruding. She was +greatly shocked, and did not recover her composure +for several days. She was delivered at term of a +child, in other respects well developed, but lacking +the walls of the abdomen.</p> + +<p>Many remarkable instances have been collected +of the power of <i>imagination</i> over the unborn offspring.</p> + +<p>Ambrose Paré, the illustrious French surgeon of +the sixteenth century, in one of his treatises devotes +a chapter to the subject of 'monsters which take +their cause and shape from imagination,' and was +evidently a strong believer in this influence.</p> + +<p>A black child is generally believed to have been +born to Marie Thérèse, the wife of Louis XIV., in +consequence of a little negro page in her service +having started from a hiding-place and stumbled +over her dress early in her pregnancy. This child +was educated at the convent of Moret, near Fontainebleau, +where she took the veil, and where, till +the shock of the Revolution, her portrait was shown.</p> + +<p>Examples are given by authors of the force of +<i>desires</i> in causing deformities in infants, and the +formation upon them of fruits, such as apples, pears, +grapes, and others, which the mother may have +longed for.</p> + +<p>The following is related upon excellent medical +authority:—A woman gave birth to a child with a +large cluster of globular tumours growing from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +tongue, and preventing the closure of the mouth, in +color, shape, and size exactly resembling our +common grapes; and with a red excrescence from +the chest, as exactly resembling in figure and appearance +a turkey's wattles. On being questioned +before the child was shown to her, she answered, +that while pregnant she had seen some grapes, +longed intensely for them, and constantly thought +of them; and that she was also once attacked and +much alarmed by a turkey-cock.</p> + +<p>Dr. Demangeon of Paris quotes, in his work on +the Imagination, the <i>Journal de Verdun</i>, as mentioning +the case of a child, born at Blois, in the +eyes of which the face of a watch was distinctly +seen. The image was situated around the pupil, +and the figures representing the hours were plainly +perceived. The mother had experienced a strong +desire to see a watch while she was pregnant with +this child.</p> + +<p>Professor Dalton says, in his <i>Human Physiology</i>, +that 'there is now little room for doubt that various +deformities and deficiencies of the fœtus, conformably +to the popular belief, do really originate in +certain cases from nervous impressions, such as +disgust, fear, or anger, experienced by the mother.' +We will now consider the</p> + +<p><i>Influence of the mind of the mother on the mind of +the infant</i>; which subject we have not yet touched +upon, having confined ourselves to the influence of +the maternal mind over the form and color of the +unborn child. It will not be necessary to illustrate +at length this branch of our topic. Instances are +sufficiently common and well known. Dr. Seguin<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +of New York, in his work on Idiocy, gives several +cases in which there was reason to believe that +fright, anxiety, or other emotions in the mother, +had produced idiocy in the offspring. As he remarks, +'Impressions will sometimes reach the fœtus +in its recess, cut off its legs or arms, or inflict large +flesh wounds before birth,—inexplicable as well as +indisputable facts, from which we surmise that +idiocy holds unknown though certain relations to +maternal impressions.'</p> + +<p>We have given many strong cases and most excellent +authority for the doctrine that the <i>purely +mental</i> influence of the mother may produce bodily +and mental changes in the unborn infant. But the +child is also affected by <i>physical impressions</i> made +upon the mother.</p> + +<p>Dr. Russegger reports that a woman, who had +already borne four healthy children, was, in the +seventh month of her pregnancy, bitten in the +right calf by a dog. The author saw the wound +made by the animal's teeth, which wound consisted +of three small triangular depressions, by two of +which the skin was only slightly ruffled; a slight +appearance of blood was perceptible in the third. +The woman was at the moment of the accident +somewhat alarmed, but neither then nor afterwards +had any fear that her fœtus would be affected by +the occurrence. Ten weeks after she was bitten, +the woman bore a healthy child, which, however, to +the surprise of every person, had three marks corresponding +in size and appearance to those caused +by the dog's teeth in the mother's leg, and consisting, +like those, of one large and two smaller<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +impressions. The two latter, which were pale, disappeared +in five weeks; the larger one had also +become less, and was not so deep colored as it was +at birth. At the time of writing, the child was four +months old.</p> + +<p>Dr. S. P. Crawford of Greenville, Tennessee, reports +in a recent number of the <i>Nashville Journal +of Medicine</i>, the following sad case:—A lady, in +the last stage of pregnancy, was burned by the +explosion of a kerosene-oil can. She lived twelve +hours after the accident. The face, legs, arms, and +abdomen were badly burned. The movements of +the child were felt three or four hours after the +accident. A short time before the death of the +mother she gave birth to the child at full maturity, +but still-born. It bore the mark of the fire corresponding +to that of the mother. Its legs, arms, and +abdomen were completely blistered, having all the +appearance of a recent burn.</p> + +<p>These instances of a decided influence exerted +upon the body and mind of the child in the womb, +by physical and mental impressions made upon the +mother, might be doubled or trebled. They are as +numerous as they are wonderful. Physiologists of +the present day do not hesitate to admit the existence +of the influence we have been discussing. +Reason also comes to the support of facts, to +demonstrate and establish its reality. For, if a +sudden and powerful emotion of the mind can so +disturb the stomach and heart as to cause vomiting +and fainting, is it not probable that it can affect +the womb and the impressible being within it? +Pregnancy is a function of the woman as much as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +digestion or pulsation of the heart; and if the latter +are controlled by moral and mental impressions, +why should not the former be also?</p> + +<p><i>In what manner does this influence of the maternal +mind act?</i>—Through the blood of the mother. Only +a very delicate membrane separates the vital fluid +of the mother from that of the infant in her womb. +There is a constant interchange of the blood in its +body with that in hers through this exceedingly +thin membrane; and thus all nervous impressions +which have produced an alteration of either a +temporary or permanent character in the circulating +fluid of the mother, are communicated to +the child. Since the mother, as has been shown, +can transmit through her blood certain characteristics +of mind and body not her own,—for instance, +a disease peculiar to a male from her father to her +son, or the physical and mental traits of her first +husband to the children by her second,—it does +not seem at all strange that she should through +this same medium, her blood, impart other peculiarities +which have made a strong impression upon +her mind. Anatomy and physiology therefore +fully explain and account for this seemingly mysterious +influence.</p> + +<p>The view here stated, and indorsed by modern +science, is one which ought to have great weight +with the mother, her relatives and friends. The +<i>practical conclusion</i> which it suggests is, that as +during pregnancy there is unusual susceptibility to +mental impressions, and as these impressions may +operate on the fragile structure of the unborn +being, this tendency should be well considered and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +constantly remembered, not only by the woman +herself, but by all those who associate or are thrown +in contact with her. Upon the care displayed in +the management of the corporeal and mental +health of the mother during the whole period of +pregnancy, the ultimate constitution of the offspring +greatly depends. All the surroundings and +employments of the pregnant woman should be +such as conduce to cheerfulness and equanimity. +Above all, she should avoid the presence of disagreeable +and unsightly objects. Vivid and unpleasant +impressions should be removed as soon +as possible by quiet diversion of the mind. All +causes of excitement should be carefully guarded +against.</p> + +<p>In leaving the subject of maternal impressions, +we will call attention to the manifest difference +in extent and degree between the influence of the +father and that of the mother over the offspring. +That of the father ceases with impregnation. That +of the mother continues during the whole term of +pregnancy, and, as we shall shortly see, even during +that of nursing.</p> + + +<h3>EDUCATION OF THE CHILD IN THE WOMB.</h3> + +<p>The outlines drawn by the artist Flaxman are +esteemed the most perfect and graceful in existence. +From earliest childhood he manifested a +delight in drawing. His mother, a woman of refined +and artistic tastes, used to relate that for +months previous to his birth she spent hours daily +studying engravings, and fixing in her memory the +most beautiful proportions of the human figure as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +portrayed by masters. She was convinced that the +genius of her son was the fruit of her own self-culture. +What a charming idea is this! What an +incentive to those about to become mothers, to +cultivate refinement, high thoughts, pure emotions, +elevated sentiments! Thus they endow their +children with what no after education can give +them.</p> + +<p>The plastic brain of the fœtus is prompt to receive +all impressions. It retains them, and they +become the characteristics of the child and the +man. Low spirits, violent passions, irritability, +frivolity, in the pregnant woman, leave indelible +marks on the unborn child. So do their contraries; +and thus it becomes of the utmost moment that +during this period all that is cheerful, inspiring, and +elevating should surround the woman. Such emotions +educate the child: they form its disposition, +they shape its faculties, they create its mental and +intellectual traits. Of all education, this is the +most momentous.</p> + + +<h3>CAN A WOMAN BECOME AGAIN PREGNANT +DURING PREGNANCY?</h3> + +<p>Can a woman during pregnancy conceive, and +add a second and younger child to that already in +the womb?</p> + +<p>It is not uncommon in the canine race for a +mother to give birth at the same time to dogs of +different species, showing conclusively the possibility, +in these animals, of one conception closely +following another. So a mare has been known to +produce within a quarter of an hour, first a horse,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +and then a mule. And in the human race cases +are on record in which women have had twins, of +which the one was white and the other colored, in +consequence of intercourse on the same day with +men of those two races. Dr. Henry relates that in +Brazil a Creole woman, a native, brought into the +world at one birth three children of three different +colors,—white, brown, and black,—each child exhibiting +the features peculiar to the respective +races.</p> + +<p>In all such instances the two conceptions followed +each other very rapidly, the offspring arriving +at maturity together, and being born at the +same accouchement. But more curious and +wonderful examples of second and concurrent +pregnancies have been published than these—as, +for instance, those in which a child bearing all the +attributes of a fœtus at full term is born two, three, +four, and even five, months after the first, which +appeared also to have been born at full term. +Marie Anne Bigaud, aged thirty-seven, gave birth, +April 30, 1748, to a living boy at full term, and on +the ensuing September 16, to a living girl, which +was recognised, by the size and well-developed +condition of its body and limbs, to have been also +carried until full term. This fact was observed by +Professor Eisenman, and by Leriche, surgeon-major +of the military hospital of Strasbourg. It will be +noticed that there was an interval of four and a half +months between the two accouchements. The first +child lived two and a half months, and the second a +year. In this instance there was not a double +womb, as might perhaps be supposed, for after the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +mother's death an examination proved that the +uterus was single.</p> + +<p>Another case of this kind is the following:—Benoite +Franquet of Lyons brought into the world +a girl on January 20, 1780, and five months and six +days afterwards a second girl, also apparently at +term, and well nourished. Two years later these +two children were presented, with their certificates +of baptism, to two notaries of Lyons, MM. Caillot +and Desurgey, in order that the fact might be +placed on record and vouched for, because of its +value in legal medicine.</p> + +<p>The number of the entirely authenticated cases +now known of the birth of fully developed children +within from two to five months of each other, can +leave no doubt as to the possibility of such an occurrence. +The only question which remains is in +regard to the periods of conception. Are the two +children in such cases twins, conceived at the same +time, but the growth of the last-born so retarded +that it did not arrive at maturity until a number of +months after its fellow? or, Has a second conception +taken place at an interval of several months +after the first? If this latter view be true, then, in +the instance of Marie Anne Bigaud, above related, +the second child must have been conceived after the +first had quickened. Then, also, two children of +different ages, the offspring of different fathers, may +exist in the womb at the same time. The weight +of scientific observation and authority has now +established the fact that, in very rare instances, a +second conception may take place during pregnancy. +It must not be understood as necessarily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +following from this statement, that when two +children are born at the same time,—one fully +developed, and the other small and apparently +prematurely born,—the two were conceived at +different times. The smaller may have been +blighted and its growth hindered by the same +causes which bring about such effects in cases of +single births of incompletely developed children. +A similar supposition may account for the birth of +a second child within a month or two after the first, +for the first may have been prematurely born, and +the second carried to full term. But no such supposition +can explain the cases referred to, and +others which might be mentioned, in which the +interval has been five or six months, each child +presenting every indication of perfect maturity. +The only explanation possible in such instances, +which, as has been said, are well authenticated, +although few in number, is, that a second pregnancy +has occurred during the first.</p> + +<p>The above facts would seem sufficiently wonderful. +There are others, however, of the same nature +still more so. In some instances, the product of +the second conception, instead of developing independently +of the first, has become attached to it, +and the phenomenon has been presented of the +growth of a child within a child—a fœtus within a +fœtus. Such a singular occurrence has been lately +recorded in a German journal. A correspondent +of the <i>Dantzic Gazette</i> states that on Sunday, +February 1, 1869, at Schliewen, near Dirschau, 'a +young and blooming shepherd's wife was delivered +of a girl, otherwise sound, but having on the lower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +part of her back, between the hips, a swelling as +big as two good-sized fists, through the walls of +which a well-developed fœtus may be felt. Its +limbs indicate a growth of from five to six months, +and its movements are very lively. The father +called in the health commissioner, Dr. Preuss, from +Dirschau, and begged him to remove the swelling +together with the fœtus. The doctor, however, +after a careful examination, declared that there +was a possibility in this extraordinary case of the +child within the swelling coming to fruition. Its +existence and active motions were palpable to all +present. No physician could be justified in destroying +this marvelous being. It ought rather to +be protected and cherished. The new-born girl, +notwithstanding her strange burden, is of unusual +strength and beauty, and takes the breast very +cheerfully.'</p> + +<p>We find something further in regard to this singular +birth in the <i>Weser Zeitung</i> of February 20, +1869. It quotes from the <i>Dantzic Gazette</i> some +remarks by the health commissioner, Dr. Preuss of +Dirschau, in which the doctor declares the facts +contained in the report given above to be correct. +He was summoned on the 1st of February to the +child, and saw the vigorous movements, and felt +the members of a fœtus within the swelling, as described. +It was evidently a double creation. The +case thus far, though rare, is not unique. 'But +what is novel, and hitherto perfectly unnoticed in +medical literature, is the fact that not only the +girl, which has been carried its full term, is alive +to-day, but the fœtus within the swelling has also,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +in the eleven days after birth, further developed, +and palpably increased in size. The swelling is +now four and a half inches long, three and a half +inches wide, and high and pear-shaped; the head +lies underneath on the left, the body towards the +right.'</p> + +<p>Further particulars and the latest intelligence we +have concerning the progress of this case are to +the effect that the child was brought by special request +before the Natural History Society of Dantzic, +and thence the mother went to Berlin for +medical advice.</p> + + +<h3>MORAL ASPECTS OF THIS QUESTION.</h3> + +<p>Upon proper judgment and discrimination in the +application of the facts we have just been dwelling +upon, may depend a wife's honor, and the happiness +of the dearest social relations. We will +suppose an example. A husband, immediately +after the impregnation of his wife, is obliged to +quit her, and remains absent a year. In the meanwhile +she gives birth to two children, at an interval +of a number of weeks. The question will then +come up, Whether, under such circumstances, it is +possible for her to do so consistently with conjugal +purity.</p> + +<p>It will be recollected that, in speaking of twins, +we remarked that it was not very uncommon for +an interval of days or weeks to elapse between the +births, and it has just been stated that impregnation +during pregnancy is extremely rare. The +presumption, therefore, in the case supposed, is as +very many to one that the two births were the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +result of a twin pregnancy. In the absence of any +other evidence against the wife's chastity, it should +not even be called in question. This decision receives +the support of the maxim in law that a +reasonable doubt is the property of the accused, +and of the Christian principle that it is better that +ninety-nine guilty should escape than that one +innocent should be condemned. Hence the teachings +of science and of human and divine law all +coincide to protect the sacred rights and the precious +interests at stake against an unjust suspicion, +which even the doctrine of chances would render +untenable.</p> + + +<h3>CAN A CHILD CRY IN THE WOMB?</h3> + +<p>There are some cases, recorded on undoubted +authority, in which the child has been heard to cry +while in the womb. These are very exceptional. +Under ordinary circumstances, it is impossible for +the child either to breathe or cry, because of the +absence of air. It is only when the bag of membranes +has been torn, and the mouth of the child +is applied at or near the neck of the uterus, that +this can take place. The infant is not unfrequently +heard to cry just before birth, after labor has +commenced, but before the extrusion of the head +from the womb, in consequence of the penetration +of air into the uterine cavity.</p> + + +<h3>IS IT A SON OR DAUGHTER?</h3> + +<p>It is a common saying among nurses, that there +is a difference in the size and form of the pregnant +woman, according to the sex she carries. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +may well be doubted. Neither is it true that one +sex is more active in its 'movements' than the +other. It is quite possible, however, for a wife to +know the sex of the fœtus, if she can tell about +what time in her month conception took place. If +it occurred directly after a monthly sickness, the +child is a girl; if directly before, it is a boy. +When a woman is 'out' in her reckoning, and +goes beyond the period of her expected confinement, +it will ordinarily turn out to be a boy. The +skilful doctor can, in the later months of pregnancy, +settle the question of sex in some cases. The +beats of the fœtal heart are more frequent in +females than in males. The average frequency of +pulsations of twenty-eight female fœtuses has been +found to be one hundred and forty-four in the +minute, the lowest figure being one hundred and +thirty-eight; of twenty-two male fœtuses, one hundred +and twenty, the lowest figure being one +hundred and twelve. Therefore, when the pulsations +of the heart of the child in the womb are +counted,—as can easily be done by a practised +medical ear during the last months of pregnancy,—and +are found to be over one hundred and thirty +in a minute, it is a daughter; if under one hundred +and thirty, a son. In this manner, the sex of an +unborn child can be predicted with tolerable accuracy, +excepting only when illness of the fœtus has +deranged the action of its heart.</p> + + +<h3>ARE THERE TWINS PRESENT?</h3> + +<p>Certain signs lead to the suspicion of twins, such +as being unusually large, and the fact that the in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>crease +in size has been more than ordinarily rapid. +Sometimes also the abdomen is divided into two +distinct portions by a perpendicular fissure. In +other cases the movements of a child can be felt on +each side at the same time. And in twin pregnancies +the morning sickness is apt to be more +distressing, and all the other discomforts incident +to this condition increased. But these signs and +symptoms, when present in any given case, are not +conclusive, for they may be noticed when there is +only one child. The doctor has one characteristic +and infallible sign by which he can ascertain +whether the woman be pregnant with twins. It is +furnished to him again by the art of listening,—or +auscultation, as it is technically called,—the same +that, as we have already seen, may enable him to +determine the sex of the child. When the beatings +of two fœtal hearts are heard on opposite portions +of the abdomen, the nature of the pregnancy is +apparent.</p> + + +<h3>LENGTH OF PREGNANCY.</h3> + +<p>What is the ordinary duration of pregnancy? +Almost every woman considers herself competent +to make the answer—nine months. She may be +surprised to learn, however, that such an answer is +wanting in scientific precision. It is too indefinite, +and is erroneous. There is a great difference between +the calendar and the lunar month. Each +lunar month having twenty-eight days, the period +of nine lunar months is two hundred and fifty-two +days. Nine calendar months, including February, +represent, on the contrary, two hundred and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +seventy-three days. Now the average duration of +pregnancy is two hundred and eighty days, that is +forty weeks, or ten lunar months.</p> + +<p>While most extended observations have shown +that as a general rule, forty weeks, or two hundred +and eighty days, is the true period of pregnancy, +are we justified in the conclusion that this is its +invariable duration? This important question, +upon the answer to which so often depend the honor +of families, the rights of individuals, and sometimes +the interests of nationalities, has been in all times +the subject of careful research by physicians, philosophers, +and legislators. On the one side, have +been those who contend that the laws of nature are +invariable, and that the term of pregnancy is fixed +and immutable. On the other side, have been +those who assert that the epoch of accouchement +can be greatly advanced or retarded by various +causes, some of which are known, and others not yet +appreciated. Abundant and satisfactory testimony +has proved that the prolongation of pregnancy beyond +the ordinary period of two hundred and eighty days, +or forty weeks, is possible. Nor is this contrary to +what is observed in regard to other functions of the +human body. There is no process depending upon +the laws of life which is absolutely invariable either +as to the period of its appearance or duration. It +is known, as we have already pointed out, that +puberty may be advanced or retarded; the time at +which the change of life occurs in women, as we +shall have occasion hereafter to show, is also subject +to variation; and it is a matter of common +observation with mothers, that the period of teeth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>ing +is sometimes strangely hurried or delayed. A +certain degree of variability, therefore, being frequently +observed, and entirely compatible with +health, in the various other natural processes, why +should that of pregnancy form an exception, and be +invariably fixed in its duration? And observation +upon the lower animals affords most convincing +evidence that nature is not controlled by any uniform +law in reference to the length of pregnancy. +In the cow, the usual period of whose pregnancy is +the same as in the human female, instances of calving +six weeks beyond the ordinary term are not at +all uncommon.</p> + +<p>As an illustration of the great interest sometimes +attaching to the inquiry under discussion, we may +cite the celebrated Gardner Peerage Case, tried by +the House of Lords in 1825. Allen Legge Gardner +petitioned to have his name inscribed as a peer on +the Parliament Roll. He was the son of Lord +Gardner by his second wife. There was another +claimant for the peerage, however,—Henry Fenton +Iadis,—on the ground, as alleged, that he was the +son of Lord Gardner by his first and subsequently +divorced wife. Medical and moral evidence was +adduced to establish that the latter was illegitimate. +Lady Gardner, the mother of the alleged +illegitimate child, parted from her husband on the +30th of January, 1802, he going to the West Indies, +and not again seeing his wife until the 11th of July +following. The child whose legitimacy was called +in question was born on the 8th of December of +that year. The plain medical query therefore +arose, Whether this child born either three hundred<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +and eleven days after intercourse (from January +30th to December 8th), or one hundred and fifty +days (from July 11th to December 8th), could be +the son of Lord Gardner. As there was no pretence +that there was a premature birth, the child having +been well developed when born, the conception +must have dated from January 30th. The medical +question was therefore narrowed down to this: +Was the alleged protracted pregnancy (three hundred +and eleven days) consistent with experience? +Sixteen of the principal obstetric practitioners of +Great Britain were examined on this point. Eleven +concurred in the opinion that natural pregnancy +might be protracted to a period which would cover +the birth of the alleged illegitimate child. Because, +however, of the moral evidence alone, which proved +the adulterous intercourse of Lady Gardner with a +Mr. Iadis, the House decided that the title should +descend to the son of the second Lady Gardner.</p> + +<p>There is on record one fact, well observed, which +establishes beyond cavil the possibility of the protraction +of pregnancy beyond two hundred and +eighty days, or forty weeks. The case is reported +by the learned Dr. Desormeaux of Paris, and occurred +under his own notice in the Hôpital de +Maternité of that city. A woman, the mother of +three children, became insane. Her physician +thought that a new pregnancy might re-establish +her intellectual faculties. Her husband consented +to enter on the register of the hospital each visit +he was allowed to make her, which took place only +every three months. So soon as evidence of pregnancy +showed itself, the visits were discontinued.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +The woman was confined two hundred and ninety +days after conception.</p> + +<p>The late distinguished Professor Charles D. +Meigs of Philadelphia published a case, which he +deems entirely trustworthy, of the prolongation of +pregnancy to four hundred and twenty days, or +sixty weeks. Dr. Atlee reports two cases, which +nearly equaled three hundred and fifty-six days +each. Professor Simpson of Edinburgh records, as +having occurred in his own practice, cases in which +the period reached three hundred and thirty-six, +three hundred and thirty-two, three hundred and +twenty-four, and three hundred and nineteen days. +In the Dublin <i>Quarterly Journal of Medical Science</i> +a case of protracted pregnancy is related by Dr. +Joynt. The evidence is positive that the minimum +duration must have been three hundred and +seventeen days, or about six weeks more than +the average. Dr. Elsässer found, in one hundred +and sixty cases of pregnancy, eleven protracted to +periods varying from three hundred to three hundred +and eighteen days.</p> + +<p>In treating of the subject of miscarriage, we +mentioned instances, recorded by physicians of +skill and probity, proving beyond a shade of doubt +that a woman may give birth to a living child long +before the expiration of the forty weeks. The +Presbytery of Edinburgh, Scotland, some time +since decided in favor of the legitimacy of an +infant born alive, within twenty-five weeks after +marriage, to the Rev. Fergus Jardine.</p> + +<p>One of the most enlightened countries in Europe +has, in view of the facts in reference to the extreme<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +limits of pregnancy, enacted, in the Code Napoléon, +that a child born within three hundred days after +the departure or death of the husband, or one hundred +and eighty days after marriage, shall be considered +legitimate. The law further states that a +child born after more than three hundred days +shall not be necessarily declared a bastard, but +its legitimacy may be contested. The Scotch +legislation on this subject is very similar to the +French.</p> + + +<h3>CAUSES OF PROTRACTED PREGNANCY.</h3> + +<p>It has been asserted by some that an infant is +born at ten or eleven months because at nine +months it has not acquired the growth which is +necessary in order to induce the womb to dislodge +it. The popular notion is, that a child carried +beyond the usual term must necessarily be a large +one. Rabelais has reflected this common opinion +in his celebrated romance entitled 'Gargantua,' in +which he represents the royal giant of that name as +having been carried by his mother, Gargamelle, +eleven months. When born, the child was so +vigorous that he sucked the milk from ten nurses. +He lived for several centuries, and at last begot a +son, Pantagruel, as wonderful as himself. Such +reasoning cannot, however, be seriously maintained, +as many children carried longer than nine months +have not been more fully developed than some +born a few weeks prematurely; and the size of +the child has nothing to do with the bringing on of +labor, as we shall show hereafter. Protracted pregnancies +are caused by a defect in the energy of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +womb, induced by moral as well as physical influences. +As a rule, a woman who leads a regular +life, and observes the physiological laws of her +being, which laws it has been our aim to point out, +will be confined at the term that nature usually +marks out, that is, at the expiration of two hundred +and eighty days, or forty weeks, from conception.</p> + +<p>This brings us to the consideration of the question,</p> + + +<h3>HOW TO CALCULATE THE TIME OF EXPECTED +LABOR.</h3> + +<p>Many rules for this purpose have been laid down. +We shall merely give one, the most satisfactory and +the most easily applied. It was suggested by the +celebrated Professor Naëgelè of Heidelberg, and is +now generally recommended and employed by physicians. +The point of departure in making the calculation +is <i>the day of the disappearance of the last +monthly sickness</i>; three months are subtracted, and +seven days added. The result corresponds to +the day on which labor will commence, and will be +found to be two hundred and eighty days from the +time of conception, if that event has occurred, as +ordinarily, immediately after the last menstrual +period. Suppose, for instance, the cessation of the +last monthly sickness happened on the 14th day +of January; subtract three months, and we have +October 14; then add seven days, and we obtain the +21st day of the ensuing October (two hundred and +eighty days from January 14) as the time of the +expected confinement. This method of making<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +the 'count' may be relied upon with confidence, +and only fails, by a few days, in those exceptional +cases in which conception takes place just before +the monthly period, or during the menstrual flow.</p> + + +<h3>CARE OF HEALTH DURING PREGNANCY.</h3> + +<p>This subject, the proper management of the +health from conception to childbirth, is worthy of +careful consideration. The condition of pregnancy, +though not one of disease, calls for peculiar solicitude, +lest it should lead to some affection in the +mother or in the child. For it ought to be remembered +that the welfare of a new being is now in the +balance. The woman has no longer an independent +existence. She has entered upon the circle of her +maternal duties. She became a mother when she +conceived. The child, though unborn, lives within +her; its life is a part of her own, and so frail, that +any indiscretion on her part may destroy it. The +danger to the child is not imaginary, as the large +number of miscarriages and still-births proves.</p> + +<p>All mothers desire to have healthy, well-formed, +intelligent children. How few conduct themselves +in such a manner as to secure a happy development +of their offspring! Puny, deformed, and feeble-minded +infants are daily ushered into the world +because of a want of knowledge, or a sinful neglect +of those special measures imperatively demanded +in the ordering of the daily life, by the changed +state of the system consequent upon pregnancy. +We shall therefore point out those laws which cannot +be infringed with impunity, and indicate the +diet, exercise, dress, and, in general, the conduct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +most favorable to the mother and child during this +critical period, in which the wife occupies, as it +were, an intermediate state between health and +sickness.</p> + + +<h3>FOOD.</h3> + +<p>The nourishment taken during pregnancy should +be abundant, but not, in the early months, larger +in quantity than usual. Excess in eating or +drinking ought to be most carefully avoided. +The food is to be taken at shorter intervals +than is common, and it should be plain, simple, +and nutritious. Fatty articles, the coarser vegetables, +highly salted and sweet food, if found to +disagree, as is often the case, should be abstained +from. The flesh of young animals—as lamb, +veal, chicken, and fresh fish—is wholesome, and +generally agrees with the stomach. Ripe fruits +are beneficial. The diet should be varied as much +as possible from day to day. The craving which +some women have in the night or early morning +may be relieved by a biscuit, a little milk, or a cup +of coffee. When taken a few hours before rising, +this will generally be retained, and prove very +grateful, even though the morning sickness be +troublesome. Any food or medicine that will confine +or derange the bowels is to be forbidden. The +taste is, as a rule, a safe guide, and it may be reasonably +indulged. But inordinate, capricious desires +for improper, noxious articles, should of +course, be opposed. Such longings, however, are +not often experienced by those properly brought +up. It is a curious fact, that the modification in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +the digestive system during pregnancy is sometimes +so great that substances ordinarily the most +indigestible are eaten, without any inconvenience, +and even with benefit, while the most healthful +articles become hurtful, and act like poison.</p> + +<p>As pregnancy advances, particularly after the +sixth month, a larger amount of food, and that of a +more substantial character, will be required. The +number of meals in the day should then be increased, +rather than the quantity taken at each meal.</p> + + +<h3>CLOTHING.</h3> + +<p>The dress during pregnancy should be loose and +comfortable, nowhere pressing tightly or unequally. +The word <i>enceinte</i>, by which a pregnant woman is +designated, meant, originally, without a cincture,—that +is, unbound. The Roman matrons, so soon +as they conceived, were obliged to remove their +girdles. Lycurgus caused the enactment of the +Spartan law, that pregnant women should wear +large dresses, so as not to prejudice the free development +of the precious charges of which nature had +rendered them the momentary depositaries. Stays +or corsets may be used, in a proper manner, during +the first five or six months of pregnancy, but +after that they should either be laid aside, or worn +very loosely. Any attempt at concealing pregnancy, +by tight lacing and the application of a +stronger busk, cannot be too severely condemned. +By this false delicacy the mother is subjected to +great suffering, and the child placed in jeopardy. +The shape of the stays should be moulded to that +of the changing figure, and great care should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +taken that they do not depress the nipple or irritate +the enlarging breasts.</p> + +<p>The amount of clothing should be suited to the +season, but rather increased than diminished, owing +to the great susceptibility of the system to the +vicissitudes of the weather. It is especially important +that flannel drawers should be worn during +advanced pregnancy, as the loose dress favors the +admission of cold air to the unprotected parts of +the body. A neglect of this precaution sometimes +leads to the establishment of the painful disease +known as rheumatism of the womb.</p> + +<p>Pressure upon the lower limbs, in the neighborhood +of the knee or the ankle joint, should be +avoided, more particularly towards the last months. +It is apt to produce enlargement and knotting of +the vein, swelling and ulcers of the legs, by which +many women are crippled during their pregnancies, +and sometimes through life. Therefore the garters +should not be tightly drawn, and gaiters should +not be too closely fitted, while yet they should +firmly support the ankle.</p> + + +<h3>EXERCISE.</h3> + +<p>Moderate exercise in the open air is proper and +conducive to health during the whole period of +pregnancy. It should never be so active nor so prolonged +as to induce fatigue. Walking is the best +form of exercise. Riding in a badly-constructed +carriage, or over a rough road, or upon horseback, +as well as running, dancing, and the lifting or carrying +of heavy weights, should be scrupulously +avoided, as liable to cause rupture, severe flooding,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +and miscarriage. During the early months, in +particular, extraordinarily long walks and dancing +ought not to be indulged in. Journeys are not to +be taken while in the pregnant state. Railway +travelling is decidedly objectionable. The vibratory +motion of the cars is apt to produce headache, +sickness at the stomach, faintness, and premature +labor. All these precautions are especially to be +observed in the first pregnancy.</p> + +<p>We must not be understood as condemning exercise +and fresh air. They are of the greatest importance +to mother and child. But the amount +of exercise should be regulated by the dictates of +common sense and the woman's own sensations. +If she can only walk a short distance each day with +comfort, let that suffice. She should not force herself +to go to a certain place nor to promenade during +a certain time in the twenty-four hours. So soon as +fatigue is felt, the walk should cease. Let the walks +be frequent and short, rather than few and long. +They should also be made as pleasant as possible, +by companionship and surroundings that will occupy +the feelings and imagination in an agreeable manner +with new and cheerful impressions. A tendency to +indolence is to be combated. A gently active life is +best calculated to preserve the health of the mother +and her unborn child. But with even the most +robust a moderation of the ordinary pursuits and +avocations is called for. The nervous and delicate +cannot make with safety their customary daily exertions +in the performance of their household or social +duties and pleasures.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of pregnancy the wife should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +economize her forces. She should not remain long +standing or kneeling, nor sing in either of these +postures.</p> + + +<h3>BATHING.</h3> + +<p>Those who have not been accustomed to bathing +should not begin the practice during pregnancy, +and in any case great care should be exercised +during the latter months. It is better to preserve +cleanliness by sponging with tepid water than +by entire baths. Foot-baths are always dangerous. +Sea-bathing sometimes causes miscarriage, +but sea air and the sponging of the body with salt +water are beneficial. The shower-bath is of course +too great a shock to the system, and a very warm +bath is too relaxing. In some women of a nervous +temperament, a lukewarm bath taken occasionally +at night during pregnancy has a calming influence. +This is especially the case in the first and last +month. But women of a lymphatic temperament +and of a relaxed habit of body are always injured +by the bath.</p> + + +<h3>VENTILATION.</h3> + +<p>We have spoken of the benefits of outdoor air +during pregnancy. Attention should also be directed +to keeping the atmosphere in the sitting +and sleeping rooms of the house fresh. This can +only be accomplished by constantly changing it. +The doors and windows of every room, while +unoccupied, should be kept thrown open in the +summer-time, and opened sufficiently often in the +winter to wash out the apartments several times a +day with fresh air. The extremes of heat and cold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +are to be, with equal care, avoided. The house +should be kept light. Young plants will not grow +well in the dark. Neither will the young child nor +its mother flourish without sunlight. The ancients +were so well aware of this, that they constructed on +the top of each house a solarium, or solar air-bath, +where they basked daily, in thin attire, in the direct +rays of the sun.</p> + + +<h3>SLEEP.</h3> + +<p>During pregnancy a large amount of sleep is +required. It has a sedative influence upon the disturbed +nervous system of the mother. It favors, +by the calmness of all the functions which attends +it, the growth of the fœtus. Neither the pursuit of +pleasure in the evening, nor the observance of any +trite maxims in regard to early rising in the morning, +should be allowed to curtail the hours devoted +to slumber. Pregnant women have an instinctive +desire to lie abed late, which, like the other +promptings of nature during this period, should +not be disregarded. At least eight hours out of +the twenty-four can be profitably spent in bed. No +night-watching ought ever to be undertaken during +pregnancy.</p> + +<p>Feather beds should be avoided. The heat which +they maintain about the body is inconvenient and +dangerous, predisposing to flooding and exhausting +perspirations. The hair or sponge mattress is to be +preferred. The bed-clothing should not be too +heavy. Blankets are to be employed rather than +coverlids, as they are lighter and more permeable +to perspiration. The mattress and cover should be +well aired during the day. The sleeping-room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +should be capacious and well ventilated, and no +curtains permitted about the bed.</p> + +<p>Occasional rest is also necessary in the daytime. +A nap of an hour or two upon a sofa or lounge will +then prove very refreshing. In the earlier months +of pregnancy it will tend to prevent miscarriage, +and in the latter months to relieve the distress consequent +upon the increased size of the womb. It is +not unusual, as the close of pregnancy approaches, +for a feeling of suffocation to ensue when the woman +attempts to lie down. This may be overcome by +supporting the back and shoulders with cushions +and pillows. Or a bed-chair may be employed. +This, if well constructed and covered, will often be +found very grateful at night, in the last few weeks +of pregnancy.</p> + + +<h3>THE MIND.</h3> + +<p>A tranquil mind is of the first importance to +the pregnant woman. Gloomy forebodings should +not be encouraged. Pregnancy and labor are not, +we repeat, diseased conditions. They are healthful +processes, and should be looked upon as such by +every woman. Bad labors are very infrequent. It +is as foolish to dread them, as it is for the railway +traveller to give way to misgivings in regard to his +safety. Instead of desponding, science bids the +woman to look forward with cheerfulness and hope +to the joys of maternity.</p> + +<p>The bad effects of fear upon the mother's mind +are illustrated by Plutarch, who, in his Life of +Publicola, mentions that, 'at a time when a superstitious +fear overran the city of Rome, all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +women then pregnant brought forth imperfect +children, and were prematurely delivered.' But +we have already spoken, in treating of mothers' +marks, of the influence of mental emotions over +the unborn child, and the necessity of avoiding +their exciting causes.</p> + +<p>Because of their deleterious tendency, severe +study as well as arduous and protracted manual +labor ought to be avoided. The nervous systems +of many women are also injuriously affected during +pregnancy by perfumes, which at other times are +agreeable and innocuous. It is therefore prudent +not only to exclude all offensive scents, but also to +abstain from the strong odors of various strong +perfumes, eau-de-cologne, and of flowers. Large +bouquets often cause feelings of faintness, and +sometimes temporary loss of consciousness. The +extreme liability of the nervous system of the pregnant +woman to be affected injuriously to herself +and child by scenes of suffering or distress, and by +disgusting or frightful objects, cannot be too strongly +impressed upon every one. She should be protected +from all that will disturb her, and should be constantly +treated with soothing and encouraging +kindness. Her manifestations of irritability, her +caprices, her melancholy anticipations, are not to be +scoffed at, but combated with a mixture of reasoning +and patient forbearance. On her part, she +should endeavour to co-operate with those around +her, in sedulously shunning all injurious influences, +and in banishing as quickly as possible all improper +longings. She should remember that, although she +herself may escape mischief from them, her child<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +may suffer. She is the custodian of interests dearer +to her than her own.</p> + + +<h3>RELATION OF HUSBAND AND WIFE DURING +PREGNANCY.</h3> + +<p>During those days when the wife, if she were not +pregnant, would have been 'unwell,' marital intercourse +should be abstained from. It is then injurious +to the mother, and dangerous to the life of +the child, as it is liable to excite miscarriage. But +if this habitual epoch of the monthly sickness be +avoided, there is no reason why passion should not +be gratified in moderation and with caution during +the whole period of pregnancy. There is one exception +to be made to this general course of conduct. +In those cases in which a miscarriage has occurred +in the first pregnancy, every precaution should be +employed—for reasons which have been dwelt upon +in a previous article—to prevent its happening again +after the second conception. Under such exceptional +circumstances, therefore, the husband and +wife should sleep apart during the first five months +of pregnancy. After that period their ordinary relations +may be resumed. When a miscarriage has +taken place, intercourse should not be permitted +within a month of the accident. The observance +of this direction is of the utmost importance. Its +neglect is the frequent cause of severe and intractable +diseases of the womb.</p> + + +<h3>EFFECT OF PREGNANCY ON HEALTH.</h3> + +<p>We have had occasion to remark that pregnancy +is not a condition of disease. It is not only an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +evidence of health, but during its continuance it +confers increased physical vigor. As a rule, a +woman enjoys <i>better health</i> during her pregnancy +than at any other time; she is less liable to contagious +and other maladies; she is less apt to die +than at any other period of her life; and her +general constitution seems also then to receive a +favorable impress, for wives and mothers live +longer than celibates. It is wisely decreed that +when woman is engaged in this, to her, anxious +stage of reproduction, she shall not be exposed to +the pains and dangers of disease, and that those +great covenants of nature—marriage and child-bearing—shall +be rewarded by added strength and +length of days.</p> + +<p>There are certain disorders incident, in exceptional +cases, to pregnancy, of which we shall shortly +speak. In general, however, we repeat that this +condition is one of extraordinary health. More +than this, in numerous instances it exerts an ameliorating +influence upon pre-existing diseases, suspending +their march, or bringing about a decidedly +curative effect. Thus, various obstinate chronic +affections of the skin, of the womb and ovaries, +and of the brain and nervous system, frequently get +well during pregnancy; and it is well known to +every physician, that by the judicious management +of this state, and of the lying-in period, troublesome +displacements of the womb may be arrested.</p> + +<p>It should nevertheless ever be recollected that +the condition of pregnancy is one of excitement +and enhanced susceptibility to impressions of all +kinds. For this reason a change in the habits of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +life is necessary; and the importance of the directions +laid down for the care of the health during +this period, cannot be too strongly insisted upon.</p> + +<p>The diseases to which the wife is exposed during +pregnancy will be treated of in the chapter on +<a href="#HEALTH">'Health in Marriage.'</a></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CONFINEMENT" id="CONFINEMENT"></a>CONFINEMENT.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><i>PREPARATIONS FOR CHILDBIRTH.</i></h3> + +<p>Certain foolish preparations are sometimes made +by wives, with the best intentions. Perhaps one of +the most common and absurd of these is the local +use of sweet oil, in order to facilitate the dilatation +of the parts, for which purpose it is perfectly inert. +There are, however, some wise and even necessary +precautions which every wife should know and employ, +to guard against unpleasant and dangerous +complications in childbirth.</p> + +<p>In particular, <i>the condition of the breasts</i> towards +the close of pregnancy demands attention. Scarcely +any pain in the lying-in chamber is greater or +more difficult to bear than that which the young +mother suffers from excoriated nipples. This +troublesome and often very intractable affection is +nearly always the consequence of the want of care +previous to confinement. During the latter part of +pregnancy the nipples sometimes become sunken +or flat, being retracted as the breasts increase in +size, because of the want of elasticity on the part of +the milk tubes. In order to remedy this fault, we +have known a breast-pump or puppy to be applied. +Such treatment is dangerous, as it may excite premature +contraction of the womb, and miscarriage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +Nipple-shields, with broad bases and openings, +should always be obtained. They are safe, and +effectually secure the prominence of the nipples, +when worn constantly, day and night, during the +last month or so of pregnancy. Wives who have +never had children ought to take special care to +ascertain before labor whether this depressed condition +of the nipples exists, and to correct it in the +manner indicated.</p> + +<p>In the first pregnancy it is also important to +<i>harden the nipples.</i> This may be done by occasionally +gently rubbing them between the thumb and +finger, and by bathing them twice a day during the +last six weeks with tincture of myrrh, or with a +mixture of equal parts of brandy and water, to +which a little alum has been added. This procedure +will render the surfaces less sensitive to the +friction of the child's mouth, and thus avert the +distress so often occasioned in the first confinement +by tenderness of the nipples.</p> + +<p>If the nipples be rough or nodulated in appearance, +like a strawberry or a raspberry, they are +more apt to become excoriated or fissured than if +they present a smooth surface. Under such circumstances, +make a solution of the sulphate of zinc, +of the strength of one grain to the ounce of rose +water, in a wide-mouthed bottle, then tilt the bottle +upon the nipple, and allow it to remain there for a +few minutes several times a day. Simple tenderness +of the nipples and slight fissures may be +averted by the application either of a lotion of +borax (two scruples of borax in three ounces of +water, and an ounce of glycerine), of the honey of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +borax, or of the tincture of catechu, and by protecting +the parts from the pressure of the stays +and the friction of the flannel vest.</p> + +<p>It is of the greatest moment to the comfort of +the mother, that all affections of the nipples should +be prevented or remedied before labor; for the +treatment of sore nipples when the child is at the +breast is often unsatisfactory, while the suffering +they occasion is very great, even sometimes giving +rise to mammary abscess.</p> + +<p>There are certain <i>articles of clothing</i> and <i>dressings +for the bed</i> which should be cared for in advance, in +order that they may be ready when required.</p> + +<p>The mother should be provided with short-gowns, +to be worn over the chemise instead of the +ordinary night-gowns. It is of consequence to +procure a proper <i>bandage.</i> It should be made of +heavy muslin, neither too coarse nor too fine; an +ordinarily good quality of unbleached muslin is the +best. The material is to be cut bias, about one +and a quarter yard in length, and from twelve to +eighteen inches in breadth, varying, of course, with +the size of the person. It should be just large +enough to encircle the body after confinement, +with a margin of a couple of inches, and to extend +down below the fulness of the hips. The measurement +should be taken, and the bandage made to +fit, when four and a half months advanced. It +should be narrow above, wider below, and gored in +such a manner that it will be a little narrower at +the lower extremity than a few inches above, so as +to prevent it, when adjusted, from sliding upwards. +A bandage constructed in this manner will be very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +comfortable; and is not apt to become displaced, +after application, as is invariably the case when +a towel or a straight piece of muslin is used. The +way in which it is to be applied will be detailed +hereafter.</p> + +<p>The <i>child's clothing</i> should consist first of a piece +of flannel or some woollen material for a binder. +This should be from four to six inches in width, +and from twelve to sixteen inches in length; that +is to say, wide enough to extend from the armpits +to the lower part of the abdomen, and long enough +to go once and a half times around the child, +having the double fold to come over the abdomen. +There should be no embroidery about this. A +shirt, which it is desirable should be woollen, is to +be provided to place over the binder. It should be +made to come up tolerably high in the neck, and +to extend down the arm. Neither it nor any other +portion of the child's clothing should be starched. +The petticoat, which may be open its whole length +behind, is to be put over the shirt; two may be +used—a short and a long one. Next comes the +child's ordinary frock or slip, and above this an +apron to protect the dress from the frequent discharges +from the stomach. Then a shawl, of +flannel or any other warm material, is to be provided, +to throw over the shoulders if the weather be +cold. Socks, and pieces of old soft linen, free +from stiffening, for napkins or diapers, complete the +child's outfit.</p> + +<p>For the <i>permanent and temporary dressing of the +bed</i> there should be provided a piece of impervious +cloth (oiled silk is the neatest) about a yard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +square; a piece of ordinary table oil-cloth or +rubber-cloth; a number of old sheets and comfortables, +and a piece of thick carpet. The manner +in which these are to be used will be explained +shortly.</p> + +<p>A pair of small rounded scissors; a package of +large pins, one and a half inches in length, for the +bandage of the mother, and smaller ones for that +of the child; some good linen bobbin for the doctor +to tie the navel-string; good toilet soap and fine +surgical sponge for washing the child; a piece of +soft linen or muslin for dressing the navel; a box +of unirritating powder; and a pile of towels,—should +all be had and laid aside many weeks before +they are wanted. These, together with the material +for dressing the bed, the child's clothing, and the +mother's bandage, ought to be placed together in a +basket got for the purpose, in order that they may +all be easily and certainly found at a time when +perhaps the hurry and excitement of the moment +would render it difficult otherwise to collect them +all immediately.</p> + + +<h3>SIGNS OF APPROACHING LABOR.</h3> + +<p>One of the earliest of the preliminary signs of +the coming on of confinement occurs about two +weeks before that event. It is a dropping or subsidence +of the womb. The summit of that organ +then descends, in most cases, from above to below +the umbilicus, and the abdomen becomes smaller. +The stomach and lungs are relieved from pressure, +the woman breathes more freely, the sense of oppression +which troubled her previously is lost, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +she says she feels 'very comfortable.' This sensation +of lightness and buoyancy increases, and a few +days before the setting in of labor she feels so +much better that she thinks she will take an extra +amount of exercise. The mother of a number of +children is acquainted with this sign, but the wife +with her first child may exert herself unduly in the +house or outdoors, and induce labor when in the +street or away from home. Hence the importance +of a knowledge of this premonitory symptom.</p> + +<p>A second precursory sign of labor is found in the +increased fulness of the external parts, and an augmented +mucous secretion, which may amount even +to a discharge resembling whites, and requiring the +wearing of a napkin. This symptom is a good one, +indicating a disposition to relaxation, and promising +an easy time.</p> + +<p>The third preliminary sign which we shall mention, +is the change in the mental state of the pregnant +woman. She has a feeling of anxiety and of +fidgetiness, sometimes accompanied with depression +of spirits. This condition of emotional distress, +modified in particular cases by reason, self-control, +and religion, may continue for several days, perhaps, +when</p> + + +<h3>THE SYMPTOMS OF ACTUAL LABOR</h3> + +<p>make their appearance. The first of these is generally +the 'show.' It is the discharge of the plug of +mucus which has occupied the neck of the womb +up to this time, and is ordinarily accompanied by a +little blood. Perhaps before this, or perhaps not for +some hours after, the 'pains' will develope them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>selves. +These recur periodically, at intervals of an +hour or half an hour at the outset, and are 'grinding' +in character. <i>True</i> labor pains are distinguished +from <i>false</i> by the fact that they are felt in +the back, passing on to the thighs, while false pains +are referred to the abdomen; by their intermittent +character, the spurious pains being more or less +continuous; and by the steady increase in their +frequency and severity. In case of doubt as to +their exact nature, the doctor should be summoned, +who will be able to determine positively whether +labor has begun.</p> + +<p>The other symptoms which point to the actual +commencement of labor are a frequent desire to +empty the bowels and bladder, nausea and vomiting, +which, in the early part of confinement, is a good +sign; shiverings, unattended with any sensation of +cold; and, finally, the rupture and discharge of the +contents of the 'bag of waters.'</p> + +<p>Before passing on to the consideration of the +management of the confinement into which the wife +has now entered, a few words may be appropriately +said upon the</p> + + +<h3>CAUSE OF LABOR.</h3> + +<p>Neither the size nor the vigor of the child has any +influence in bringing about delivery at full term. +The ancient theory—which received the support of +the distinguished naturalist Buffon—that the infant +was the active agent in causing its own expulsion, +is an exploded one. It was asserted by some that +hunger excited the fœtus to struggle to free itself +from the womb; others were disposed to attribute<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +its efforts to accomplish its entrance into the world, +to the need of respiration which it experienced. +But all these ingenious theories, which presupposed +the embryo to be actuated by the same feelings +which would influence a grown person if shut up in +such a confined abode, are unsatisfactory, and not +tenable. It is well known that the child may die +in the womb, without retarding or interfering in +any way with the coming on of the process of +labor. This fact alone shows that the fœtus is, or +at any rate may be, absolutely passive either in +regard to the induction or advancement of delivery. +The determining cause of labor is seated in the +womb itself. The contractions of this organ occasion +the 'pains' and expel the child, assisted by +the muscles of the abdomen and the diaphragm. +That the assistance of the latter forces is not necessary, +is conclusively proved by the occurrence of +childbirth after the decease of the mother. For +instance, a case is on record in which labor commenced +and twins were born after the mother had +been dead for three days.</p> + + +<h3>CARE DURING LABOR.</h3> + +<p>We will suppose labor to have commenced. The +<i>preparation of the bed</i> for the occupancy of the +mother is now to be attended to. As she is to lie +on the <i>left side</i> of the bed, this is the side, and the +only one, which is to be dressed for the occasion. +In order to do so, remove the outer bed-clothes one +at a time, folding them neatly on the right side of +the bed so that they can easily be drawn over when +desired. The <i>permanent dressing</i> is to be placed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +beneath the lower sheet and upon the mattress. A +soft impervious cloth—which, in speaking of the +preparation for confinement, we directed to be procured—is +placed next to the surface of the bed. +The upper edge should be nearly as high as the +margin of the bolster, and it should extend down +to a distance at least a foot below the level of the +hips, so as to certainly protect the bed from the +discharges. Upon the top of this a blanket or +sheet is laid, and the whole fastened by pins. The +lower sheet of the bed, which had been turned over +to the right side, to permit the application of the +dressing, is now to be replaced. Over the position +of this permanent dressing, on the top of the bed-sheet, +a neatly-folded sheet, with the folded edge +down, is adjusted and pinned in its place. It is +upon this sheet that the patient is to be drawn up +after her confinement, which will take place upon +the <i>temporary dressing</i> of the bed now to be arranged. +It consists of an oil-cloth, which should +extend up beyond the lower edge of the permanent +dressing, overlapping the folded sheet which has +been placed above it, and should fall over the side +and bottom of the bed. A comfortable or any soft +absorbent material is placed over this impervious +cloth and covered with a folded sheet, completing +the temporary dressing. The bed-clothes may now +be adjusted, concealing the dressings from view +until they are wanted. The valances at the foot of +the bed should be raised, and a piece of carpet +placed on the floor. The bed should have no foot-board, +or a very low one.</p> + +<p><i>The dress of the mother.</i>—Either a folded sheet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +should be adjusted around the waist as the only +skirt, so as not to interfere with the walking, or a +second chemise should be put on, with the arms +outside the sleeves, to extend from the waist to the +feet. Then the chemise next the body should be +drawn up and folded high up around the breast. +It should be plaited neatly along the back, and +brought forward and fastened by pins. This should +be thoroughly done, so that the linen may not be +found wet nor soiled when it is drawn down after +confinement. A wrapper or dressing-gown may be +worn during the first stage of labor, before it is +necessary to go to bed. When, however, that time +comes, the wife will take her place on her left side +on the temporary dressing, with a sheet thrown +over her, her head on a pillow so situated that her +body will be bent well forward, and her feet against +the bed-post. A sheet should be twisted into a +cord and fastened to the foot of the bed, for her to +seize with her hands during the accession of the +'bearing-down pains.' Care should be taken to +have a number of napkins, a pot of fresh lard, and +the basket containing the scissors, ligature, bandage, +etc.—which have been previously enumerated in the +remarks on preparations for childbirth—at hand, +for the use of the doctor.</p> + +<p>We have now noted all that it is useful for the +wife to know in regard to the preparation for +and management of confinement, when a physician +is in attendance, as, for obvious reasons, he should +always be. In some instances, however, the absence +of the doctor is unavoidable, or the labor is +completed before his arrival. As a guide to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +performance of the necessary duties of the lying-in +room under such circumstances, we give some</p> + + +<h3>HINTS TO ATTENDANTS.</h3> + +<p>The room during confinement should be kept quiet. +Too many persons must not be allowed in it, as they +contaminate the air, and are apt by their conversation +to disturb the patient, either exciting or depressing +her. So soon as the head is born, it should be +immediately ascertained whether the neck is encircled +by the cord; if so, it should be removed or +loosened. The neglect of this precaution may +result fatally to the infant, as happened a short +time since in our own practice; the infant, born a +few minutes before our arrival, being found strangled +with the cord about its neck. It is also of importance +at once to allow of the entrance of air to the +face, to put the finger in the mouth to remove any +obstruction which may interfere with respiration, +and to lay the babe on its right side, with the head +removed from the discharges. The cord should +not be tied until the infant is heard to cry. The +ligature is to be applied in the following manner:—A +piece of bobbin is thrown around the navel-string, +and tied with a double knot at the distance +of three fingers' breadth from the umbilicus; a +second piece is tied an inch beyond the first, and +the cord divided with the scissors between the two, +care being taken not to clip off a finger or otherwise +injure the unsuspecting little infant, as has occurred +in careless hands more than once. When the child +is separated from the mother, a warm blanket or a +piece of flannel should be ready to receive it. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +taking hold of the little stranger, it may slip out of +the hands and be injured. To guard against this +accident, which is very apt to occur with awkward +or inexperienced persons, always seize the back +portion of the neck in the space bounded by the +thumb and first finger of one hand, and grasp the +thighs with the other. In this way it may be +safely carried. It should be transferred, wrapped +up in its blanket, to some <i>secure</i> place, and never +put in an arm-chair, where it may be crushed by +some one who does not observe that the chair is +already occupied. The head of the child should +not be so covered as to incur any danger of +suffocation.</p> + + +<h3>ATTENTION TO THE MOTHER.</h3> + +<p>When the after-birth has come away, the mother +should be drawn up a short distance—six or eight +inches—in bed, and the sheet which has been pinned +around her, together with the temporary dressing of +the bed removed, a clean folded sheet being introduced +under the hips. The parts should be gently washed +with warm water and a soft sponge or a cloth, after +which an application of equal parts of claret wine +and water will prove pleasant and beneficial. We +have also found the anointing of the external and +internal parts with goose grease, which has been +thoroughly washed in several hot waters, to be very +soothing and efficient in speedily allaying all irritation. +This ought all to be done under cover, to +guard against the taking of cold. The chemise +pinned up around the breast should now be loosened, +and the woman is ready for the application of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +bandage, which is to be put on next the skin. If +properly and nicely adjusted, it will prove very +grateful. The directions for making it have already +been given. In order to apply it, one half of its +length should be folded up into plaits, and the +mother should lie on her left side; lay the plaited +end of the bandage underneath the left side of the +patient, carrying it as far under as possible, and draw +the loose end over the abdomen; then let the mother +roll over on her back upon the bandage, and draw out +the plaited end. If the abdominal muscles are much +relaxed and the hip-bones prominent, a compress +of two or three towels will be wanted. The bandage +should be first tightened in the middle by a pin +applied laterally, for strings should never be employed. +The pins should be placed at intervals of +about an inch. The lower portion of the bandage +should be made quite tight, to prevent it slipping +up. The mother is now ready to be drawn up in +bed upon the permanent dressing: this should be +done without any exertion on her part. A napkin +should be laid smoothly <i>under</i> the hips (never +folded up), to receive the discharges. If she prefer +to lie on her left side, place a pillow behind her +back.</p> + + +<h3>ATTENTION TO THE CHILD.</h3> + +<p>The baby may now be washed and dressed. Before +beginning, everything that is wanted should +be close at hand, namely a basin of warm water, +a large quantity of lard or some other unctuous +material, soap, fine sponge, and a basket containing +the binder, shirt, and other articles of clothing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +First rub the child's body thoroughly with lard. +The covering can only be removed in this way; the +use of soap alone will have no effect unless the +friction be so great as to take off also the skin. +The nurse should take a handful of lard and rub it +in with the palm of the hand, particularly in the +flexures of the joints. In anointing one part, the +others should be covered, to prevent the child from +taking cold. If the child is thus made perfectly +clean, do not use any soap and water, because the +skin is left in a more healthful condition by the +lard, and there is risk of the child's taking cold +from the evaporation of the water. But the face +may be washed with soap and water, great care +being taken not to let the soap get into the child's +eyes, which is one of the most frequent causes of +sore eyes in infants. The navel-string is now to be +dressed. This is done by wrapping it up in a circular +piece of soft muslin, well oiled, with a hole in +its centre. The bandage is next to be applied. +The object of its use is to protect the child's abdomen +against cold, and to keep the dressing of the +cord in its position. The nature, shape, and size of +the binder have been described. It should be +pinned in front, three pins being generally sufficient. +The rest of the clothing before enumerated +is then put on.</p> + +<p>The child is now to be <i>applied to the breast at once.</i> +This is to be done, for three reasons. First, it very +often prevents flooding, which is apt otherwise to +occur. Secondly, it tends to prevent milk fever, by +averting the violent rush of the milk on the third +day, and the consequent engorgement of the breast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +and constitutional disturbance. The third reason +is, that there is always a secretion in the breast +from the first, which it is desirable for the child to +have; for it acts as a cathartic, stimulating the +liver, and cleansing the bowels from the secretions +which fill them at the time of birth. There is +generally sufficient nourishment in the breasts for +the child for the first few days. The mother may +lie on the one side or the other, and receive the +child upon the arm of that upon which she is lying. +If the nipple be not perfectly drawn out so that the +child can grasp it in its mouth, the difficulty may +be overcome by filling a porter-bottle with hot +water, emptying it, and then placing the mouth of +the bottle immediately over the nipple. This will +cause, as the bottle cools, a sufficient amount of +suction to elevate the sunken nipple. The bottle +should then be removed and the child substituted,—a +little sugar and water or sweetened milk being +applied, if necessary, to tempt the child to take the +breast.</p> + + +<h3>FURTHER ATTENTION TO THE MOTHER.</h3> + +<p>The patient should be cleansed every <i>four or +five hours.</i> A soft napkin, wet with warm soap and +water, should for this purpose be passed underneath +the bed-clothing, without exposing the surface to a +draft of air. After using the soap and water, apply +again the dilute claret wine and the goose grease. +Much of the safety of the mother depends upon the +observation of cleanliness. The napkin should not +be allowed to remain so long as to become saturated +with the discharges.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> + +<p>The mother should maintain rigidly the recumbent +position for the first few days, not raising her +shoulders from the pillow for any purpose, and +should abstain from receiving visitors, and from any +social conversation for the first twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>For the first three or four days, until the milk +has come and the milk fever passed, the mother +should live upon light food,—oatmeal gruel, tea +and toast, panada, or anything else of little bulk and +unstimulating character. Afterwards the diet may +be increased by the addition of chicken, lamb, mutton +or oyster broth, buttered toast, and eggs. The object +of light nourishment at first is to prevent the too rapid +secretion of milk, which might be attended with +evil local and constitutional effects. If, however, +the mother be in feeble health, it will be necessary +from the outset that she shall be supported with +nourishing concentrated food. <i>Beef-tea</i> will then +be found very serviceable, particularly if made according +to the following recipe:—Take a pound of +fresh beef from the loins or neck. Free it carefully +from all fat. Cut it up into fine pieces, and add a +very little salt and five grains of unbroken black +pepper. Pour on it a pint of cold water, and +<i>simmer</i> for forty minutes. Then pour off the liquor, +place the meat in a cloth, and, after squeezing the +juice from it into the tea, throw it aside. Return to +the fire, and boil for ten minutes.</p> + +<p>After the first week, the diet of the lying-in +woman should always be nutritious, though plain +and simple. The development of the mammary +glands, the production of the mammary secretion, +and the reduction which takes place in the size of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +the womb, all require increased nourishment, that +they may be properly performed.</p> + +<p>After the third or fourth day <i>the dress should be +changed.</i> The dress worn during labor, if our directions +have been carried out, will not have been +soiled. The clothing should be changed without +uncovering the person, and without raising the head +from the pillow. Pull the bed-gown from over each +arm, and draw it out from under the body. Then +unfasten the chemise in front and draw it down +underneath her so that it can be removed from +below, as it should not be carried over the head. +Place her arms in the sleeves of the clean chemise, +throw its body over her head, and, without lifting +her shoulders from the bed, draw it down. Then +change the bed-gown in the same manner.</p> + +<p>In changing the upper sheet, it should be pulled +off from below, and the clean one carried down in +its place from above, underneath the other clothing, +which can be readily accomplished by plaiting the +lower half. In introducing a clean under-sheet, one +side of it should be plaited and placed under the +patient, lying on her left side; when she turns on +her back, the plaits can then be readily drawn out. +These directions, though apparently trivial, are important. +The object is to guard against the great +danger to which the mother is exposed by sitting +up in bed for even a few minutes during the first +week.</p> + +<p><i>Cathartic medicine</i> should not be administered +the first, the third, or any other day after confinement, +unless it is needed. If the patient is perfectly +comfortable, has no pain in the abdomen, no head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>ache, +and is well in every respect, she should be let +alone, even if her bowels have not been moved. If +a laxative be called for, citrate of magnesia is +much pleasanter and equally as efficacious as the +castor-oil so frequently administered on this occasion.</p> + + +<h3>TO HAVE LABOR WITHOUT PAIN.</h3> + +<p>Is it possible to avoid the throes of labor, and +have children without suffering? This is a question +which science answers in the affirmative. Medical +art brings the waters of Lethe to the bedside of +woman in her hour of trial. Of late years chloroform +and ether have been employed to lessen or +annul the pains of childbirth, with the same success +that has attended their use in surgery. Their administration +is never pushed so as to produce complete +unconsciousness, unless some operation is +necessary, but merely so as to diminish sensibility +and render the pains endurable. These agents are +thus given without injury to the child, and without +retarding the labor or exposing the mother to any +danger. When properly employed, they induce +refreshing sleep, revive the drooping nervous system, +and expedite the delivery.</p> + +<p>They should never be used in the absence of the +doctor. He alone is competent to give them with +safety. In natural, easy, and short labor, where +the pains are readily borne, they are not required. +But in those lingering cases in which the suffering +is extreme, and, above all, in those instances where +instruments have to be employed, ether and chloroform +have a value beyond all price.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>MORTALITY OF CHILDBED.</h3> + +<p><i>The number of the pregnancy</i> affects the danger +to be expected from lying-in. It has been declared +by excellent authority, that the mortality of first +labors, and of childbed fever following first labors +is about twice the mortality attending all subsequent +labors collectively. After the ninth labor +the mortality increases with the number. A woman +having a large family, therefore, comes into greater +and increasing risk as she bears her ninth and successive +children.</p> + +<p><i>The age of the woman</i> also affects the mortality +accompanying confinement. The age of least mortality +is near twenty-five years. On either side +of this, mortality increases with the diminution or +increase of age. The age of the greatest safety in +confinement therefore corresponds to the age of +greatest fecundity. And during the whole of child-bearing +life, safety in labor is directly as fecundity, +and <i>vice versâ.</i> Hence modern statistics prove the +correctness of the saying of Aristotle, that 'to the +female sex premature wedlock is peculiarly dangerous, +since, in consequence of anticipating the demands +of nature, many of them suffer greatly in +childbirth, and many of them die.' As the period +from twenty to twenty-five is the least dangerous +for childbirth, and as first labors are more hazardous +than all others before the ninth, it is important +that this term of least mortality be chosen for +entering upon the duties of matrimony. This we +have already pointed out in speaking of the age of +nubility.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>The sex of the child</i> is another circumstance +affecting the mortality of labor. Professor Simpson +of Edinburgh has shown that a greater proportion +of deaths occurs in women who have brought forth +male children.</p> + +<p><i>The duration of labor</i> also influences the mortality +of lying-in. The fatality increases with the length +of the labor. It must be recollected, however, that +the duration of labor is only an inconsiderable part +of the many causes of mortality in childbirth.</p> + + +<h3>WEIGHT AND LENGTH OF NEW-BORN CHILDREN</h3> + +<p>The average weight of infants of both sexes at +the time of birth is about seven pounds. The +average of male children is seven and one-third +pounds; of female, six and two-thirds pounds. +Children which at full term weigh less than five +pounds are not apt to thrive, and usually die in a +short time.</p> + +<p>The average length at birth, without regard to +sex, is about twenty inches, the male being about +half an inch longer than the female.</p> + +<p>In regard to the relation between the size of the +child and the age of the mother, the interesting conclusion +has been arrived at, that the average weight +and length of the mature child gradually increases +with the age of the mother up to the twenty-fifth +year. Mothers between the ages of twenty-five and +twenty-nine have the largest children. From the +thirtieth year they gradually diminish. The first +child of a woman is of comparatively light weight. +The first egg of a fowl is smaller than those which +follow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> + +<p>The new-born children in our Western States +seem to be larger than the statistics show them +to be in the various States of Europe, and apparently +even than in our Eastern States. In the +Report on Obstetrics of the Illinois State Medical +Society for 1868, it is stated that Quincy, Ill., produced +during the year six male children whose average +weight at birth was thirteen and a quarter +pounds, the smallest weighing twelve pounds, and +the largest seventeen and a half, which was born at +the end of four hours' labor, without instrumental +or other interference. A recent number of a +Western medical journal reports the birth at Detroit, +in February last, of a well-formed male infant +twenty-four and a-half inches long, weighing sixteen +pounds. The woman's weight, <i>after labor</i>, is +stated as only ninety-two pounds. An English +physician delivered a child by the forceps which +weighed seventeen pounds twelve ounces, and +measured twenty-four inches. These are the largest +well-authenticated new-born infants on record.</p> + + +<h3>DURATION OF LABOR.</h3> + +<p>The length of a natural labor may be said to +vary between two and eighteen hours. The intervals +between the pains are such, however, that the +actual duration of suffering, even in the longest +labor, is comparatively very short. The first confinement +is much longer than subsequent ones.</p> + +<p>The <i>sex</i> of the child has some influence on the +duration of labor. According to Dr. Collins of the +Lying-in Hospital of Dublin, the average with <i>male</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +births is one hour and four minutes longer than +with <i>female.</i> The <i>weight</i> of the child also affects +the time of labor. Children weighing over eight +pounds average four hours and eight minutes longer +in birth than those of less than eight pounds +weight.</p> + + +<h3>STILL-BIRTHS.</h3> + +<p>The statistics of nearly fifty thousand deliveries +which occurred at the Royal Maternity Charity, +London, show a percentage of nearly five still-born, +or one in twenty-seven.</p> + +<p>There are more boys still-born than girls. We +have already spoken of the fact that male births +are more tedious, and that a larger number of males +die in the first few years of life than females. This +series of misfortunes has been attributed to the +large size which the male fœtus at birth possesses +over the female.</p> + + +<h3>IMPRUDENCE AFTER CHILDBIRTH.</h3> + +<p>After the birth of the child at full term, or at +any other period of pregnancy, the womb, which +had attained such wonderful proportions in a few +months, begins to resume its former size. This +process requires at least six weeks after labor for +its full accomplishment. Rest is essential during +this period. A too early return to the ordinary +active duties of life retards or checks this restoration +to normal size, and the womb being heavier, exposes +the woman to great danger of uterine displacements. +Nor are these the only risks incurred +by a too hasty renewal of active movements. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +surface, the substance, and the lining membrane of +the womb are all very liable, while this change from +its increased to its ordinary bulk is occurring, to +take on inflammation after slight exposure. The +worst cases of uterine inflammation and ulceration +are thus caused. A 'bad getting-up,' prolonged +debility, pain, and excessive discharge, are among +the least penalties consequent upon imprudence +after confinement. It is a mistake to suppose that +hard-working women in the lower walks of life +attend with impunity to their ordinary duties a +few days after confinement. Those who suffer +most from falling of the womb and other displacements +are the poor, who are obliged to get up +on the ninth day and remain upright, standing or +walking for many hours with an over-weighted +womb. Every physician who has practised much +among the poor, has remarked upon the great +frequency of diseases of the womb, which is to +be attributed to the neglect of rest, so common +among them, after childbirth. If this be true of +vigorous women accustomed to a hardy life, how +much more apt to suffer from this cause are the +delicately nurtured, whose systems are already, +perhaps, deteriorated, and little able to resist any +deleterious influences!</p> + +<p>A mother should remain in bed for at least two +weeks after the birth of the child, and should not +return to her household duties under a month; she +should also take great pains to protect herself from +cold, so as to escape the rheumatic affections to +which at this time she is particularly subject. If +these directions were generally observed, there would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +be less employment for physicians with diseases +peculiar to women, and fewer invalids in our +homes.</p> + + +<h3>TO PRESERVE THE FORM AFTER CHILDBIRTH.</h3> + +<p>This is a matter of great anxiety with many +women; and it is proper that it should be, for a +flabby, pendulous abdomen is not only destructive +to grace of movement and harmony of outline, but +is a positive inconvenience.</p> + +<p>To avoid it, be careful not to leave the bed too +early. If the walls of the abdomen are much relaxed, +the bed should be kept from two to three +weeks. Gentle frictions daily with spirits and +water will give tone to the muscles. But the most +important point is to wear for several months a +<i>well-fitting</i> bandage—not a towel pinned around +the person, but a body-case of strong linen, cut +bias, setting snugly to the form, but not exerting +unpleasant pressure. The pattern for this has +already been given.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_MOTHER" id="THE_MOTHER"></a>THE MOTHER.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><i>MATERNAL DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES.</i></h3> + +<p>It has been well said by Madame Sirey, that +women who comprehend well their rights and +duties as mothers of families, certainly cannot complain +of their destiny. If there exists any inequality +in the means of pleasure accorded to the +two sexes, it is in favor of the woman. The mother +who lives in her children and her grandchildren +has the peculiar privilege of not knowing the grief +of becoming old.</p> + +<p>'So low down in the scale of creation as we can +go,' says Professor Laycock of Edinburgh, 'wherever +there is a discoverable distinction of sex, we +find that maternity is the first and most fundamental +duty of the female. The male never in a +single instance, in any organism, whether plant or +animal, contributes nutrient material.'</p> + +<p>Among the Romans, it was enacted that married +women who had borne three children, or if freed-women, +four, had special privileges of their own in +cases of inheritance, and were exempted from tutelage. +Juvenal has recorded the reverence paid in +Rome to the newly-made mother, and the sign +by which her house was designated and protected +from rude intruders, namely, by the suspension of +wreaths over the door.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>At various times, and in different countries, legislators +have made laws discriminating in favor of +matrons, justly regarding the family as the source +of the wealth and prosperity of the State.</p> + +<p>Louis <span class="smcap">XIV.</span> granted, by the edict of 1666, certain +pensions to parents of ten children, with an increase +for those who had twelve or more.</p> + + +<h3><a name="NURSING" id="NURSING"></a>NURSING.</h3> + +<p>So soon as the infant is born, it ought to be +placed at the breast. From this source it should +receive its <i>only</i> nourishment during the first four or +six months, and in many cases the first year, of its +life. The child which the mother has carried for +nine months and brought with suffering into the +world, still depends upon her for its existence. At +the moment of its birth her duties to the infant, +instead of ceasing, augment in importance. The +obligation is imposed upon her of nourishing it +with <i>her own</i> milk, unless there are present physical +conditions rendering nursing improper, of which +we are about to speak. It is well known that the +artificial feeding of infants is a prominent cause of +mortality in early life. The foundlings of large +cities furnish the most striking and convincing +proof of the great advantages of nursing over the +use of artificially-prepared food. On the continent +of Europe, in Lyons and Parthenay, where foundlings +are wet-nursed from the time they are received, +the deaths are 33.7 and 35 per cent. In +Paris, Rheims, and Aix, where they are wholly +dry-nursed, their deaths are 50.3, 63.9, and 80 per cent. +In New York city, the foundlings, number<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>ing +several hundred a year, were, until recently, +dry-nursed, with the fearful and almost incredible +mortality of nearly one hundred per cent. The +employment of wet-nurses has produced a much +more favorable result. Therefore, if for any reason +the mother cannot nurse her own child, a hired wet-nurse +should be procured. This brings us to the +consideration of</p> + + +<h3>HINDRANCES TO NURSING, AND WHEN IT IS +IMPROPER.</h3> + +<p>Women who have never suckled often experience +difficulty in nursing, on account of the sunken and +flat condition of the nipple. We have pointed out +the causes of this depression, and how by early attention +before the birth of the infant it may be prevented. +If, however, these precautions have been +neglected, and it is found that the nipple is not +sufficiently prominent to be grasped by the child's +mouth, it may be drawn out by a common breast-pump, +by suction with a tobacco-pipe, by the use of +the hot-water bottle in the manner described, or by +the application of an infant a little older. Neither +the child nor the mother should be constantly +fretted in such cases by frequent ineffectual attempts +at nursing. Such unremitting attention and continual +efforts produce nervousness and loss of sleep, +and result in a diminution of the quantity of the +milk. The child should not be put to the breast +oftener than once in an hour and a half or two +hours. By the use of the expedients mentioned, +the whole difficulty will be overcome in a few +days.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Delay in applying the child to the breast</i> is a +common cause of trouble. After it has been fed +for several days with the spoon or bottle, it will +often refuse to suck. When nursing is deferred, +the nipple also becomes tender. For these reasons, +as well as the others detailed in our directions for +the care of the new-born infant, the child should +always, in say from two to three hours after labor, +be placed at the breast.</p> + +<p><i>Ulcerated and fissured nipples</i> should be treated +by the doctor in attendance. As it is highly desirable, +and nearly always possible, to avoid them, we +would again call attention to the manner of doing +so, indicated in a previous article. Fissured nipples +sometimes do harm to the infant, by causing it to +swallow blood, disturbing in this way the digestion. +But all these local interferences with nursing can +generally be obviated in the course of a few weeks, +and rarely entirely prevent the exercise of this +maternal pleasure and duty.</p> + +<p>But there are certain <i>physical conditions which +necessitate the employment of a hired wet-nurse</i>, or +weaning. If the mother belongs to a consumptive +family, and is herself pale, emaciated, harassed by +a cough, and exhausted by suckling, wet-nursing is +eminently improper. A temporary loss of strength +under other circumstances should not induce a +mother at once to wean her child; for it is often +possible, by the judicious use of tonics, nourishing +food, and stimulants, to entirely restore the health +with the child at the breast. It should always be +recollected, however, that the milk of those in decidedly +infirm health is incapable of properly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +nourishing the child. Professor J. Lewis Smith of +New York quotes, in his recent work on Diseases +of Children, several instructive cases which show +the danger sometimes attending suckling, and +which may imperatively demand its discontinuance. +'A very light-complexioned young mother, in very +good health, and of a good constitution, though +somewhat delicate, was nursing for the third time, +and, as regarded the child, successfully. All at +once this young woman experienced a feeling of +exhaustion. Her skin became constantly hot; +there were cough, oppression, night-sweats; her +strength visibly declined, and in less than a fortnight +she presented the ordinary symptoms of +consumption. The nursing was immediately abandoned, +and from the moment the secretion of milk +had ceased, all the troubles disappeared.' Again: +'A woman of forty years of age having lost, one +after another, several children, all of which she had +put out to nurse, determined to nurse the last one +herself. This woman being vigorous and well built, +was eager for the work, and, filled with devotion +and spirit, she gave herself up to the nursing of her +child with a sort of fury. At nine months she still +nursed him from fifteen to twenty times a day. +Having become extremely emaciated, she fell all +at once into a state of weakness, from which +nothing could raise her, and two days after the +poor woman died of exhaustion.'</p> + +<p>It does not always follow, that because the +mother is sick the child should be taken from the +breast. It is only necessary in those affections +in which there is great depression of the vital<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +powers, or in which there is danger of communicating +the disease to the child. In the city, where +artificially-fed infants run great risks, extreme +caution should be exercised in early weaning.</p> + +<p><i>Inflammation of either of the breasts</i> necessitates +the removal of the infant from the affected side, +and its restriction to the other. As the inflammation +gets well and the milk reappears, the first of +it should always be rejected, as it is apt to be thick +and stringy, after which nursing may be resumed.</p> + + +<h3>RULES FOR NURSING.</h3> + +<p>The new-born child should be nursed about every +second hour during the day, and not more than +once or twice at night. Too much ardor may be +displayed by the young mother in the performance +of her duties. Not knowing the fact that an infant +quite as frequently cries from being overfed as from +want of nourishment, she is apt to give it the breast +at every cry, day and night. In this manner her +health is broken down, and she is compelled perhaps +to wean her child, which, with more prudence +and knowledge, she might have continued to nurse +without detriment to herself. It is particularly +important that the child shall acquire the habit of +not requiring the breast more than once or twice at +night. This, with a little perseverance, can readily +be accomplished, so that the hours for rest at night, +so much needed by the mother, may not be interfered +with. Indeed, if the mother does not enjoy +good health, it is better for her not to nurse at all +at night, but to have the child fed once or twice +with a little cow's milk. For this purpose, take the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +upper third of the milk which has stood for several +hours and dilute it with water, in the proportion of +one part of milk to two of water.</p> + +<p>In those cases in which the milk of the mother +habitually disagrees with the infant, the attention +of the doctor should at once be called to the circumstance. +A microscopic examination will reveal +to the intelligent practitioner the cause of the difficulty, +and suggest the remedy.</p> + +<p>It may be well here to mention—as, judging +from the practice of many nurses and mothers, it +seems to be a fact not generally known or attended +to—that human milk contains <i>all that is required</i> +for the growth and repair of the various parts of the +child's body. It should therefore be the sole food +in early infancy.</p> + + +<h3>INFLUENCE OF DIET ON THE MOTHER'S MILK.</h3> + +<p>Certain articles of food render the milk acid, and +thus induce colicky pains and bowel complaints in +the child. Such, therefore, as are found, in each individual +case, to produce indigestion and an acid +stomach in the mother, should be carefully avoided +by her.</p> + +<p><i>Retention of the milk in the breasts</i> alters its character. +The longer it is retained, the weaker and +more watery it becomes. An acquaintance with +this fact is of practical importance to every mother; +for it follows from it, that the milk is richer the +oftener it is removed from the breast. Therefore, if +the digestion of the child is disordered by the milk +being too rich, as sometimes happens, the remedy +is to give it the breast less frequently by which not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +only is less taken, but the quality is also rendered +poorer. On the contrary, in those instances in +which the child is badly nourished and the milk is +insufficient in quantity, it should be applied oftener, +and the milk thus rendered richer.</p> + +<p>The milk which last flows is always the richest. +Hence, when two children are nursed, the first is the +worse served.</p> + + +<h3>INFLUENCE OF PREGNANCY ON THE MILK.</h3> + +<p>Menstruation is ordinarily absent, and pregnancy +therefore impossible, during the whole course of +nursing, at least during the first nine months. +Sometimes, however, mothers become unwell at the +expiration of the sixth or seventh month; in rare +instances, within the first five or six weeks after +confinement. When the monthly sickness makes +its appearance without any constitutional or local +disturbance, it is not apt to interfere with the +welfare of the infant. When, on the contrary, the +discharge is profuse, and attended with much pain, +it may produce colic, vomiting, and diarrhœa in the +nursling. The disturbance in the system of the +child ordinarily resulting from pregnancy in the +mother is such that, as a rule, it should be at once +weaned so soon as it is certain that pregnancy +exists. The only exceptions to this rule are those +cases in the city, during the hot months, in which +it is impossible either to procure a wet-nurse or to +take the child to the country to be weaned. In +cold weather an infant should certainly be weaned, +if it has attained its fifth or sixth month, and the +mother has become pregnant.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>INFLUENCE OF THE MOTHER'S MIND OVER THE +NURSING CHILD.</h3> + +<p>We have spoken, in treating of mothers' marks, +of the influence of the mother's mind upon her +unborn offspring. The influence of the maternal +mind does not cease with the birth of the child. +The mother continues during the whole period of +nursing powerfully to impress, through her milk, +the babe at her breast. It is well established, that +mental emotions are capable of changing the quantity +and quality of the milk, and of thus rendering +it hurtful, and even dangerous, to the infant.</p> + +<p><i>The secretion of milk may be entirely stopped</i> by +the action of the nervous system. Fear, excited +on account of the child which is sick or exposed to +accident, will check the flow of milk, which will not +return until the little one is restored in safety to the +mother's arms. Apprehension felt in regard to a +drunken husband, has been known to arrest the +supply of this fluid. On the other hand, the secretion +is often augmented, as every mother knows, by +the <i>sight</i> of the child, nay, even by the <i>thought</i> of +him, causing a sudden rush of blood to the breast +known to nurses as the <i>draught.</i> Indeed a strong +desire to furnish milk, together with the application +of the child to the breast, has been effectual in +bringing about its secretion in young girls, old +women, and even men.</p> + +<p>Sir Astley Cooper states that 'those passions +which are generally sources of pleasure, and which +when moderately indulged are conducive to health, +will, when carried to excess, alter, and even entirely +check the secretion of milk.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the fact which it is most important to know +is, that <i>nervous agitation may so alter the quality +of the milk as to make it poisonous.</i> A fretful +temper, fits of anger, grief, anxiety of mind, fear, +and sudden terror, not only lessen the quantity of +the milk, but render it thin and unhealthful, inducing +disturbances of the child's bowels, diarrhœa, +griping, and fever. Intense mental emotion may +even so alter the milk as to cause the death of the +child. A physician states, in the <i>Lancet</i>, that, +having removed a small tumour from behind the +ear of a mother, all went on well until she fell into +a violent passion. The child being suckled soon +afterwards, it died in convulsions. Professor Carpenter +records in his Physiology two other fatal +instances: in one, the infant put to the breast immediately +after the receipt of distressing news by +the mother, died in her arms in the presence of +the messenger of the ill-tidings; in the other, the +infant was seized with convulsions on the right +side and paralysis on the left, on sucking directly +after the mother had met with an agitating occurrence. +Another case of similar character may be +mentioned. A woman while nursing became violently +excited on account of a loss she had just met +with from a theft. She gave her child the breast +while in an intense passion. The child first refused, +but ultimately took it, when severe vomiting +occurred. In the course of some hours the child +took the other breast, was attacked at once with +violent convulsions, and died in spite of all that +could be done for it.</p> + +<p>The following cases are related by Professor Ca<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>rpenter +as occurring within his own knowledge. +They are valuable as a warning to nursing mothers +to avoid all exciting or depressing passions. A +mother of several healthy children, of whom the +youngest was a vigorous infant a few months old, +heard of the death from convulsions of the infant +child of an intimate friend at a distance, whose +family had increased in the same manner as her +own. The unfortunate circumstance made a strong +impression on her mind, and being alone with her +babe, separated from the rest of her family, she +dwelt upon it more than she otherwise would have +done. With her mind thus occupied, one morning, +shortly after nursing her infant, she laid it in its +cradle, asleep and apparently in perfect health. +Her attention was soon attracted to it by a noise. +On going to the cradle she found it in a convulsion, +which lasted only a few moments, and left it dead. +In the other case, the mother had lost several children +in early infancy, from fits. One infant alone +survived the usually fatal period. While nursing +him, one morning she dwelt strongly upon the fear +of losing him also, although he appeared to be a +very healthy child. The infant was transferred to +the arms of the nurse. While the nurse was endeavouring +to cheer the mother by calling her +attention to the thriving appearance of her child, +he was seized with a convulsion, and died almost +instantly in her arms. Under similar circumstances, +a child should not be nursed by its mother, but by +one who has reared healthy children of her own and +has a tranquil mind.</p> + +<p>An interesting illustration of the powerful seda<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>tive +action of the mother's milk—changed in consequence +of great mental distress—upon the +impressible nervous system of the infant, is furnished +by a German physician. 'A carpenter fell +into a quarrel with a soldier billeted in his house, +and was set upon by the latter with his drawn +sword. The wife of the carpenter at first trembled +from fear and terror, and then suddenly threw +herself furiously between the combatants, wrested +the sword from the soldier's hand, broke it in +pieces, and threw it away. During the tumult, +some neighbors came in and separated the men. +While in this state of strong excitement, the +mother took up her child from the cradle, where +it lay playing and in the most perfect health, never +having had a moment's illness. She gave it the +breast, and in so doing sealed its fate. In a few +minutes the infant left off sucking, became restless, +panted, and sank dead upon its mother's bosom. +The physician, who was instantly called in, found +the child lying in the cradle as if asleep, and with +its features undisturbed; but all his resources were +fruitless. It was irrevocably gone.'</p> + +<p>Professor William A. Hammond of New York +mentions, in a recent number of the <i>Journal of +Psychological Medicine</i>, several instances, from his +own practice, of affections in the child caused by +the mother's milk. 'A soldier's wife, whilst nursing +her child, was very much terrified by a sudden +thunderstorm, during which the house where she +was then quartered was struck by lightning. The +infant, which had always been in excellent health, +was immediately attacked with vomiting and con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>vulsions, +from which it recovered with difficulty.' +'A lady, three weeks after delivery, was attacked +with puerperal insanity. She nursed her child but +once after the accession of the disease, and in two +hours subsequently it was affected with general +convulsions, from which it died during the night. +Previous to this event it had been in robust health.'</p> + +<p>Again, Dr. Seguin of New York relates, in his +work on Idiocy, a number of cases of <i>loss of mind</i> +produced by the altered state of the mother's milk. +'Mrs. B. came out from a ball-room, gave the +breast to her baby, three months old: he was taken +with spasms two hours after, and since is a confirmed +idiot and epileptic.'</p> + +<p>'In a moment of great anxiety Mrs. C. jumped +into a carriage with her suckling, a girl of fifteen +months, so far very intelligent and attractive. The +child took the breast only once in a journey of +twenty miles, but before arriving at destination she +vomited several times, with no interruption but that +of stupor, and after an acute fever the little girl +settled down into the condition of a cripple and +idiot.'</p> + +<p>The celebrated physician Boerhaave mentions +the milk of an angry nurse as among the causes of +<i>epilepsy.</i></p> + +<p>These facts show the importance of a placid +mind and cheerful temper in the mother while +nursing.</p> + + +<h3>POSITION OF THE MOTHER WHILE NURSING.</h3> + +<p>The habit of nursing a child while sitting up in bed +or half reclining upon a lounge is a wrong one. Such<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +a position is injurious to the breasts, hurtful to the +woman's figure, and apt to cause backache. When +in bed, the mother ought always to be recumbent +while the child is at the breast, held upon the arm +of the side upon which she lies. When out of bed, +she should sit upright while nursing.</p> + + +<h3>QUANTITY OF MILK REQUIRED BY THE INFANT.</h3> + +<p>The amount of milk furnished every day by a +healthy woman has been estimated at from a quart +to three pints. An infant one or two months of age +takes about two wine-glassfuls, or three ounces, +every meal; that is, as it sucks every two hours, +excepting when asleep, about five half-pints during +the twenty-four hours. When it attains the age of +three months, it thrives well on five meals a day, +the quantity taken at each meal then, the stomach +being more capacious, amounting to about half a +pint. A child above three months of age ordinarily +requires three pints daily.</p> + +<p>A healthy mother is fully capable of furnishing +this quantity of milk per day, and of affording the +child all the nourishment it needs until four or six +months after birth.</p> + +<p>The quantity of the mother's milk varies according +to many circumstances. It is most abundant +and also most nutritious in nursing women between +the ages of fifteen and thirty; least so, in those +from thirty-five to forty. There is likewise a great +difference in different women in this respect; and +in the same woman varying conditions of health +influence the amount of milk secreted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD NURSING MOTHER</h3> + +<p>are well described by Professor J. Lewis Smith. +'The best wet-nurses are usually robust, without +being corpulent. Their appetite is good, and their +breasts are distended, from the number and large +size of the blood-vessels and milk-ducts. There is +but a moderate amount of fat around the gland, +and tortuous veins are observed passing over it. +Such nurses do not experience a feeling of exhaustion, +and do not suffer from lactation. The +nutriment which they consume is equally expended +on their own sustenance and the supply of milk. +There are other good wet-nurses who have the +physical condition described, but whose breasts +are small. Still the infant continues to suck till it +is satisfied, and it thrives. The milk is of good +quality, and it appears to be secreted mainly during +the time of suckling. Other mothers evidently +decline in health during the time of nursing. They +furnish milk of good quality and in abundance, and +their infants thrive; but it is at their own expense. +They themselves say, and with truth, that what +they eat goes to milk. They become thinner and +paler, are perhaps troubled with palpitation, and +are easily exhausted. They often find it necessary +to wean before the end of the usual period of +lactation. There is another class whose health is +habitually poor, but who furnish the usual quantity +of milk without the exhaustion experienced by the +class just described. The milk of these women is +of poor quality. It is abundant, but watery. Their +infants are pallid having soft and flabby fibre.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>OVER-ABUNDANCE OF MILK.</h3> + +<p>An excessive amount of milk often distends the +breasts of those women who are prone to have long +and profuse monthly sickness. It is also apt to +occur in those subject to bleeding piles. It may +be produced by any excitement of the womb or +ovaries, and by over-nursing. In these cases there +is usually a constant oozing away and consequent +loss of milk. The mother is troubled by this over-flow, +because it keeps her clothing wet; and the +child suffers because of the unnutritious, watery +character of the milk under such circumstances.</p> + +<p>This over-abundant supply may be moderated +and the quality improved by diminishing the quantity +of drink, and by the use of preparations of +iron. Fifteen drops of the muriatic tincture of iron, +taken three times a day in a little sweetened water, +through a glass tube, will be useful. It will lessen +the amount of the milk, and make it richer. So +soon as these objects are accomplished, the medicine +should be discontinued; as, if taken too long, +it may so much diminish the milk as to necessitate +weaning. The application of a cloth, wrung out in +cold water, around the nipples is also of value. It +is to be removed so soon as it becomes warm, and +reapplied. In those cases in which the trouble +seems to be not so much an over-supply as an +inability to retain the milk, the administration of +tonics addressed to the nervous system, and the +local use of astringents and of collodion around the +nipples, will overcome the difficulty; but these +remedies can only be employed successfully by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +physician. And to him alone should be entrusted +the use of those medicines which directly +diminish the amount of milk secreted within the +breasts. The expedients we have mentioned are +the only ones which can be safely employed by the +mother herself in this annoying affection.</p> + + +<h3>SCANTINESS OF MILK.</h3> + +<p>Some mothers have habitually an insufficiency +of milk. They are most numerous in large cities, +and among working women whose daily occupations +require a separation from the infant. Indigestion, +and the want of a proper amount of +nourishing food, cause a diminution in the quantity +of milk. So also do over-feeding and gormandizing. +Age lessens the secretion of milk, as has been +already mentioned. Those who first bear children +late in life, have less milk for them than they who +begin earlier. In some cases want of milk in the +breasts seems to be due to its reabsorption. In +such instances it may make its appearance at distant +parts. Thus, a case has been recorded of the +coughing up of milk following sudden arrest of the +secretion, and others in which it presented itself as +an exudation in the groins.</p> + +<p>In the treatment of a scanty formation of milk, +one of the best measures which can be resorted +to is the frequent application of the child to +the breast. In addition, the flow may be increased +by milking the breasts by means of the +thumb and finger, suction through a tobacco-pipe, +or the breast-pump, or by the use of another +infant. Friction of the breasts, and forcible draw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>ing +upon the nipples, will make them sore, and so +irritate them as to defeat the object in view. A +change of scene, fresh air, and outdoor exercise, +attention to personal cleanliness, and the improvement +of the general health, all increase the quantity, +and produce a favourable effect upon the +quality, of the milk. A sojourn at the sea-side +often promotes an abundant secretion of milk. +The diet should be regulated by the condition of +the constitution. By those who are weak and pale, +a large proportion of meat is required. On the +contrary, those who are full-blooded and corpulent +should restrict the amount of their animal food, +and take more exercise in the open air. Oatmeal +gruel enjoys a reputation for increasing the flow of +milk. A basin of it sometimes produces an immediate +effect. The same is true of cow's milk. +Porter or ale once or twice a day, in those with +reduced systems and impaired digestion and appetite, +will be found useful. Anise, fennel, and +caraway-seeds, given in soup, act sometimes as +stimulants upon the secretion of milk. The application +of a poultice made from the pulverized leaves +of the castor-oil plant is a most efficient remedy +when milk fails to make its appearance in the +breast in sufficient quantity after confinement.</p> + + +<h3>WET-NURSING BY VIRGINS, AGED WOMEN, +AND MEN.</h3> + +<p>As a rule, the secretion of milk is limited to one +sex, and in that is confined to a short period after +childbirth. But there are many cases on record of +the flowing of milk in women not recently mothers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +in girls before the age of puberty, in aged women, +and even in individuals of the male sex. In such +instances, the secretion is induced by the combined +influence, acting through the nervous system, of a +strong desire for its occurrence, of a fixed attention +towards the mammary glands, and of suction from +the nipples.</p> + +<p>Travellers among savage nations report many +examples of such unnatural nursing. Dr. Livingstone +says he has frequently seen in Africa a +grandchild suckled by a grandmother. Dr. Wm. +A. Gillespie, of Virginia records, in the <i>Boston +Medical and Surgical Journal</i>, the case of a widow, +aged about sixty, whose daughter having died, +leaving a child two months old, took the child and +tried to raise it by feeding. The child's bowels +became deranged, and being unable to procure a +nurse, and her breasts being large and full, he +advised her to apply the child, in hopes milk +would come. She followed his advice perseveringly, +and, to her astonishment, a plentiful +secretion of milk was the result, with which she +nourished the child, which afterwards became +strong and healthy. A similar instance, still more +remarkable, is recorded of a woman at seventy +years, who twenty years wet-nursed a grandchild +after her last confinement.</p> + +<p>Cases of nursing in the opposite extreme of life +are also well authenticated. The distinguished +French physician Baudelocque has related that of +a deaf and dumb girl, eight years old, who, by +the repeated application to her breast of a young +infant, which her mother was suckling, had suffi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>cient +milk to nourish the child for a month, while +the mother was unable to nurse it on account of +sore nipples. The little girl was shown to the +Royal Academy of Surgery on the 16th of +February, 1783. The quantity of milk was such, +that by simply pressing the breast it was made to +flow out in the presence of the Academy, and on +the same day, at the house of Baudelocque, before +a large class of pupils. Again, an interesting case +is known of a young woman, who, in consequence +of the habit of applying the infant of her mistress +to her breast in order to quiet it, caused a free +secretion of milk. In the Cape de Verde Islands, +it is stated that virgins, old women, and even men, +are frequently employed as wet-nurses. Humboldt +speaks of a man, thirty-two years old, who +gave the breast to his child for five months. +Captain Franklin saw a similar case in the Arctic +regions. Professor Hall presented to his class in +Baltimore a negro, fifty-five years old, who had +been the wet-nurse of all the children of his +mistress.</p> + +<p>Instances of powers of <i>prolonged nursing</i> in +mothers are not uncommon. Indeed it is the habit +among some nations to suckle children until +they are three or four years of age, even though +another pregnancy may intervene, so that immediately +one child is succeeded at the breast by +another. In those who have thus unnaturally excited +the mammary glands, an irrepressible flow +sometimes continues after the demand for it has +ceased. Dr. Green published, some years ago, in +the <i>New York Journal of Medicine and Surgery</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +the case of a woman, aged forty-seven, the mother +of five children, who had had an abundant supply of +milk for <i>twenty-seven years</i> consecutively. A period +of exactly four years and a half occurred between +each birth, and the children were permitted to +take the breast until they were running about at +play. At the time when Dr. G. wrote, she had +been nine years a widow, and was obliged to have +her breasts drawn daily, the secretion of milk being +so copious. When, therefore, it is desirable, on +account of the feebleness of the child, to protract +the period of nursing, a wet-nurse should relieve +the mother at the end of twelve or fifteen months.</p> + + +<h3>RULES FOR CARE OF HEALTH WHILE NURSING.</h3> + +<p>From what we have previously said of the influence +of the nervous system over the quantity and +quality of the milk, and the instances we have +adduced of the danger to the infant of all violent +passions—such as anger, terror, anxiety, and grief—on +the part of the mother, it will be apparent +that it is of the greatest moment, during the whole +course of nursing, to maintain a tranquil state of +mind. Pleasing and peaceful emotions favor the +normal secretion of milk, and go far towards securing +the health of the child. When strongly +affected by any powerful feelings, mothers should +not give the breast, but should wait until they have +calmed down to their usual tenor of temper. A +case is related of a woman who was always excited +by a highly electrical state of the atmosphere, and +particularly during stormy weather. If when thus +influenced she nursed her child he was sure to fall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +into convulsions; while, if she delayed doing so +until this nervous excitement had passed, no unpleasant +symptoms occurred. But we have already +dwelt at length upon this subject in speaking of the +influence of the mind of the mother over the child +at her breast, and need not therefore recur to it. The +<i>food</i> while nursing must be nutritious and varied, +though simple and unstimulating; and should consist +both of meat and vegetables, soups, fish, flesh, +and fowl, either in combination or succession. +When the digestion requires stimulation and aid, +a glass of mild ale twice a day will be useful. +Wines, brandy, and whisky should not be taken +without the advice of a physician. Moderate exercise +in the open air and regular habits are necessary. +A defective or excessive diet, fatigue, loss +of rest at night, and irregularities and excesses of +all kinds are unfavorable to mother and child. The +proper methods of combating a tendency to over-abundance +or to scantiness of milk have been +alluded to. Medicines, unless prescribed by the +medical attendant, should rarely or never be taken +during this period, as many of them enter the milk +and may thus affect the child.</p> + + +<h3>RELATIONS OF HUSBAND AND WIFE DURING +NURSING.</h3> + +<p>After a natural and healthful confinement, the +nurse usually remains with the mother for a period +of four weeks. During the whole of this time the +husband should occupy a separate apartment, and, +according to some physicians, this separation +should be protracted during the entire period of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +nursing. But this is unusual, and in most cases +unnecessary. Only those women who are warned +by the recurrence of their monthly illness that +they are liable to another pregnancy immediately, +should insist on such an ascetic rule as this.</p> + +<p>Unquestionably the quality of the milk is much +deteriorated by a conception; and therefore, both +in the interest of the mother and child, the husband +should renounce his usual privileges at such times.</p> + +<p>Most women do not have their periodical illness, +and consequently are not liable to a second pregnancy, +before seven months have elapsed after +childbirth. There are, however, numerous exceptions +to this rule, and it is impossible to foretell +who will and who will not be the exception.</p> + +<p>Moreover, as any excitement of the passions +alters to some extent the secretion of the breasts, +often to the injury of the child, it is every way +advisable that great temperance be exercised in +all cases in the marital relations at these epochs.</p> + + +<h3>SIGNS OF OVER-NURSING.</h3> + +<p>The symptoms of over-nursing may be enumerated +as follows:—Aching pain in the back; +often, pain across the shoulders, and on the top +of the head or forehead; marked paleness of the +face; inability to sleep; frightful dreams when +sleep does come; great debility; extreme depression +of the spirits; disorders of the sight, and +mental disturbances, which take on the form of +melancholia, the delusions relating mostly to subjects +of a religious character, to the effect that the +unpardonable sin has been committed, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +like. The headache is situated on the top of the +head, and this spot may be noticed to be perceptibly +hotter to the touch than other parts of +the head. These symptoms indicate that the process +of nursing is making too great a drain upon +the system.</p> + +<p>A woman in ordinary health will generally be +able to suckle her child for twelve months without +experiencing any bad effects. When the child is +kept at the breast much beyond this time, most +mothers render themselves liable to the injurious +consequences we have mentioned. Some, indeed, +cannot furnish the child all the nourishment it +needs longer than three or four months, without +detriment to themselves. In such cases, by feeding +the child two or three times a day, the mother +may be relieved of the burden of its entire support, +and may thus be enabled to continue nursing. +The proper food for infants, under these circumstances, +will be shortly mentioned. The prostrating +effects of nursing upon the body and mind of the +mother are in some, though comparatively rare, +instances so marked, as to render it altogether improper +from the commencement.</p> + +<p>The treatment of the condition of system described +as resulting from over-nursing is, if it cannot +be remedied by partially feeding the infant +and the use of tonics, to remove the child from the +breast altogether, and either procure a wet-nurse +for it, or wean it. The wet-nurse is greatly to be +preferred; and the preference is the stronger, the +younger the child. We have already alluded to +the great difficulty of rearing children from birth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +by the hand. But after the infant has attained +the age of several months, the danger of artificial +feeding is much lessened, provided that the weaning +does not take place during hot weather. This +brings us to the consideration of the regimen of +the mother who cannot nurse her own child, of the +rules for the selection of a wet-nurse, of the directions +for bringing up by hand, and of the proper +method of weaning. These subjects we will now +take up in the order mentioned.</p> + + +<h3>DIRECTIONS FOR MOTHERS WHO CANNOT NURSE +THEIR OWN CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>There are many reasons why a mother should, +if possible, nurse her own child. 'One of the +principal is,' says the distinguished Dr. Tilt, 'that +as nursing, generally speaking, prevents conception +up to the tenth month, so it prevents the +ruin of the mother's constitution by the too rapid +bringing forth of children, and, we might even add, +prevents a deterioration of the race, by the imperfect +bringing up of this too-fast-got family.'</p> + +<p>The same author appropriately adds: 'But +while advocating maternal nursing, we must not +forget that woman is not now the Eve of a primeval +world; that human nature, wherever it is now met, +in barbarous tribes or in civilised communities, is +frequently so deteriorated, so diseased or prone to +disease, that, by nursing, a mother may sometimes +undermine her own frail constitution for the sake +of giving an imperfect sustenance, and perhaps a +poisonous heritage, to her babe.'</p> + +<p>Some mothers, however anxiously they may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +wish to do so, cannot nurse their children. They +are shut out from this charming and tender experience +in the life of a woman. The milk that +comes is not sufficient, and quickly disappears. +Because of the influence of the mind of the mother +over the child at her breast, to which we have +before called attention, women who are very hysterical +and nervous, subject to violent perturbations +of the mind, should not, particularly if there be +any family tendency to insanity, expose the child +to the mischievous effects latent in their milk. So, +also, the presence of certain diseases forbids wet-nursing. +Thus it is ordinarily prohibited by consumption, +scrofula, skin affections of long standing, +and cancer. In consumption, all efforts to suckle +are frequently equally fatal to the mother and +child. Even a strong hereditary predisposition to +this disease may render it advisable, in the opinion +of the family physician,—who should always be +consulted in such a case,—to counteract the family +taint by giving the milk of the healthiest nurse +that can be procured. The condition of the nipples +and of the breast may not permit of nursing. We +have pointed out how best to guard against such +an occurrence, in treating of the care of the nipples +during pregnancy.</p> + +<p>She who is to be debarred from nursing her own +child should take care that it is not allowed to +approach her breasts, as sometimes the mental and +physical excitement caused by such an approach is +of an injurious and lasting character.</p> + +<p>Ordinarily, if this direction be followed out, the +mother will have little trouble in regard to herself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +Under such circumstances, the chief danger is to +the child. Hence the importance of knowing</p> + + +<h3>HOW TO SELECT A WET-NURSE.</h3> + +<p>The choosing of a wet-nurse is a matter of great +moment and responsibility. She should not be +over thirty years of age, and should, if possible, be +one who has previously suckled and had charge of +children. Her own infant should be under the age of +six months, for when above that age the milk sometimes +disagrees with her new-born charge. One who +has had several children should be preferred, because +her milk is richer than after the first confinement.</p> + +<p>The doctor should always examine carefully into +the condition of the nurse's health, and into the +quality and quantity of her milk. Various diseases +and taints of the system are so hidden, while yet +communicable to the child, that the knowledge and +skill of a professional expert are required for their +detection, and the protection of the nursling. In +testing the quality of the milk, the experienced +physician allows a little to rest on his finger nail, +and by its examination readily decides as to its +richness and fitness to nourish the little applicant +for food. It is not necessary that the breasts +should be large, as those of moderate size often +furnish a sufficient amount of milk. But it is important +that the nipples should be well developed. +Those wet-nurses should be preferred in whom +large blood-vessels are seen prominently passing in +blue lines over the surface of the breasts. The +possession of a vigorous, healthful infant is a good +recommendation for a nurse, but care should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +taken to ascertain that it is her <i>own</i>, as nurses +have been known to borrow for such an occasion +and so obtain credit not justly their due.</p> + +<p>The moral and mental as well as physical characteristics +should be considered. Temperance and +cleanliness are indispensable in a wet-nurse, and +the want of either should be an imperative reason +for rejection. Equanimity of temper, cheerfulness, +and an open, frank, affectionate disposition, are of +course greatly to be desired.</p> + +<p>If the nurse becomes 'unwell,' shall the child be +taken from her? Should the monthly sickness reappear +early, and both nurse and child be in good +health, suckling may be continued. But when the +return happens about the ninth or tenth month, the +child should be weaned or the nurse changed. +There is no physiological reason for preventing the +nurse from living matrimonially; but if pregnancy +occurs, the child should be taken from her.</p> + +<p>The same rules that we have laid down for the +mother for the care of her health while nursing, are +of course applicable to the hired wet-nurse, and +should be insisted upon and enforced.</p> + +<p><i>Changing a nurse.</i>—When it becomes necessary +to change a nurse, for any of the reasons above +mentioned, it may be done without injury to the +child. For fear of the effect of the unwelcome +tidings upon the mind of the nurse, and the possible +influence upon the milk, she should not be informed +of the projected change until a successor has been +secured to take her place at once. In choosing the +second nurse, the same precautions should be had +as in the selection of the first.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CHILD" id="THE_CHILD"></a>THE CHILD.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><a name="THE_CARE_OF_INFANCY" id="THE_CARE_OF_INFANCY"></a><i>THE CARE OF INFANCY.</i></h3> + +<p>By infancy we mean that portion of the life of +the child between birth and the completion of the +teething—about two and a half years. The care +of this period of human life is entrusted to the +mother. It forms an important era in the physical +life of woman. Its discussion is therefore germane +to our subject. In order that the young mother +may fully appreciate the responsibilities of her +position, she should know something of the liability +of infants to sickness and death.</p> + +<p>Out of one thousand children born, one hundred +and fifty die within the first year, and one hundred +and thirteen during the next four years. Thus two +hundred and sixty-three, or <i>more than one-fourth, +die within five years after birth.</i> Between the ages +of five and ten, thirty-five die. During the next +five years eighteen more are recorded on the death-list. +Hence, at fifteen years of age only six hundred +and eighty-five remain out of the one thousand +born. When these figures are considered, and the +additional fact that out of those who survive very +many bear permanent marks of imperfect nourishment +or of actual disease, the consequence of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +maladies contracted in early life, the importance of +our present inquiry—the care of infancy—will be +apparent to all mothers.</p> + +<p>The younger the infant, the greater the danger +of death. <i>One-tenth of all children born die within +the first month after birth</i>, and four times as many +as during the second month.</p> + +<p>The mortality is much larger in cities than in the +country. In Dublin, during 1867, very nearly one-third +of all the persons who died were under five +years of age. In the same year forty-three per +cent. of those who died in the eight principal towns +of Scotland were children below the age of five. +In Philadelphia, during the same year, forty-five +per cent. of all the deaths were of children under +five years of age. In New York fifty-three per +cent. of the total number of deaths occur under the +age of five years, and twenty-six per cent. under +the age of one year.</p> + +<p>The danger of death lessens as the period of +puberty approaches. Yet, even in the last years of +childhood there is a greater liability to disease and +a larger proportionate loss of life than during youth +or middle age.</p> + + +<h3>CAUSES OF INFANT MORTALITY.</h3> + +<p>What are the causes of this startling mortality of +infant life? Why does one child out of ten die in +the first month, and only three out of four live to +be five years old? And what are the means of +prevention?</p> + +<p>Some of the causes which are active in producing +this mortality among the little ones cannot be suc<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>cessfully +opposed after birth. Such, for instance, +are imperfect and vicious developments of internal +organs existing when born. These malformations +often result from inflammation while in the womb, +excited by some taint of the mother's blood, or by +some agitation of her nervous system. Means of +prevention in those cases are therefore to be +directed to the mother, in the manner indicated in +treating of pregnancy. But other causes of death +begin to act only after birth, and are to a greater +or less extent avoidable. These are largely traceable +to ignorance, negligence, and vice.</p> + +<p>One cause of death to which infants are peculiarly +liable, and which alone is said to have destroyed +forty thousand children in England between the +years 1686 and 1799, is being <i>overlain</i> by the +parents. For this reason, some physicians caution +the mother against having the infant in bed with +her while she sleeps.</p> + +<p>The frightful waste of life caused by bringing +children up by hand has been mentioned, and the +importance of avoiding it when possible.</p> + +<p>The natural feebleness of the system of infants +is the reason why they succumb so easily to any +malady. Deaths from any given disease are more +numerous among infants than children, and among +children than adults. Hence the importance of +timely corrective measures in infantile affections; +hence, also, the need that mothers should know +and practise the means best adapted to preserve +the health of their frail charges.</p> + +<p>These means we shall proceed to give in detail, +commencing with directions for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>BRINGING UP BY HAND.</h3> + +<p>We have already alluded to the great danger to +the child, particularly in a city, that is artificially +fed from birth. But as there are many mothers +who are unable, on account of the expense, to have +a wet-nurse for the child they cannot suckle themselves, +we will give such directions in regard to the +diet as are best calculated to lessen the risk invariably +incurred under such circumstances.</p> + +<p>The child's food should be of the best quality, +and prepared with the most scrupulous attention to +cleanliness. The milk of the cow is preferable to +that of the ass or of the goat, the former of which +it is difficult to procure, and the latter having a +disagreeable odour. For a child under three months +of age, cow's milk should be used as the only food. +It should be fresh, and if possible from one cow. +When of the ordinary richness, it is to be diluted +with an equal quantity of water or thin barley-water. +If, however, the first milking can be obtained, +which is more watery, and bears a closer +resemblance in its chemical composition to human +milk, but little dilution will be required. If green +and acrid stools make their appearance, accompanied +by emaciation and vomiting, the milk must +be more diluted, and given less frequently. If the +symptoms of indigestion do not yield, milk containing +an excess of cream should be used. To +procure it, allow fresh milk to stand for two or +three hours, and remove the upper third, to which +add two or three parts of warm water or barley-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>water, +after having dissolved in it a little sugar of +milk. Should this food also disagree, any of the +preparations we are about to mention may be +prepared and tried.</p> + +<p>Professor Falkland recommends the following +method of preparing milk for infants, as affording +a product more nearly like the natural secretion:—'One +third of a pint of pure milk is allowed to +stand until the cream has risen. The latter is +removed, and to the blue milk thus obtained about +a square inch of rennet is to be added, and the +milk-vessel placed in warm water. In about five +minutes the curd will have separated, and the +rennet, which may again be repeatedly used, being +removed, the whey is carefully poured off, and +immediately heated to boiling, to prevent it becoming +sour. A further quantity of curd separates, +and must be removed by straining through calico. +In one-quarter of a pint of this hot whey three-eighths +of an ounce of milk sugar are to be +dissolved; and this solution, along with the cream +removed from the one-third of a pint of milk, must +be added to half a pint of new milk. This will +constitute the food for an infant from five to eight +months old for twelve hours; or, more correctly +speaking, it will be one-half of the quantity required +for twenty-four hours. It is absolutely necessary +that a fresh quantity should be prepared every +twelve hours; and it is scarcely necessary to add, +that the strictest cleanliness in all the vessels used +is indispensable.'</p> + +<p>Dr. J. Forsyth Meigs directs the following article +of diet as one which he has found to agree better<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +with the digestive system of the infant than any +other kind of food:—'A scruple of gelatine (or a +piece two inches square of the flat cake in which it +is sold) is soaked for a short time in cold water, +and then boiled in half a pint of water, until it +dissolves—about ten or fifteen minutes. To this is +added, with constant stirring, and just at the termination +of the boiling, the milk and arrowroot, the +latter being previously mixed into a paste with a +little cold water. After the addition of the milk +and arrowroot, and just before the removal from +the fire, the cream is poured in, and a moderate +quantity of loaf sugar added. The proportions of +milk, cream, and arrowroot must depend on the +age and digestive powers of the child. For a +healthy infant, within the month, I usually direct +from three to four ounces of milk, half an ounce to +an ounce of cream, and a tea-spoonful of arrowroot +to half a pint of water. For older children, the +quantity of milk and cream should be gradually +increased to a half or two-thirds milk, and from +one to two ounces of cream. I seldom increase the +quantity of gelatine or arrowroot.'</p> + +<p>The egg is a valuable article of food for infants +and young children, especially in conditions of +debility. It should be given nearly raw, and is best +prepared by placing it in boiling water for two +minutes. It is then easily digested.</p> + +<p>Beef-tea, prepared in the manner described on +page 234, is highly nutritious and useful as a food +for infants: if it produce a laxative effect, it should +be discontinued. When the child shows signs of +weakness or of a scrofulous condition its nutrition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +will be improved by mingling with its food a small +piece of butter or mutton suet.</p> + +<p>During the first four or five months the food +should be thin, and taken through a teat, thus preventing +the stuffing of the infant.</p> + +<p>On attaining the age of twelve or fifteen months, +infants are usually able to digest ordinary wholesome +solid food, neatly and well cooked, when +mashed or cut into fine pieces.</p> + +<p>An article of food employed for the diarrhœa of +infants is prepared as follows:—'A pound of dry +wheat flour of the best quality is packed snugly in +a bag and boiled three or four hours. When it is +taken from the bag it is hard, resembling a piece of +chalk, with the exception of the exterior, which is +wet, and should be removed. The flour grated from +the mass should be used the same as arrowroot or +rice.'</p> + +<p>Infants nourished by prepared food thrive well +enough during cool weather, but during the warm +months of the year they are exceedingly liable to +bowel complaint, of which large numbers of the +spoon-fed infants of cities die each summer season. +Hence the importance of taking them into the +country; and keeping them there until the return +of cool weather lessens the danger of city life.</p> + + +<h3>WEANING.</h3> + +<p>This should take place when the child is about +twelve months of age—sometimes a few months +earlier, often a few later. If the mother's health +be good, and her milk abundant, it may be deferred +until the canine teeth appear—between the fifteenth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +and twentieth month. The child will then have +sixteen teeth with which it can properly masticate +soft solid food.</p> + +<p><i>Time of the year for.</i>—The infant should not be +taken from the breast during or immediately preceding +warm weather. If the mother, either on +account of sickness or failure in her breast-milk, is +obliged during the summer to give up nursing, she +should at once procure a wet-nurse. If she cannot, +the child must be sent into the country. To wean +an infant in the city in hot weather, is to expose it +to almost certain death.</p> + +<p><i>Proper method.</i>—The process of weaning should +be a very slow one. No definite day should be +fixed for it. Little by little, from week to week, +the amount of spoon-food is to be increased and +the nursing lessened—being first given up at night. +The breast should never be suddenly denied to a +child unaccustomed to artificial food, but be displaced +by degrees, by the bottle and the spoon. +This gradual change will neither fret the child nor +annoy the mother, as sudden weaning always does.</p> + +<p>The infant may begin to be accustomed to artificial +food at the age of four months. At first, only +diluted cow's milk should be given it occasionally +between the times of nursing. In a tumbler one-third +full of water dissolve a tea-spoonful of sugar +of milk; add to the sweetened water an equal +quantity of fresh cow's milk; then, if the child's +stools are at all green, mix with this two tea-spoonfuls +of lime water. Instead of pure water, +barley-water made in the usual way, and boiled to +the consistency of milk, may be employed in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +preparation—being added, while still warm, to an +equal amount of milk. Or, toast-water may be +substituted as a diluter of the milk. Cow's milk +should not be boiled, if it can be preserved in any +other way. As the infant advances in months, +some solid food may be allowed. After six months, +pap, made with stale bread and tops and bottoms, +is proper once or twice a day. Beef-tea, made +according to the recipe we have given, and chicken, +lamb, or mutton broth, may now also be occasionally +taken. As the quantity of milk diminishes +towards the close of the first year, the spoon-food +should be resorted to more frequently to supply +the want. Solid food ought not to be given before +the child is a year old.</p> + +<p>The breasts usually cause little trouble when the +weaning is performed in the gradual manner which +has been recommended. The mother should during +this time drink as little as possible, refrain from +stimulating food, and take occasionally a little +cream of tartar, citrate of magnesia, or a seidlitz +powder. If the breasts continue to fill with milk, +<i>they should not be drawn.</i> The 'drying up of the +milk' may be facilitated by gently rubbing the +breasts several times a day with camphorated oil, +made by dissolving over the fire, in a saucer of +sweet oil, as much camphor as it will take up. Tea +made from the marshmallow has also been recommended +for this purpose.</p> + + +<h3>TEETHING.</h3> + +<p>The period at which the teeth first make their +appearance is not a fixed one. It varies consider<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>ably +even within the limits of perfect health. It +may be said, as a rule, that the babe begins to cut +its teeth at the age of six or seven months. Quite +frequently, however, the first teeth appear as early +as the fourth month, or are delayed until the +eighth. In some instances children come into the +world with their teeth already cut. This is said to +have been the case with Louis XIV. and with +Mirabeau. King Richard the Third is another +example. Shakspeare makes the Duke of York +refer to this circumstance in these words:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas two full years ere I could get a tooth.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It does not follow that children whose teeth show +themselves early, will have, therefore, a quicker +general development. Such cases are merely instances +of irregularity in the time of dentition, and +carry with them no particular significance. Irregularities +in regard to the order in which the teeth +are cut are also of frequent occurrence.</p> + +<p>While, therefore, it cannot be maintained that +all healthy children cut their teeth in a certain +regular order and time, yet it is certain that those +children who follow the general rule which prevails +in this respect, suffer least from the difficulties and +effects of dentition. As all mothers desire to know +at what time they may expect the teeth, we will +state the rule of their development in the great +majority of cases.</p> + +<p>The lower teeth generally precede those of the +upper jaw by two to three months.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> + +<p>The twenty milk-teeth usually appear in the five +following groups:—</p> + +<p><i>First</i>, Between the fourth and eighth months of +life the two lower front middle teeth appear almost +simultaneously; then a pause of from three to nine +weeks ensues.</p> + +<p><i>Second</i>, Between the eighth and tenth months of +life the five upper front teeth appear, following +shortly upon each other, the two central preceding +the two on each side of them. Another pause of +from six to twelve weeks succeeds.</p> + +<p><i>Third</i>, Between the twelfth and sixteenth months +of life six teeth appear nearly at once. They are +first the two front grinding teeth in the upper jaw, +leaving a space between them and the front teeth +which before appeared; next the two lower front +teeth, situated one on each side of the central ones, +which were the first to appear; and, lastly, the two +front grinders of the lower jaw. A pause until the +eighteenth month now ensues.</p> + +<p><i>Fourth</i>, Between the eighteenth and twenty-fourth +months of life the canine teeth cut through +(the upper ones are called eye-teeth). Again a +pause until the thirtieth month.</p> + +<p><i>Fifth</i>, Between the thirtieth and thirty-sixth +months the second four grinders finally make their +appearance.</p> + +<p>This concludes the first teething. The child has +now twenty milk-teeth.</p> + +<p>We have mentioned that children are sometimes +born with teeth. It is also true that sometimes +they never acquire any. Instances are on record +of adults who have never cut any teeth. Dentition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +has been known to take place very late in life. A +case is related, on excellent authority, of an old +lady aged eighty-five, who cut several teeth after +attaining that age.</p> + + +<h3>APPEARANCE OF THE PERMANENT TEETH.</h3> + +<p>Between the fifth and sixth years of life the +second dentition begins. The front grinders are +the ones first cut through. Between the sixth and +tenth years all the front teeth appear, followed by +the canines before the twelfth year. At this time +the second grinders show themselves; and finally, +between the sixteenth and twenty-fourth year, the +wisdom-teeth complete the dental furniture of the +mouth.</p> + + +<h3>VACCINATION.</h3> + +<p>This operation, to which every infant should be +subjected, is one of great practical importance. The +attempt has been made of late to shake the public +faith in its efficacy, and to revive the old fabulous +stories and foolish notions as to the production of +serious affections of the blood and skin in this +manner. At the same time, the increasing frequency +and virulence of small-pox are becoming +only too evident. We therefore consider it our +duty, in treating of the maternal management of +infancy, to lay some stress upon the necessity for +vaccination as a preservative of life and health. If +observation and experience ever taught anything, +they have taught the protective power of this operation +against the most loathsome and one of the +most fatal diseases that ever afflicted the human<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +race. And that mother who is careless and indifferent +in this matter neglects for her children a +means of preventing disfigurement and saving life, +compared with which all other means are scarcely +worthy of mention.</p> + +<p>In order to appreciate the value of vaccination, +it is only necessary to consider what small-pox was +before its discovery,—to look at that disease through +the eyes of our fathers and grandfathers. Until the +close of the last century it was the most terrible of +all the ministers of death. It filled the churchyards +with corpses. When Jenner published his +great discovery, about seventy years ago, the annual +death-rate from small-pox in England was estimated +at three thousand in the million of population. In +other countries of Europe the rate reached as high +as four thousand in the million. And these fatal +cases must be multiplied by five or six, to give the +entire number of persons annually attacked by the +disease. It spared neither high nor low. Macaulay +informs us that Queen Mary, the wife of William <span class="smcap">III</span>., +fell a victim to it. Those in whom the disease did +not prove fatal, carried about with them the hideous +traces of its malignity; for it 'turned the babe into +a changeling at which the mother shuddered,' and +made 'the eyes and cheeks of the betrothed maiden +objects of horror to the lover.' Few escaped being +attacked by this fell disease. Nearly one-tenth of +all the persons who died in London during the last +century died of this one cause. Children were +peculiarly its victims. In some of the great cities +of England more than one-third of all the deaths +among children under ten years of age arose from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +small-pox. Two-thirds of all the applicants for +relief at the Hospital for the Indigent Blind had +lost their sight by small-pox. The number of +hopeless deafened ears, crippled joints, and broken-down +constitutions from the same cause cannot be +accurately computed, but was certainly very large. +Vaccination is all that now stands between us and +all these horrors of the last century.</p> + +<p>Is the strength of this barrier doubted?—Its +efficacy is readily proved. In England, during the +twelve years (1854-1865) in which vaccination has +been to a certain extent compulsory, the average +annual rate of deaths by small-pox has been two +hundred and two in the million of population. +Contrast this with the annual death-rate of three +thousand to the million, which was the average of +thirty years previous to the introduction of vaccination. +Mr. John Simon, medical officer of Her +Majesty's Privy Council, one of the best statisticians +in England, has collected a formidable array of +figures, 'to doubt which would be to fly in the face +of the multiplication-table.' From his mountain-height +of statistics Mr. Simon says: 'Wheresoever +vaccination falls into neglect, small-pox tends to +become again the same frightful pestilence it was +in the days before Jenner's discovery; and wherever +it is universally and properly performed, small-pox +tends to be of as little effect as any extinct epidemic +of the Middle Ages.'</p> + +<p>Are other diseases ever produced by vaccination?—The +popular belief would answer this question in +the affirmative. All affections of the skin and +swelling's of the glands noticed in children soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +after vaccination, are attributed by parents in many +cases to this operation. They forget that such +diseases are met with constantly in infancy and +childhood, as often among the unvaccinated as the +vaccinated. Observation does not show that they +occur with greater frequency among the vaccinated. +An English physician has been at the trouble to +examine and record a thousand cases of skin disease +in children: he found no evidence whatever that +vaccination disposes the constitution to such affections. +It has been stated with apparent justness, +that parental complaints of this kind frequently +arise from their unwillingness to believe there is +anything wrong in their offspring. Hence, when +other diseases follow, vaccination gets blamed for +what is really and truly due to other causes. So +far from doing any harm to the system, it has been +observed in those countries where vaccination has +been most thoroughly practised, that, leaving small-pox +out of the question, there have been fewer +deaths from other maladies. This is especially true +of two of the most important classes of diseases, +namely, scrofulous affections and low fever. For +this reason, some medical statisticians have attributed +to vaccination an indirect protective influence +against these disorders.</p> + +<p>At what <i>age</i> should the child be vaccinated?—If +the health permit, the operation should always +be performed in very early infancy. The chief +sufferers from small-pox are young children. One-fourth +of all who die from this fatal disease in +England are children under the age of one year. +In Scotland, where until recently vaccination has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +been much more neglected than in England, the +proportion even amounted to nearly one-third; and +of these, one-fourth were under the age of three +months. The great risk, particularly in large towns, +where small-pox is seldom absent, of delaying vaccination +is obvious. City children, if hearty, should +be vaccinated when a month or six weeks old. +Rarely or never ought it to be delayed beyond two +or three months. This early period of life is also +particularly suitable to vaccination, because the +accompanying fever will then be over before the +disturbing influence of teething begins.</p> + + +<h3>RE-VACCINATION.</h3> + +<p>If the first vaccination be found imperfect in +character, that is, if it has not properly 'taken,' +the operation should be repeated at the earliest +opportunity. It has been recommended, in all +cases, to perform a second vaccination not later +than the sixth or eighth year. If small-pox be +prevailing, it is proper to vaccinate all who have +not been vaccinated within three or four years. +In any event, re-vaccination at or after the period +of puberty is of extreme importance. It will give +additional security even to those whose original +vaccination was perfect. In some cases, the susceptibility +to small-pox is not wholly exhausted +by one vaccination. Inasmuch as it is desirable +for every one to escape this disease, even in its +most modified form, re-vaccination should always +be performed, as it affords a very sure and trustworthy +means of such escape. After successful +re-vaccination, small-pox, even in its mildest shape,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +is rarely met with. In girls especially, in whom +the changes which occur at puberty are most +marked, re-vaccination should be performed about +the age of fourteen.</p> + + +<h3>GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.</h3> + +<p>During infancy the body grows with great +rapidity. About the end of the third year one-half +of the adult height of the body is attained. +After this period growth is more gradual; for in +order to reach the remaining half, about eighteen +years more are required. At twenty years of age +the height is somewhat more than three and a half +times that at birth, and the weight about twenty +times. Development does not go on at an equal +rate in all parts of the body. The lower limbs, +small at birth, increase proportionally more rapidly, +while the head, relatively large at birth, developes +more slowly. The muscular system is gradually +strengthened. At the end of the third month the +infant is able, if in good health, readily to support +its head; at the fourth month it can be held upright; +at the ninth month it crawls about the +floor; by the end of the year it is able with assistance +to step; and between one and two years, at +different times, according to its vigor and activity, +it acquires the power of standing and walking +alone. The periods of greatest and least growth +of the child are, on the one hand, spring and +summer; on the other, autumn and winter. It +has long been known that animals grow more +rapidly in the spring than at any other season +of the year. This has been attributed to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +abundance of herbage they are then able to obtain. +It has been ascertained by actual measurement, +that children grow chiefly in the spring.</p> + +<p>At six months of age the child begins to lisp, +and at twelve months it is usually able to utter +distinct and intelligible sounds of one or two syllables. +The development of the senses and of the +mind proceeds gradually. The sense of hearing is +more active and further advanced than that of +sight. Sounds are appreciated sooner than light +or bright colored objects. The next sense which +is developed is perhaps that of taste; then follow +smell and touch.</p> + + +<h3>THE FOOD OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>The diet of children is frequently improper +either in regard to quantity, quality, or variety. +In 1867, a committee, of which Professor Austin +Flint, Jr., was chairman, was appointed in New +York city to revise the 'Dietary Table of the +Children's Nurseries on Randall's Island.' In the +report rendered, attention was forcibly called to +the fact that in childhood 'the demands of the +system for nourishment are in excess of the waste, +the extra quantity being required for growth and +development. If the proper quantity and variety +of food be not provided, full development cannot +take place, and the children grow up, if they survive, +into young men and women, incapable of the +ordinary amount of labor, and liable to diseases of +various kinds. This is frequently illustrated in the +higher walks of life, particularly in females; for +many suffer through life from improper diet in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +boarding schools, due to false and artificial notions +of delicacy or refinement. After a certain period +of improper and deficient diet in children, the appetite +becomes permanently impaired, and the +system is rendered incapable of appropriating the +amount of matter necessary to proper development +and growth.'</p> + +<p>Charlotte Bronté has drawn, in <i>Jane Eyre</i>, a +graphic and physiologically true picture of the +effects upon young girls of long-continued insufficiency +of food. Let mothers bear in mind that +proper food cannot be too abundantly eaten by +children, and that the greatest danger to which +they are exposed arises from defective nutrition. +We would again urge the value of a large amount +of <i>milk</i> in the dietary of young people. The +disorders of the bowels, which are not uncommon +in infancy and childhood, are due to errors +in diet by which improper food is supplied, and not +to an excess of simple and proper nourishment.</p> + +<p>We have already given some directions for the +preparation of infants' food in treating of 'bringing-up +by hand.' In addition to the various substitutes +for the mother's milk there mentioned, we +wish to note that known as <i>Liebig's soup.</i> This +great chemist thus describes the method of making +it:</p> + +<p>'Half an ounce of wheat flour, half an ounce +of malt meal, and seven and a half grains of bicarbonate +of potass, are weighed off. They are first +mixed by themselves, then with the addition of one +ounce of water, and lastly, of five ounces of milk. +This mixture is then heated upon a slow fire, being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +constantly stirred until it begins to get thick. At +this period the vessel is removed from the fire, +and the mixture is stirred for five minutes, is again +heated and again removed when it gets thick, +and, lastly, it is heated till it boils. This soup is +purified from bran by passing it through a fine +sieve (a piece of fine muslin), and now it is ready +for use.'</p> + +<p>Barley-malt can be obtained at any brewery. +First, it is separated from the impurities, and then +ground in an ordinary coffee-mill to a coarse meal. +Care should be taken to get the common fresh +wheat-flour, <i>not the finest</i>, because the former is +richest in starch.</p> + +<p>In practice, the troublesome weighing of the materials +may be dispensed with, as a heaped table-spoonful +of wheat-flour weighs pretty nearly half +an ounce, and a like table-spoonful of malt-meal, +not quite as heaped, weighs also half an ounce. +The bicarbonate of potass can be obtained from +the druggist put up in powders of seven and a half +grains, each ready for use. The amount of water +and of milk prescribed can be attained with sufficient +accuracy by means of the table-spoon; two +table-spoonfuls will give the quantity of water (one +ounce), and ten table-spoonfuls the quantity of +milk (five ounces). These directions will enable +any sensible mother to make the preparation without +difficulty. The soup tastes tolerably sweet, and, +when diluted with water, may be given to very +young infants.</p> + +<p>Although the method of preparing Liebig's soup +is a somewhat tedious one, yet, as it is a combina<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>tion +which has long been so highly recommended +by physicians of the largest experience for having +visibly saved the lives of many wasting children, +it deserves a trial in all cases in which the ordinary +kinds of food disagree.</p> + +<p>On page 276 are recorded the directions given +by Dr. J. Forsyth Meigs for an article of diet, consisting +of gelatine and arrowroot, which he prefers +to all other kinds of artificial infant food. Another +method of preparing a useful arrowroot mixture is +as follows:—</p> + +<p>Place a tea-spoonful of arrowroot in a porcelain +vessel, with as much cold water as will make it into +a fine dough; then add a cupful of boiling milk or +of beef-tea; stir the mixture a little, and allow it +to boil for a few minutes until the whole acquires +the consistency of a fine light jelly.</p> + +<p>The <i>manner</i> in which nutriment is administered +to infants is not immaterial. The custom of feeding +them from a small spoon, or from a cup with a +snout, is objectionable. The use of a sucking-bottle +most nearly imitates the way in which nature designed +the nursling to obtain its nourishment. By +the act of sucking, the muscles of the face are +exercised in an equal manner, and the saliva is +mixed with the food to an extent which is not possible +if any other mode of feeding be resorted to. +Children drink very readily out of the perforated +rubber nipples, which are now so popular for this +purpose: they are made to fit over the mouth of +the bottle, and are especially to be recommended +on account of their cleanliness. The bottle should +never be refilled until both it and the rubber cap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +have been thoroughly cleansed in warm water. A +white glass bottle only should be employed in +order that any want of cleanliness may readily be +detected. It should be recollected that milk very +quickly sours when kept in this way in a warm +room; it is therefore better always to empty the +bottle and fill it afresh each time it is given to +the child, rather than to wait until its contents are +exhausted before replenishing it.</p> + +<p>We have hitherto been treating mainly of the +diet proper for the first year of life. In the second +year children may be permitted to have soft, finely-cut +meat. Fresh ripe fruit in season ordinarily +agrees excellently well. But boiled green vegetables +and husk fruits are very apt to cause indigestion +and diarrhœa. Fruit for children should be +freed from the stones and skins; which latter are +indigestible, and often do harm.</p> + +<p>As an example of a diet suitable for a child two +years of age we append the following:—In the +mornings, between six and seven o'clock in summer, +or between seven and eight in winter, milk-gruel; +between nine and ten o'clock, a piece of wheat +bread with a little butter on it; at twelve o'clock, +well-prepared beef-tea, or chicken, lamb, mutton +broth, or meat with a little gravy; or in place of +the meat, a meal-broth prepared with eggs, but +with very little fat; green vegetables to be allowed +very rarely, and in very small quantities. At this +noon meal a mealy well-mashed potato is unobjectionable; +so also is rice pudding for a change. +In the afternoon, between three and four, bread +and milk, with the addition in summer of fresh<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +ripe fruit; in the evening, at seven, bread and +milk.</p> + +<p>It will be observed that this dietetic table calls +for five meals a day. Should the child eat so frequently? +We answer yes. But the meals should +be at regular intervals. A child, in order to replace +the waste of the system, and to furnish over +and above sufficient material to build up the growing +body, requires a much larger proportionate amount +of food than an adult. It also requires its food at +shorter intervals. By observing the hours for meals +stated above, <i>regularity</i>, which is of so much importance +to the health of the digestive organs, will +be secured. If a young child be allowed only the +three ordinary meals of the family, it will crave for +something between times, and too often have its +craving met with a piece of cake or other improper +food. Its appetite for dinner or supper will in this +manner be destroyed, and the stomach and the +general health suffer.</p> + +<p>After the third or fourth year children are able +to eat all kinds of vegetables. They may then +very appropriately be allowed to eat at the table +with the family. It is only necessary to refuse +them very salt, sour, and highly-spiced victuals. +Of all others they may partake in moderation. +Neither wine nor any malt liquor should be given +them. Tea and coffee are also, to say the least, +unnecessary. They should have a regular luncheon +between the meals which are furthest apart. This +must be at a regular hour, and consist of bread and +butter, with milk or water.</p> + +<p>Pains should be taken to see that children do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +not fall into the habit of eating rapidly. Too often +this pernicious habit, so destructive to healthy +digestion, is formed in early life, and becomes the +source of that dyspepsia which is the bane of so +many lives. Food that is gulped down enters the +stomach unmasticated, and unmixed with the secretions +of the mouth. A dog may bolt his food +without injury, but a human being cannot.</p> + +<p>A child should be taught to eat everything that +is wholesome, and not be permitted to become +finical or fastidious in its appetite. It ought not, +however, to be forced to eat any particular article +for which it is found that there is an invincible dislike. +Variety of diet is good for a child, after the +second or third year.</p> + + +<h3>THE POSITION OF THE CHILD WHEN FED.</h3> + +<p>An infant, no matter how young, should not +receive its meals when lying. Its head should +always be raised in the nurse's arm, if it be too +young to support it itself. The practice of <i>jolting</i> +and <i>dandling</i> the infant after eating is a wrong +one. Rest of the body should be secured by +placing the child on a bed, or holding it on the +mother's knee, for a half hour or so. Observe the +inclination which all animals show for repose and +sleep after a full repast, and respect the same +inclination in the infant.</p> + +<p>In our remarks upon bathing we pointed out the +importance of the mother herself performing for +her child this office. So again, in connection with +children's food, we must notice the necessity of the +mother being always present at their meals, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +order that they may be taught to take them +quietly, with cleanliness and without hurry. Such +advice is not needed by the poor nor by women of +moderate fortune, who ordinarily have their children +constantly under their eyes. But affluence brings +with it many occupations which are frequently +deemed of more moment than presiding over a +child's dinner.</p> + + +<h3>CONCERNING SLEEP IN EARLY LIFE.</h3> + +<p>There is a natural desire for much sleep during +infancy, childhood, and youth; and there is reason +for its free indulgence. Infants pass the greater portion +of both day and night in sleep. Children up to +the age of six years require, as a rule, twelve hours +of repose at night, besides an hour or more in the +middle of the day. About the sixth year the noon +nap may be discontinued, but the night sleep ought +not to be abridged before the tenth year, and then +only to a moderate extent until the age of puberty. +From this time the period of slumber may be gradually +reduced to nine or ten hours. No further +diminution should be attempted until the completion +of growth, when another hour or two may be +taken away, leaving about eight hours of daily +sleep as the proper amount during middle life.</p> + +<p>It is wrong, therefore, to wake a young child in the +morning. It should be allowed to sleep as long as +it will, which will be until the wants of the system +are satisfied, if it be not aroused by noise or +light.</p> + +<p>When after a few months the infant is awake a +considerable portion of the day, it should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +brought into the habit of taking its second sleep +near the middle of the day, say from eleven to one +o'clock, and again, from half an hour to an hour, +about three o'clock. It should not be permitted a +nap later than this in the afternoon, as it would be +very apt to cause a disturbed night. Although +some physicians recommend that the sleep during +the day be discontinued after the infant has attained +the age of fifteen months, the wisdom of such advice +may well be doubted. As soon as the child +begins to walk, not only are its movements very +constant and active, but its mind is busily employed +and its nervous system excited. It therefore thrives +better if its day be divided into two by sleep for +an hour or two.</p> + +<p><i>Should the infant sleep alone?</i>—We have mentioned +the danger of being overlain to which it is +exposed when in bed with its mother or nurse. On +the other hand, it must be remembered that an +infant keeps warm with difficulty even when well +covered, and that contact with the mother's body is +the best way of securing its own warmth. Hence, +during the first months the child had better be +allowed to sleep with its mother. How, then, can +the risk of being suffocated, which is no imaginary +one, be lessened? The following rules are those +given by a physician of reputation, to prevent an +infant from being accidentally overlain.</p> + +<p>'Let the baby while asleep have plenty of room +in the bed. Do not allow him to be too near, or, +if this be unavoidable from the small size of the +bed, let his face be turned to the opposite side. +Let him lie fairly, either on his side or on his back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span>. +Be careful to ascertain that his mouth be not +covered with the bed-clothes. Do not smother his +face with clothes, as a plentiful supply of pure air +is as necessary as when he is awake. Never let +him lie low in the bed. Let there be no pillow +near the one his head is resting on, lest he roll to +it and bury his head in it. Remember a young +child has neither the strength nor the sense to get +out of danger; and if he unfortunately either turn +on his face or bury his head in a pillow that is near, +the chances are that he will be suffocated, more +especially as these accidents usually occur at night, +when the mother or the nurse is fast asleep. +Never entrust him at night to a young, giddy, and +thoughtless servant. A foolish mother sometimes +goes to sleep while allowing her child to continue +sucking. The unconscious babe, after a time, loses +the nipple, and buries his head in the bed-clothes. +She awakes in the morning, finding, to her horror, +a corpse by her side! A mother ought therefore +never to go to sleep until her child has ceased +sucking.'</p> + +<p>When a couple of months have elapsed, the +child, if a healthy one, may sleep alone. What the +child sleeps in is not a matter of great moment, +provided it has a sufficiency of clothing, and be not +exposed to currents of air. A large clothes-basket +will serve all the purposes of a crib. The mistake +is often made of burying the child under too heavy +a mass of bed-clothes in a warm room when asleep. +And this inconsistency is committed by the very +mothers who scantily clad the child during the day +in order to inure it to the cold. The great transi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>tion +from its wrappings by night to those by day is +injurious to the health and comfort of the infant.</p> + +<p>'In arranging night coverings, the soft feather-bed +is very often estimated as nothing; or, in other +words, the same provision of blankets is considered +indispensable, whether we lie upon a hard mattress +or immersed in down. The mother, looking only +to the covering laid over the child, forgets those on +which it lies, although in reality the latter may be +the warmer of the two. An infant deposited in a +downy bed has at least two-thirds of its body in +contact with the feathers, and may thus be perspiring +at every pore, when, from its having only a +single covering thrown over it, the mother may +imagine it to be enjoying the restorative influence +of agreeable slumber. In hot weather much +mischief might be done by an oversight of this +kind.'</p> + +<p>It is of course essential to the health and comfort +of the infant that its bed and bed-clothing be kept +perfectly dry and sweet. They should frequently +be taken out and exposed to the air.</p> + +<p>A child should be accustomed early to sleep in a +darkened room. Plutarch praises the women of +Sparta for, among other things, teaching their children +not to be afraid in the dark. He says they +'were so careful and expert, that without swaddling-bands +their children were all straight and well proportioned; +and they brought them up not to be +afraid in the dark or of being alone, and never indulged +them in crying, fretfulness, and ill-humour; +upon which account Spartan nurses were often +bought by people of other countries.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Position in sleeping.</i>—It has long been a popular +opinion that the position of our bodies at night, +with reference to the cardinal points of the compass, +has some influence on the health. This belief +has recently been corroborated by some observations +made by a prominent physician, Dr. Henry +Kennedy. In an essay on the 'Acute Affections +of Children,' published in the Dublin <i>Quarterly +Journal of Medical Science</i>, he states that for +several years he has put in force in his practice a +plan of treatment by means of the position of the +patient, and often with very marked results. He +asserts that, in order to ensure the soundest sleep, +the head should lie to the north. Strange as this +idea may at first sight appear, it has more in it than +might be supposed. There are known to be great +electrical currents always coursing in one direction +around the globe. In the opinion of Dr. Kennedy +there is no doubt that our nervous systems are in +some mysterious way connected with this universal +agent, as it may be called, electricity. He relates +several cases of acute diseases in children, in which, +by altering the position of the body so that the +patient should lie from north to south instead of +from east to west, quiet sleep was induced. This +plan of invoking sleep is often successful; but not +always so, for all are not equally susceptible. It +applies likewise to adults. It is not so striking in +its effects on the poorer as on the richer classes of +society. This is what might be expected, for it +cannot be doubted that the nervous system in the +middle and upper ranks is always in a much more +sensitive state than with their poorer brethren. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +is worth noting, that even in healthy persons sleep +will often be absent or of a broken kind, from the +cause of which we are now speaking. It is very +common to hear people saying they can never sleep +in a strange bed. Although many causes may conspire +to this, Dr. Kennedy cannot doubt that amongst +these ought to be placed the one to which we are +now drawing attention.</p> + + +<h3>THE CLOTHING OF INFANTS AND YOUNG +CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>A fertile cause of disease and death is to be +found in the negligence or ignorance displayed in +regard to the dress of children. And it is not the +poorly attired, but nearly always the fashionably +robed child, which suffers the most. To parental +vanity can be traced many a catarrh on the chest or +the inflammation of the bowels which has resulted in +death. Most mothers appear to be ignorant of the +fact that children are exceedingly susceptible to +the influence of cold. The returns of the Registrar-General +of England show that a very cold week +always greatly increases the mortality of the very +young. While adults carefully protect themselves +against every change of the weather, and against +currents of air, children, who most need such protection, +are too often neglected.</p> + +<p>The warmth of the infant's body is best secured +by that of the nurse, and by warm clothing. It is +more effectually and healthfully provided for in +this manner than by confining the child to a warm +atmosphere. Young children should never be +dressed <i>décolleté</i>—in low necks and short sleeves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +That fashion is a dangerous one which leaves the +neck, shoulders, and arms uncovered. To this +irrational custom may be traced a vast amount of +the suffering and many of the deaths of early life; +doubtless, also, in many cases it lays the foundation +of consumption, which manifests itself a little +later. But, it is said, the child will be 'hardened' +by having its chest and limbs thus exposed. The +surest and safest way to harden the child is to so +care for it that it shall pass through its first months +and years of life without any ailment. Every +mother should see to it, that her charge is so +clothed that every part of the body is effectually +protected from dampness and cold. She can then +best secure for it a hardened constitution by carrying +it daily into the sunlight of the open air.</p> + +<p><i>The material</i> of the clothing should be such as +will unite lightness with warmth. Flannel and +calico are therefore to be preferred. At first, as +the skin of the child is very delicate, a shirt of fine +linen may be interposed between it and the flannel. +But, after the first few months, the gentle friction +of fine soft flannel next the skin is desirable, as it +stimulates the circulation of the blood on the surface +of the body, and promotes health. Flannel +under-clothing should be continued all the year, +during the summer months a very light texture +being used. When the dress of the child is shortened, +care must be taken that the feet are well +covered with soft stockings of cotton or woollen +(which in winter should extend up above the +knees), and with light leather shoes.</p> + +<p>The <i>night-dress</i>, at least during cold weather, is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +best made of flannel, thin or thick according to the +climate. It has been recommended that, after the +child is somewhat advanced, the night-clothes be +constructed in the form of night-pants, so that it +may not be exposed if the bed-clothing be thrown +off. Every article of dress worn during the day +ought to be removed at night.</p> + +<p>The rule in regard to the <i>quantity of clothing</i> is, +that it should be in sufficient amount to preserve +due warmth. It must therefore be regulated by +the season of the year and the state of the weather. +We have mentioned the fatal practice of leaving +bare at all seasons of the year the upper part of +the chest and arms of the little one, while the rest +of the body is warmly clad. We can scarcely +speak too emphatically nor too often of the danger +to which the mother thus exposes that life, which +it is her duty to wisely and safely conduct through +the period of dependent infancy and childhood. It +is of course possible for the child to be too closely +enveloped, and the skin thus rendered highly susceptible +to the impressions of cold. The prevalent +error, however, at the present time, is in the direction +of too scanty clothing.</p> + +<p><i>The make of the dress</i> should be loose and easy, +so as to permit of the free movement of all portions +of the body; it should be cut high in the neck, and +with sleeves to the wrists; its construction should +be simple, so that it may be quickly put off and on; +and the fastenings employed should, as far as possible, +be tapes, not pins. In the clothing of children +the laws of hygiene, and not the code of fashion, +should direct the shape and style.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE BATHING OF INFANTS AND YOUNG +CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p>Many advantages attach to the daily use of the +bath for infants. It secures cleanliness, strengthens +the nervous system, and preserves from colds and +coughs.</p> + +<p>We have already endeavoured to impress upon +the mind of the reader the great susceptibility to +cold which exists in early life. On this account +the water for the bath should be warm (96° or 98°) +for the first few weeks of infancy, especially during +the winter season. Gradually the temperature may +be reduced to that of the apartment, never to actual +coldness. It is as foolish and hazardous to attempt +to 'harden' infants by plunging them into cold +water, as it is by carrying them with uncovered +necks, chests, and limbs into the keen and damp +air. Knowledge of these facts would bring safety +to many children who now suffer, because of the +dangerous ignorance of mothers in regard to the +susceptibility of the infant organisation.</p> + +<p>An infant should be immersed in its tub every +morning. Besides the regular morning bath, it is +often advisable to put the child for a few minutes +in tepid water in the evening. This will quiet +the nervous system, and induce sleep. The bath +should not be too long a one, for fear of exciting +perspiration; nor, for the same reason, should the +water be too warm. If the child be of a delicate +constitution, the evening bath will be especially +useful, and can be made more so by the addition of +two table-spoonfuls of salt to the water necessary +for the bath.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span></p> + +<p>The time immediately after nursing or feeding +is not proper for bathing. An hour or two after a +meal should be allowed to elapse. Neither should +a bath ever be given in a cold room. Even in a +warm atmosphere, care should be taken, both after +and during the ablution, that the wet skin of the +infant be not exposed to the air. Its body should +be completely immersed; it should not be held up +out of the water, nor, if it be old enough, allowed +to stand or sit in the tub. It is well also to have +a warm blanket in which to receive the child as +it comes dripping from the bath. It should be +wrapped up in this for a few minutes, to absorb a +part of the moisture. Then a portion of the body +should be uncovered at a time, and dried before +exposing the rest.</p> + +<p><i>Drying the skin.</i>—For this purpose a piece of +soft flannel will be found serviceable. By gently +rubbing the surface of the body with it the skin +will be warmed and stimulated, and the resulting +glow will be as agreeable to the child as is that in +the adult which follows the Turkish bath. The +actual grooming of the human body is very useful +to improve the health of scrofulous children.</p> + +<p>At first from three to five minutes will be a +sufficiently long immersion. In a little while, however, +this period may be lengthened, all the precautions +mentioned against injurious exposure +being observed.</p> + +<p>The lukewarm daily bath, taken either in the +morning or evening, ought to be continued until +at least the age of four years. If, after the fourth +or fifth year, ablutions of the entire body be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +resorted to only every second or third day, the +practice should be commenced of sponging the +chest every morning with cold, or alternately with +cold and hot water, followed by brisk frictions.</p> + +<p>Soap is to be used but sparingly in the bath of +young children. It must be of the blandest and +purest quality. Various eruptions are caused by +the employment of impure soaps, and even by the +excessive application of the best kind.</p> + +<p>In illustration of the importance of our present +subject, we may state that Dr. Hufeland, to whose +admirable work on the art of prolonging life we +have before alluded, lays down, as one of the +means which lengthen life, the care of the skin. +He dwells upon the benefit of paying such attention +to it from infancy that it may be kept in a lively, +active, and useful condition.</p> + +<p>The power of the bath to ward off disease in +childhood is not sufficiently appreciated by parents. +Properly managed, it soothes, but never increases, +any internal irritation which may exist, and often +does away with the necessity of resorting to the +administration of drugs. If due attention were +paid to the condition of the skin in early life, many +of the most common ailments of childhood would +be averted. The daily employment of the bath, +and scrupulous attention to cleanliness of the person +and clothing, would materially lessen the demand +both for purgative medicines and for soothing +syrups.</p> + +<p>One word more in regard to the washing of the +infant. The mother herself, if she be in health, +should always perform this office, and not entrust<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +it to the child's nurse. Plutarch awards high +praise to Cato the censor, for his invariable +custom of being present when his child was +washed. Every mother, at least, would do well +to follow the example of this old Roman. It will +give her the opportunity to detect many incipient +affections which would for a long while escape her +attention if she saw the child only when dressed. +The mother will also take pains to engage the +mind of the little one, and render the bath a source +of amusement to it.</p> + +<p>After the fourth or fifth year, two or three baths +a week during the colder seasons of the year will +be sufficient to keep the skin clean, and properly +active. During the summer, however, a daily bath +is of great advantage to children, and ought not to +be neglected.</p> + +<p>Swimming is very useful and very invigorating +to the health of both sexes. It is desirable that +children be taught this art.</p> + +<p>The importance of the <i>culture of the skin</i> to the +well-being of infancy and childhood cannot be +brought too prominently to the notice of all +mothers. We have therefore endeavoured to give +some useful hints in regard both to the preservation +of its cleanliness, and to the prevention, by +means of garments and warming, of its exposure +to too great changes of temperature.</p> + +<p>By proper attention to the skin in the manner +pointed out, many of the eruptions with which +children are afflicted might be prevented. The +appearance of these the mother ought to regard as +a great calamity, for they are often difficult of cure,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> +and render the child an object of disgust. She +ought also to look upon them as the mischievous +consequences of the neglect of those laws of health +which it is her duty to learn and observe.</p> + + +<h3>AIR AND VENTILATION IN CHILDHOOD.</h3> + +<p>Fresh air is necessary for the robust development +of infancy and childhood. Infants born in the +summer season should be carried out daily when +the weather is pleasant, from the second or third +day after birth. Those born in the winter should +be kept in the house for two or three months before +being introduced to the outer world on some sunny +noonday. Older children can scarcely pass too +much time in the open air.</p> + +<p>A change in the dress must, of course, be made +before exposing the child to the outdoor air. The +head should be covered, and the chest and limbs +well protected from the cold.</p> + +<p>As a rule, a child ought to be carried out, or permitted, +when old enough, to walk out, at least once +every pleasant day during the year. The time of the +day is to be varied with the season. In the winter, +the middle of the day is to be chosen; in summer, +the early portion of the forenoon, a few hours after +sunrise.</p> + +<p>Children show very quickly, even when in ill-health, +the beneficial results of a ride or walk. It +quiets the irritability to which they are liable, more +effectually than any other procedure. For a delicate +child, or one recovering from sickness, fresh +air and sunshine are the best tonics which can be +administered. A fretful, peevish child will soon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +learn to look forward to its daily jaunt on the +street or road, and will be quieted by it for the +rest of the day.</p> + +<p>At all times of the year regard must be had to +the state of the weather. The infant ought never +to be taken out on a wet day. Exposure to a +damp atmosphere is one of the most powerful +causes of catarrh on the chest and inflammation of +the lungs, to which young children are so subject. +A very high wind, even though the day be bright +and dry, is injurious to a young infant, as it has +been known to suspend its breathing for a time, +which accident might, if not at once observed, bring +about a fatal result.</p> + +<p>Besides fresh air, <i>light</i> is an indispensable requisite +to the health of children. Nothing can +compensate for the absence of its beneficial effects. +It is to be remembered, however, that during the +first week or two the eyes of the new-born babe are +not strong enough to bear the full glare of light. +The first eight days of its existence should be +spent in a half-darkened room. Gradually the +apartment may be brightened, until finally, after +about two weeks, the young eyes become entirely +accustomed to the light, and may be exposed to it +without injury. A neglect of this precaution is one +of the most common causes of the bad inflammation +of the eyes so frequently met with among young +infants. After the sight has become quite strong, a +bright room will strengthen the eyes, not weaken +them; for light is the natural stimulant of the +eye, as exercise is of the muscles, or food of the +stomach.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span></p> + +<p>Scrofulous diseases are the heritage of those children +who are deprived of a plentiful supply of pure +air and light. A distinguished writer upon the laws +of health ascribes to the careful avoidance of the +salutary influence of air and light by so many +young girls, who are fearful of walking out while +the sun is powerful, much of their sickly appearance, +the loss of consistency of their bones, and +their being able to afford but a deformed temple to +the immortal soul.</p> + +<p>Humboldt states that, during a five years' residence +in South America, he never saw any national +deformity amongst the men or women belonging to +the Carif, Muyscas, Indian, Mexican, or Peruvian +races. If parents in our own country were to accustom +their daughters from an early age to daily +exercise in the open air and sunlight, there would +be fewer weak backs requiring the support of apparatus +from the surgical-instrument maker, and less +pallor in lips and cheeks to be remedied by iron +from the shop of the apothecary.</p> + + +<h3>EXERCISE IN CHILDHOOD.</h3> + +<p>The first exercise which a child obtains, is had of +course in its nurse's arms. Are there any directions, +then, to be noticed in regard to the <i>manner of carrying +an infant</i>?—Dr. Eberle gives the following +useful advice upon this subject:—'The spine and its +muscles seldom acquire sufficient strength and firmness +before the end of the third month to enable +the child to support its body in an upright position +without inconvenience or risk of injury. Until this +power is manifestly acquired, the infant should not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> +be carried or suffered to sit with its body erect, +without supporting it in such a manner as to lighten +the pressure made on the spine, and aid it in maintaining +the upright posture of its head and trunk; +therefore, at first (a few days after birth), the infant +should be taken from its cradle or bed two or three +times daily and laid on its back upon a pillow, and +carried gently about the chamber. After the third +or fourth week, the child may be carried in a reclining +posture on the arms of a careful nurse, in +such a manner as to afford entire support both to +body and head. This may be done by reclining +the infant upon the forearm, the hand embracing +the upper and posterior part of the thighs, whilst +its body and head are supported by resting against +the breast and arm of the nurse. When held in +this way, it may be gently moved from side to side, +or up and down, while it is carefully carried through +a well-ventilated room.'</p> + +<p>After the child is three months old, it will probably +have become strong enough to maintain itself +in a sitting position. It may then be carried about +in this upright posture, with the spine and head +carefully supported by the nurse, which aid ought +not to be withdrawn until the age of six or seven +months.</p> + +<p>'In <i>lifting</i> young children,' as has been well +observed by Dr. Barlow, 'the nurse should be very +careful never to lay hold of them by the arms, as is +sometimes thoughtlessly done; but always to place +the hands, one on each side of the chest, immediately +below the armpits. In infancy the sockets +of the joints are so shallow, and the bones so feebly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> +bound down and connected with each other, that +dislocation and even fracture of the collar-bone may +easily be produced by neglecting this rule. For the +same reason, it is a bad custom to support a child +by one or even by both arms, when he makes his +first attempt to walk. The grand aim which the +child has in view, is to preserve his equilibrium. If +he is partially supported by one arm, the body +inclines to one side, and the attitude is rendered +most unfavorable to the preservation of his natural +balance; and consequently, the moment the support +is in the least relaxed, the child falls over and is +caught up with a jerk. Even when held by both +arms, the attitude is unnatural and unfavorable to +the speedy attainment of the object. To assist the +child, we ought to place one hand on each side of +the chest in such a way as to give the slightest +possible support, and to be ready instantly to give +more if he lose his balance. When this plan is +followed, all the attitudes and efforts of the child +are in a natural direction; and success is attained +not only sooner, but more gracefully, than by any +ill-judged support given to one side.</p> + +<p>'There is one very common mode of exercising +infants, which we think deserves particular notice: +we mean the practice of hoisting or raising them +aloft in the air. This practice is of such venerable +antiquity, and so universal, that it would be vain to +impugn it. The pleasure, too, which most children +evince under it, seems to show that it cannot be so +objectionable as a cursory observer would be disposed +to consider it. Still there are hazards which +ought not to be overlooked. The risk of accident<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> +is one of some amount: children have slipped from +the hands, and sustained serious injury. Some +people are so energetic as to throw up children and +catch them in descending. This rashness there can +be no hesitation in reprobating; for, however confident +the person may be of not missing his hold, +there must ever be risks of injury from the concussion +suffered in the descent, and even from the +firmness of the grasp necessary for recovering and +maintaining the hold. The motion of the body, +too, has a direct tendency to induce vertigo; and +when the liability of the infant brain to congestion +and its consequences is considered, when the frequency +of hydrocephalus in infants is borne in +mind, an exercise which impels blood to the brain +will not be regarded as wholly insignificant. There +is one more objection which seems not to have +attracted attention. The hold taken of the child +in the act of hoisting him is by the hand grasping +the chest. The fingers and thumb, placed on each +side of the breast-bone, compress the ribs; and any +one with the hand so placed will at once perceive +that if the pressure were strong, and the resistance +from the elasticity of the ribs weak, the impression +on the chest resulting would correspond exactly +with the deformity named chicken-breast. That +any force is ever used capable of inducing speedily +such a change, is in the highest degree improbable; +but that reiterated pressure of this kind, however +slight, would in a weakly child have power to +impress and distort the chest, few, we imagine, will +doubt.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>LEARNING TO WALK.</h3> + +<p>When two or three months old, the infant may +be placed on a soft mattress upon the floor or on +the carpet. He can then toss his limbs about +without danger, and develope the powers of his +muscular system.</p> + +<p>'The best mode of teaching a child how to walk,' +says Dr. Bull, 'is to let it teach itself; and this it +will do readily enough. It will first learn to crawl: +this exercises every muscle in the body, does not +fatigue the child, throws no weight upon the bones, +but imparts vigor and strength, and is thus highly +useful. After a while, having the power, it will +wish to do more. It will endeavor to lift itself +upon its feet by the aid of a chair; and though it +fail again and again in its attempts, it will still +persevere until it accomplish it. By this, it learns +first to raise itself from the floor; and secondly, to +stand, but not without keeping hold of the object +on which it has seized. Next it will balance itself +without holding, and will proudly and laughingly +show that it can stand alone. Fearful, however, as +yet of moving its limbs without support, it will +seize a chair or anything else near it, when it will +dare to advance as far as the limits of its support +will permit. This little adventure will be repeated +day after day with increased exultation; when, +after numerous trials, he will feel confident of his +power to balance himself, and he will run alone. +Now time is required for this gradual self-teaching, +during which the muscles and bones become +strengthened; and when at last called upon to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> +sustain the weight of the body, are fully capable of +doing so.'</p> + +<p>It is not merely want of strength which prevents +an infant from walking at first. The natural shape +of the legs renders it impossible. The feet are +turned in so that the inner sides look upwards. +When placed upon its feet, therefore, the soles will +not rest upon the ground. In a short time the +position of the feet changes, and they become fitted +for the purposes of support and locomotion. When +he begins to walk, the child should have shoes with +tolerably broad soles, which ought to be at least +half an inch longer than the foot.</p> + +<p>The first efforts of the little one to support and +propel itself are to be carefully watched, but not +unnecessarily interfered with; neither frightened by +expressions of fear, nor rendered timid by too frequent +warnings.</p> + + +<h3>ADVANTAGES OF GAMES AND PLAYS.</h3> + +<p>The first seven years of life should be one grand +holiday for all sports and amusements which will +bring into play the muscles, and divert at the same +time the mind. Time cannot be more usefully employed +than in thus laying the foundation of health, +upon which alone can rest the physical, mental, and +moral well-being of after-life.</p> + +<p>No greater mistake can be made by parents than +to deprive the young of the innocent pleasures of +childhood. Yet there are persons occasionally met +with who think it their duty to check the natural +lightness and gaiety of heart of their children for +fear that they shall become too fond of pleasure.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> +In this way great harm is done to both mind and +body, and the very fault created which it is desired +to avoid.</p> + +<p>The wise parent sees in the games and plays of +childhood not only necessary recreation and exercise, +but a valuable means of education—of moral, +mental, and physical training. He also seeks to +impress early upon the young mind that play is +most enjoyed when it has been earned by work, +and that pleasure flies from those who continually +pursue it.</p> + +<p>The faculties of <i>memory</i> and <i>attention</i> can be +called upon and developed by proper games in a +most satisfactory manner. These exercises are all +the more effective because the pleasure conceals, as +it were, the mental labor, and the intellectual efforts +are made, in a sense, unconsciously, though none the +less efficiently.</p> + +<p>Certain plays form a valuable means of educating +the eyes and other senses. Such, for instance, are +the toys which represent objects of natural history +or of different trades and arts; the pictures which +teach through the quick eye of the child what no +dry descriptions could ever convey; and the games +which develope closeness of observation and habits +of order. A genial French physician has happily +said, 'Every time I see a toy based on the reproduction +of a scientific fact or of an industrial process, +and which pleases while it enlightens, I feel a +sentiment of real gratitude to him who has designed +it.'</p> + +<p>We are glad to see that each year more and +more attention is being paid to the utilization, as it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> +were, of the games of infancy. Although all education +can never be made a play, all play can be +made an effective education. Do not therefore, +reader, restrict the games of your children, but +direct them; do not render them less amusing, but +seek to make them more instructive.</p> + +<p>The schooling afforded by instructive plays should +be the only schooling of the first seven years of life. +Late springs produce the most abundant harvests +in the mind as in the field. Precocious and delicate +children especially should be kept from a too early +and close application to books. By means of +healthful and instructive games and sports; by +visits to workshops and factories where familiar +objects are made; and by a cultivation of the +sense of the beautiful in nature and art, more can +be done towards securing a sound mind in a sound +body than by the easier and more common method +of sending the child to school almost as soon as it +can walk.</p> + + +<h3>IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING CHILDREN HYGIENIC +HABITS.</h3> + +<p>The force of habits should never be lost sight of +by those having the charge of children. They constitute +a power of which parents should early avail +themselves. J. J. Rousseau has said, 'The only +habit which one ought to permit the child, is of not +contracting any.' But this is impossible and undesirable. +When it is remembered that <i>a good habit +is just as hard to break as a bad one</i>, the importance +of seeking from the very cradle to frame good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> +habits is evident. It is easy to create, but difficult +to reform. What then are some of the principal +hygienic habits which it is desirable to teach +children?</p> + +<p>First we will mention, <i>a liking for proper food at +regular times.</i> The indigestion, or weakness of +digestion, from which many children suffer, is in +some cases hereditary or the result of feeble health. +But most frequently it is the effect of bad management. +The giving to the child of pastry and cakes +at meals instead of simple and nutritious food, the +encouragement of capriciousness of appetite instead +of teaching it to like everything that is healthful, +and the neglect to inculcate the habit of eating at +regular hours, these are the principal causes of +many cases of diarrhœa, vomitings, weak appetite, +colicky pains, and indigestion among children.</p> + +<p>The daily use of at least a sponge-bath of the +entire person is an excellent habit. Cold water +should be employed after the fifth or sixth year. +This simple practice of a cold sponge-bath every +morning, if more generally taught children, would +avert many a cold and rheumatic attack in after +life.</p> + +<p>The habit of quenching the thirst with only simple +drinks, milk and water, should be early and +thoroughly formed. No American mother would +think of giving spirits to her child, excepting under +medical advice; but many permit almost from +infancy the use of tea and coffee. These drinks +are not only unnecessary in childhood, but to a +certain extent injurious. They excite the nervous +system and disorder the digestion. Before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span> +age of puberty, neither tea nor coffee should be +allowed.</p> + + +<h3>ON THE TRAINING OF THE SPECIAL SENSES.</h3> + +<p>The special senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, +and touch, have been called the windows of the +soul, by which it observes what passes without. +The most noble and intellectual of these are the +sight and hearing. Neither of them receives the +attention at the hands of parents and educators +which it should. Indeed, the Indians who yet +inhabit our western plains, have better eyes and +ears than we. The reason of this is evident. The +savage is obliged to make other use of his eyes +than to dreamily admire the beautiful landscape, +and other use of his ears than to listen to the +singing of birds and the murmuring of wind and +stream. These senses are the defenders of his life. +He depends upon them for food, clothing, and protection +against his enemies. Hence, urged by +necessity, he trains them from infancy, and brings +them to a perfection which astonishes us. It will be +said, however, that we in our civilized life, have no +need of any such acuteness of sense. True, but we +cannot avoid the consciousness that our organs of +sight and hearing do not afford us the service they +ought, and that they commence to fail us too early. +The remedy is to be sought in the training of the +special senses in early life. These senses, which +are the first of our faculties to form and develope, +should be the first to be educated; yet, as has been +well said, they are nearly the only ones which are +forgotten, or at least they are the most neglected.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p> + +<p>The education of a sense has been compared to +the education of a child,—it has its physical, its intellectual, +and its moral side. It is necessary to +maintain the organ in a condition of health in order +that it may perform its work well; this is the physical +education of the sense. The mind must learn +to properly elaborate the impressions thus conveyed +to it, this is the intellectual education of the sense. +Finally, in the service of morality and justice, these +impressions ought to be turned to the advantage +of the good and the beautiful, this is the moral +education of the sense. The subject of the +training of the special senses is therefore, when +properly viewed, a serious and most important one. +It might well demand more attention at our hands +than we have space to give it here. We will make +our remarks as concise and practical as possible +commencing first with</p> + + +<h3>THE TRAINING OF THE SENSE OF SIGHT.</h3> + +<p>A recent French writer on the hygiene of the +sight has brought forward striking evidence in support +of his statement, that in our time the sense of +sight is growing markedly weaker. The number of +the near-sighted is augmenting, as is also the number +of those who become 'far-sighted' before old +age. Cases of debility and disease of the eyes seem +to be multiplying at a rate which should awaken +general attention to this matter. The causes are +to be found in the neglect, often the hurtful management, +of the eyesight of children; in the +influence of improperly regulating artificial light;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> +and in the injury done by bad printer's ink and +paper.</p> + +<p>In the education of the child's eyesight, <i>acuteness</i> +of vision is one of the first objects to be sought +for. That this is largely a matter of training is +apparent from the fact that persons in certain +professions can readily distinguish objects too +small or too distant for ordinary eyes. Children +brought up in the country or at the sea-side, have +a power of vision unknown to city children, with +their limited range of observation. But it is not +only necessary that the eyes should be able to +make out the forms of distant or small objects, but +that they should be quick to detect shades of color +and delicacies of outline. The child should be +stimulated and encouraged to make efforts in this +direction. Here, also, there is room for the skill of +the intelligent toy-maker, for toys can be made +very useful educators.</p> + +<p>One of the forms of sensorial <i>memory</i> which it is +most desirable to develope is that of objects seen, +that is to say, the fixing in the thoughts, to be +brought up before the mind's eye when wanted, the +recollection of visual impressions. This embraces +the memory of forms, of dimensions, of the relations +between various objects and between different +parts of the same object, and of colors. When applied +to places it is what is known as <i>local</i> memory, +applied to the human face, it is the memory of +<i>physiognomy</i>; applied to objects, it is <i>graphic</i> or +<i>descriptive</i> memory; applied to colors, it is <i>chromatic</i> +memory.</p> + +<p><i>Local</i> memory is sometimes developed to an ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>traordinary +degree. It is only necessary for some +persons to have once traversed a locality, a street, +a city, in order to preserve of it a most minute and +vivid recollection. This topographical memory is +enjoyed by a number of the inferior animals; the +elephant, the dog, and the horse, for instance, are +well-known as being capable of noticing a road +taken and of returning by it, of recognising readily +a place once seen, and of showing a tendency to +stop of their own accord at places where they have +been arrested or kept. This local memory, useful +as it is to every one, is necessary to the painter +who draws upon it for the elements of his artistic +creations.</p> + +<p>The faculty of recollecting faces is a peculiar one, +and possessed by different persons in vastly different +degrees. There are those who recognise invariably +every face they have once seen, and who by +a simple effort can at any time recall with the utmost +distinctness the features of the absent. On the +other hand, there are those so wanting in this special +form of memory that they are constantly exposed +to serious social inconveniences, and, for fear +of failing in politeness, often salute perfect strangers. +The ancient Greeks possessed to an extraordinary +degree the power of seizing and retaining types of +face and form; it is to this, doubtless, that they +owe, to a great extent, their unapproached excellence +in sculpture and painting.</p> + +<p><i>Graphic</i> or <i>descriptive</i> memory is that which +photographs, as it were, upon the brain the visual +impressions that objects have made upon the retina, +in such a manner that the thought can reconstruct<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span> +them ideally. This, in particular, is the form of +memory required by designers of all kinds, and, like +the other forms of visual memory, is susceptible of +education. The child is first taught to copy with +his pencil and produce exact <i>imitations</i> of the objects +about him. Then, little by little, he is to be taught +in closing his eyes to reconstruct mentally the contours +of objects, at first simple, then more complicated, +and finally to penetrate into their details and +give to the fictitious mental image all the relief of +reality. This exercise not merely trains the child +in correct observation, but quickly leads to the conquest +of descriptive memory.</p> + +<p><i>Chromatic</i> memory, or the memory of colors, is a +form of visual memory different from those we have +enumerated. It is more difficult, perhaps, and +technical than the others. The attention of the +child should early be directed to the colors of +natural and artificial objects, and he should be encouraged +to imitate them.</p> + +<p>But it is not our intention to go further into this +important subject, the education of the sense of +sight. Our space will not permit it. By these few +elementary remarks, we have merely wished to remind +parents that they can do much towards the +development of this important faculty in their +children.</p> + + +<h3>TO PREVENT NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS.</h3> + +<p>Near-sightedness is, as we have said, greatly +increasing. In Germany, this is particularly the +case, and has led there to a careful study of the +subject within the last few years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p> + +<p>Near-sightedness, like most of the disorders of +the eyesight, is to be traced to causes which act +during childhood, <i>and which causes are all entirely +preventable.</i> Imperfect lighting of rooms in which +children study or play is one of the chief among +these preventable causes. When the windows are +improperly constructed or placed, or when the artificial +light is faulty in school-rooms, the book is +naturally brought close to the eyes in order that it +may be more easily read. The consequence of this +is either that near-sightedness is quickly produced, +or that the eyes soon become fatigued and permanently +weakened. No less injurious is the effort +to read 'between the lights' or before the fire. +School-books with too small type, and school-desks +which are too low or too far from the seats, are the +direct cause of much mischief to many young eyes. +Let parents, therefore, see to it that the school-rooms +to which they send their children are clearly +and properly lighted, that the books which they +study are printed in a bold, clear type, and that no +reading or study is permitted by a flickering or a +dim light, nor before a desk or table which forbids +a tolerably erect position of the head and +shoulders.</p> + + +<h3>THE EDUCATION OF THE SENSE OF HEARING.</h3> + +<p>The education of this sense is second only in +importance to that of the sight. First of all, attention +should be directed to the preservation of the +<i>health</i> of the organ.</p> + +<p>Many cases of deafness among children originate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> +in long standing diseases of the nose and throat; +others in obstinate skin affections; while not a few +are caused by a want of cleanliness, which permits +of the accumulation of wax in the passage of the +ear.</p> + +<p>The sensibility of the nerve which conveys impressions +of sound from the ear to the brain can be +greatly increased by exercise and training, when the +organ is in a condition of health. It can be so +highly developed that the ear will readily catch +very feeble sounds.</p> + +<p>A learned physician has recently pointed out +with some force that sufficient attention is not paid +to the conformation of the pavilion of the ear. Upon +this conformation much of the delicacy of hearing +depends. The hats which children wear, usually +compress and deform the pavilion. Physiologists +have shown that it ought to make an angle of about +thirty degrees with the skull, in order to best collect +sonorous vibrations. This angle is very much diminished +by our artificial head-dresses, and to the +detriment of acuteness of hearing.</p> + +<p>Can education do much for the improvement of +hearing? Everyday experience answers in the +affirmative. There is an exercise which cannot be +too highly commended to parents, which consists +in inducing in play their children, even those very +young, to detect from as far as they can faint and +fading sounds. It is a game which amuses them +much, and it is a pleasing sight to see the rivalry +of several young children, each of whom with head +bent forward, is earnestly trying to distinguish a +receding sound longer than its fellows. A little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> +ingenuity will readily devise amusing and useful +plays with this object in view.</p> + +<p>The training of the remaining special senses is of +comparatively minor importance to that of those we +have been considering, and need not detain us. We +will only remind the reader of the wonderful adroitness +and delicacy of touch possessed by the blind +as an example of what this sense is capable of when +educated.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HOME_MANAGEMENT_OF_SOME_COMMON" id="HOME_MANAGEMENT_OF_SOME_COMMON"></a>HOME MANAGEMENT OF SOME COMMON<br /> +DISEASES OF CHILDREN.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3>CROUP.</h3> + +<p>Although this disease is said to be more severe +in Europe than in our own country, and more frequent +in our northern than in our southern States, +most American mothers, in all parts of the country, +know and dread its alarming and often fatal attacks. +It is a disease of childhood, but not of early +infancy, being rarely met with under the first or +after the tenth year of life.</p> + +<p>Children who have once had this affection are +very liable to another attack upon exposure to any +of the causes which excite it. It has been noticed +also that croup runs in certain families, and not +unfrequently, children of a ruddy complexion and of +a fleshy and apparently vigorous appearance are +those most subject to it.</p> + +<p>Among the <i>causes of croup</i>, which should be +specially guarded against by mothers of croupy +children, are checking of the perspiration, sudden +alterations in the dress, change of climate, and even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> +in some cases a residence at the sea-side. Croup also +often follows measles, and at times is epidemic.</p> + +<p>The unmistakable <i>symptoms of croup</i> quickly +show themselves at the outset of the disease. Sometimes +a sore throat, a short, dry cough, and a slight +harshness of breathing, usher in the affection; in +other instances, that which first attracts attention +is hoarseness in the cry or tone of the voice, attended +with, or quickly followed by, feverishness, +thirst, and dulness, or fretfulness; while in another +class of cases the disease suddenly developes itself +without any noticeable premonitory signs. In all +these cases the characteristic symptoms of the +disease commonly make their appearance at night. +The child's sleep is disturbed by a peculiar clanging +cough, which, when once heard, will ever afterwards +be remembered and easily recognised. The +skin becomes hot and dry, the breathing difficult, +the cough more frequent, and the child is soon +awakened, frightened, and struggling for breath. +With flushed face and staring eyes, the little sufferer +starts up, grasping the throat with the hand +as if seeking to remove some encircling pressure +which is choking it. Each drawing in of the breath +is attended with a hissing sound, the redness of the +face and neck increases, and speech becomes impossible. +This attack may pass off in a few minutes, or +be prolonged, with varying degrees of intensity, for +an hour. Almost invariably, however, it is followed +by a period of relief, in some instances so complete +as to deceive the anxious relatives into the belief +that the disease is over and the child safe. This false +confidence is, unfortunately, generally soon rudely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> +dissipated by a return of the attack in all its first +violence.</p> + +<p>The disease attains its height by the end of the +second, or at the latest the close of the third day. +The fever is now the hottest, the tongue becomes +white, the face and forehead red and covered with +perspiration, the lips at times purple, the veins of the +neck and temples distended, the countenance distressed, +and the voice whispered or suppressed. +The cough is now also most frequent and noisy; +its peculiar sound has been compared to that made +by a fowl when caught in the hand. The thirst is +great, but swallowing difficult. The child often +inserts its fingers in the mouth as if trying to clutch +something which closes the air passages. These +symptoms may either increase to the rapid exhaustion +of the patient or take a favorable turn. +One of the first evidences of the latter is a change +in the character of the cough, which, although it +may not lessen in force or frequency, becomes lower +in tone, less dry, and finally moist.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> should be most prompt, active, +and energetic. Few diseases require, for the safety +of the patient, such quick and efficient aid at the +outset. Prepare at once sufficient hot water for a +bath, and make a fire in the room. In the meanwhile, +immerse the child's arms in some hot water, +and apply cloths, wrung thoroughly dry from it, to +the throat. Give the child a tea-spoonful of powdered +alum in a little syrup, molasses and water, or +honey. Repeat the dose in a quarter of an hour if +full vomiting be not excited by the first tea-spoonful. +So soon as the warm bath is ready (the water<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> +should have the temperature of 98° Fahrenheit), +place the child in it, and keep up the heat of the +bath by the occasional addition of hot water. +Have hot towels in readiness to dry the skin completely, +and a warm blanket in which to wrap the +patient. See that the temperature of the room is +raised to about 66° Fahrenheit, and that it does +not fall below this. Moisten the air by putting a +kettle of boiling water on the fire and diffusing the +steam from it by means of a long roll of paper +fixed to the spout.</p> + +<p>The warm bath and the emetic will usually relieve +the breathing; but no matter how complete +this relief may appear to be, nor how quietly +the little one may sleep, it must be carefully +watched all night, so that the first return of unfavorable +symptoms may be promptly treated. +In all instances also, however favorably the case +may progress, the patient must be confined to bed +for several days, and the temperature of the room, +and the moisture of the air, carefully maintained, +as directed for the first treatment of the attack. +If the child has had previous attacks, or if the +weather be cold and inclement, it should be kept +in this warm moist atmosphere for two weeks. +Were these precautions known and heeded we +should have to lament fewer fatal cases of croup.</p> + +<p>Of course in this, as in all other serious diseases, +skilled medical advice should be secured as quickly +as possible. We have given the above directions, +not only for those so situated that they cannot +secure medical aid, but also for all others, in order +that no valuable time may be lost in commencing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> +the treatment, that the efforts of the physician may +be intelligently seconded and carried out, and that +the importance of <i>promptness</i> at the outset, and <i>prolonged +care</i> during convalescence, maybe impressed +upon every mother who consults these pages.</p> + + +<h3>HEAD COLDS.</h3> + +<p>Young infants are very liable to take cold when +being washed, or carried about the house into +rooms and passages of different temperatures. This +cold often shows itself by sneezing and “snuffles” +in the nose. In a short time a discharge from the +nostrils appears, the eyes become watery, and the +voice sounds “through the nose.” The skin is +hotter than natural, and the infant cross. If the +child be able to talk, it will complain of headache, +some soreness in the limbs and back, and of a +burning, uncomfortable feeling in the nose. These +symptoms last for three or four days, when in mild +ordinary cases they begin to disappear. After one +or more attacks of this kind the child is very liable +to a return on every slight exposure to cold.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> required in these cases is mild +and simple, but must not be neglected. A warm +bath should be taken at bed-time for a number of +days; the patient should be kept in an even temperature +and out of draughts. The best relief to the +distress in the nose, from which the child suffers, is +afforded by dipping a hollow sponge in hot water, +squeezing it nearly dry, and applying it over the +nose and forehead. The common domestic practice +of greasing the nose is also beneficial. The +wearing of a flannel cap until the disease is cured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> +is a remedy strongly recommended by the late Dr. +Meigs. A flannel cap will also often prevent the +recurrence of the complaint in those very subject +to it.</p> + + +<h3>FITS.</h3> + +<p>Infants and young children are much more liable +to fits and convulsions than adults. The causes +which excite them are numerous, and should be +generally known, that they may be as far as possible +avoided.</p> + +<p>Many infants are born with a tendency to fits. +The children of feeble parents, or of those who +have married very early or very late in life, are apt +to be afflicted with a predisposition to them. Great +fright or severe shock received by the mother during +the latter months of her pregnancy may give +rise to convulsions in the child soon after birth.</p> + +<p>Pale, badly nourished, soft, flabby children, and +those of a sensitive, nervous temperament, are more +liable to fits than those who are ruddy and hardy. +Hence we find convulsions more common and fatal +among the poor and miserable than among the 'well-to-do' +and comfortable. City children are more subject +to the complaint than the country born and bred.</p> + +<p>Fits are very frequent among infants while teething. +In such cases lancing the gum secures immediate +relief. Another cause of fits, and one +which every mother should know, is the giving of +meat to the child before its teeth are cut. In such +cases the attack is sudden, and often very severe. +Children most affected in this way by animal food +are those with water on the brain, and those of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span> +very delicate constitution. The juice or broth of +meat is in some such instances sufficient to produce +fits. The remedy consists in the institution of a milk +diet. In all doubtful cases avoid a meat diet in +any form, and watch the result.</p> + +<p>Strong mental emotions, such as fright, shame, +or anger, may cause a fit in a child. A nurse in +England threatened to throw a child out of the +window if he did not stop crying; the little boy +fell at once into convulsions, from which he died.</p> + +<p>Among other known causes of fits are confinement +to heated, badly ventilated rooms, tight bandaging, +and sudden exposure to severe cold or heat.</p> + +<p>In treating of the influence of the mother's mind +over the nursing child (p. 251), we mentioned a number +of instances of children thrown into convulsions +by changes in the quality of the milk caused by +the mental emotion of the mother. The importance +of the subject induces us to quote here the +corroborating remarks of Dr. Churchill, in the last +edition of his standard work on diseases of children. +'During the first year of life, convulsions +may not unfrequently be traced to the milk of the +mother or nurse disagreeing with the infant, or +having been disordered temporarily by fright, +passion, or suffering. Sœmmering mentions a +curious case of a woman whose milk agreed with +her own child, but caused convulsions in all others. +M. Guersant relates the instance of a woman deserted +by her husband, and in her distress her +infant had an attack each time it took the breast. +Dr. Underwood mentions a mother who nursed +her child immediately after witnessing a sudden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> +death; the child was attacked by convulsions, after +which it remained comatose for thirty-six hours, +but ultimately recovered. Numerous cases are on +record of convulsions supervening upon violent +passion in the nurse. I have witnessed more than +one case resulting from the mother suckling her +child during a time of severe affliction and distress.'</p> + +<p>We deem it useless to describe a fit. Almost +every one has seen it, and at once recognises it. +We shall proceed, therefore, at once to the <i>treatment.</i></p> + +<p>When a child is attacked with a fit the dress +should be loosened, all tight bandages and pins +removed, and plenty of fresh air admitted into the +room. It should not be held upright in the arms, +but placed in a lying position. A warm bath (that +most useful remedy in so many of the ailments of +children) should be speedily prepared, and the +child immersed for a few minutes, then removed, +dried, and wrapped in a blanket. A hot mustard +foot-bath is also of service. The cause of the fit +should be at once sought, for upon it will of course +depend to a great extent the treatment required. +If the child be teething, and the gums be found +to be red and swollen, they should be lanced. If +the child has eaten too much, or of improper food, +an emetic should be given. A little mustard and +salt mixed in a tumbler of warm water affords a +ready, safe, and effectual emetic.</p> + +<p>The dashing of cold water upon the face will +sometimes promptly end the fit. The application of +powdered ice in a bladder, or of cold water cloths +to the head, is of service where the face is much +flushed and the movements very violent.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p> + +<p>Children subject to fits should live in a well +warmed house. By this we do not mean that the +rooms and hall ways should be kept hot, still less +that they should be close and improperly ventilated. +The temperature of the bed-room should not be +lower than 70 degrees, and great care should be +taken during cold weather to avoid chilling the +child outdoors.</p> + +<p>Rubbing of the child's body once a day with +good salad oil is an excellent and readily applied +remedy in these cases. The little patients do not +ordinarily object to it. As it is a procedure calculated +to improve the general health, we strongly +recommend every mother whose child has frequent +fits, to try it.</p> + +<p>The dress of the child should be warm, loose, +and comfortable. Perfect quietness is important +for a time after attacks. Do not excite the child +by seeking to amuse it. Let it sleep as much as it +will.</p> + +<p>In those cases in which a fit has been followed +by weakness of the limbs, medical assistance will +of course be procured. As a rule, recovery in such +instances is slow, but, when properly directed, perfect. +Change of scene, country air, and exercise, +friction of the body with a flesh-brush or salt +towel, salt water baths, and electricity, are all valuable +agents towards cure.</p> + + +<h3>NOSE-BLEED.</h3> + +<p>Bleeding from the nose may be produced by a +blow or by over-exercise of the child at play. In +either case the trouble is usually a trifling one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span> +Some children, however, are liable to attacks of +nose-bleed coming on without any assignable +causes. One of the consequences of scarlet fever +and whooping cough is sometimes a tendency to +repeated and serious spells of bleeding from the +nose.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> in these cases consists in quieting +the alarm of the child if it be frightened, and in +applying cold water or pounded ice to the nose +and forehead and to the back of the neck. It is +because of its coldness that the key placed down +the back, as so commonly advised in domestic +practice, does good.</p> + +<p>An exaggerated idea of the amount of blood +lost is often a cause of distress to parents. They +forget that the child has been bleeding in a vessel +of water, and that a very little blood darkly colors a +large quantity of water.</p> + +<p>Bleeding from the nose is sometimes a favorable +symptom, as when it occurs during a fever, or when +in girls approaching womanhood it precedes the +expected signs of puberty. It is an unfavorable +symptom, however, in scrofulous children and in +girls affected with green-sickness, as in these instances +it aggravates the existing disorders.</p> + +<p>In those rare cases of protracted bleeding which +resist the remedies we have mentioned, it may be +necessary for the surgeon to plug the nostrils, both +in front and at their opening into the throat.</p> + +<p>This extreme measure is fortunately scarcely +ever called for, and can only be carried out by the +physician.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>WORMS.</h3> + +<p>Children are often thought to have worms when +entirely free from them. There is hardly a symptom +of any disease which has not been supposed +by some to be a sign of the presence of worms. A +child suffering from some other complaint is, therefore, +not unfrequently dosed with vermifuges to its +injury. We can give the mother one symptom of +worms which is infallible. It is the only one upon +which she can rely, namely, the detection of worms +in the stools of the child. Until these expelled +intruders are actually found she should be slow to +believe that the child is thus affected, and still +slower to give worm medicine. Before beginning +treatment, let the mother wait until the need of it +is made out by the result of the examination we +have mentioned.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> of the ordinary worms to which +children are subject is simple and usually speedily +efficacious. Commence with a dose of Epsom salts, +of magnesia, or of cream of tartar, as may be preferred. +The next day administer a vermifuge, of +which the best and pleasantest is <i>santonine.</i> Obtain +from the druggist three or four three-grain powders +of this medicine. Give the half or the whole of one +of these powders, according to the age of the child, +at bed-time. The next morning administer a purgative +dose of oil or salts. Repeat this treatment +every other day until three doses of santonine have +been taken. Or, from two to six grains, according +to the age of the patient, may be dissolved in two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span> +table-spoonsful of castor-oil, and a tea-spoonful +given every hour until it operates.</p> + +<p>An excellent domestic remedy for worms, one +which was a great favorite with the celebrated Dr. +Rush of Philadelphia, is common salt. For a child +two or three years old, the proper dose is a tea-spoonful +mixed in a wine-glassful of water. When +the child can be got to take it in sufficient quantity, +this remedy is a very efficient one.</p> + +<p>Most cases of supposed worms in children are +best treated by regulating the diet, by attention to +the air and exercise of the child, by warm baths, +and by endeavoring to improve the appetite, the +digestion, and the strength. The food should be +plain and unirritating (bread, milk, rice, arrowroot, +chicken, lamb or mutton broth, beef-tea, mutton +chop, young chicken); the meals should be taken in +smaller quantities than usual, and at regular intervals. +Sweets and confectionery should be forbidden, +and but few vegetables permitted for awhile. +A perseverance in this regimen for a short time will +usually cure the little patient without the necessity +of resorting to any vermifuge.</p> + +<p>Worms are most frequent between the ages of +three and ten years. Girls are oftener affected than +boys. A tendency to worms is hereditary. Cases +occur more frequently during the spring and autumn +than during the other seasons. A residence in cold, +damp, unhealthy situations leads to their production +in many instances.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>BED-WETTING.</h3> + +<p>This troublesome disorder is not unfrequently +met with in children—more especially boys—under +twelve years of age. It is a mistake to suppose, as is +done by some parents, that slothfulness or negligence +is the invariable and only cause of this infirmity; on +this point Dr. Vogel says:—'In most cases which +I have observed, the children through their own +sense of honor or on account of repeated punishments, +had a lively interest in avoiding the accident, +and yet were unable to do this without appropriate +treatment pursued for months, and even years.' +Dr. Tanner states:—'Very frequently this affection +is the consequence of bad habits; being favored +by the free use of fluids during the after part of +the day, by exposure to cold in the night, and by +lying on the back.'</p> + +<p>The presence of worms in the bowels is one of +the causes of this annoying ailment, and they +should be sought for in all cases. Stone in the +bladder sometimes occasions the affection, but in +such instances other symptoms will soon point to +the true nature of the trouble.</p> + +<p>This subject is one of an importance which demands +some attention from us in a work for parents. +In the language of Dr. Vogel, 'the effects of this +malady are unpleasant, for the psychical development +in particular suffers. The repeated punishments +which these children undergo blunt their +sense of honor considerably; they become cowardly +and deceitful, and have no personal spirit. If great +and expensive cleanliness is not practised, the bed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> +and even the whole room, acquires a urinous odor, +which contaminates the atmosphere and begets +conditions by no means favorable to healthy growth. +Such children may be ultimately attacked by indolent +ulcers on the nates and lower extremities, the +results of urinous excoriations.'</p> + +<p>The only <i>symptom</i> ordinarily present is that the +child towards morning or in the middle of the night +wets the bed without waking. This may happen +several times during the sleep, and recur every +night. In some cases the act takes place only every +other night, but it is rare that there is an interval of +more than one night.</p> + +<p>The <i>cause</i> of this failing is sometimes very +simple and one easily remedied; for it is often the +result of neglecting to take young children up once +during the many hours they require for sleep. By +attention to this matter and to the diet, the habit +may be speedily broken. Unfortunately most cases +are not so quickly amenable to treatment.</p> + +<p>In the <i>treatment</i> of this infirmity, corporal punishment +should not be thought of. It is useless, +cruel, and unnatural. The child might as well be +punished because it squints or has club-foot.</p> + +<p>Care must be taken to see that the little patient +eats or drinks nothing for several hours before bed-time. +The child should also be awakened a little +before midnight, and at a very early hour in the +morning, and made to empty its bladder. It is of +great importance to get the child to sleep upon its +side or face, as lying upon the back is sure to +increase the trouble. Indeed, it is frequently observed +that the child always remains clean when it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span> +is prevented from turning upon its back during +sleep. The difficulty lies in the prevention. The +plan of tying a cloth or towel around the child with +a knot over the spinal column, to awaken it by the +pain when it rolls over upon the back, so often proposed, +seems good advice easily followed. But +practically it fails, as it is impossible, without +making the bandage too tight, to keep it in place. +The benefit which, in some instances, has followed +the employment of a succession of small blisters +directly over the lower part of the spinal column, is +doubtless due to their forcing the child to sleep +upon the face or side. The remedy is somewhat +a painful one, but should be tried in obstinate +cases.</p> + +<p>The child's general health, if enfeebled, should +be improved by cold baths, bitter tonics, and if +possible a change of air. In no case should any +mechanical means be employed to arrest the infirmity. +Serious and even fatal results have followed +such attempts.</p> + +<p>If the precautions and simple remedies we have +mentioned fail, recourse must be had to the family +physician. The drugs which are of benefit are too +powerful to be entrusted to any other hands. The +hygienic method of cure we have pointed out will, +if instituted early, be effectual in all excepting very +obstinate cases, which latter indeed sometimes resist +for a long time the best efforts of medical skill.</p> + + +<h3>LOOSENESS OF THE BOWELS.</h3> + +<p>Children under one year of age should have two +movements of the bowels in the twenty-four hours,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> +and those from one to three years at least one stool +a day.</p> + +<p>A slight attack of looseness is often beneficial if +it passes away within a day or two. It is easy, +however, for such an attack to become hurtful, +especially if the food be improper, or the weather +warm. A looseness which is of no consequence in +the winter may well excite uneasiness during the +summer months.</p> + +<p>Diarrhœa in a healthy child is ordinarily preceded +by vomiting. If the diarrhœa persist long, the little +patient is much prostrated by it, and rapidly reduced +in flesh. Such an attack should never, therefore, +be neglected.</p> + +<p>In the case of an infant not weaned, it should be +removed from the breast for half a day or more, +that the stomach may have little or nothing to do. +Barley or rice water, or ordinary water, may be +given in small quantities at a time to relieve the +thirst. This in many cases will be all the treatment +required.</p> + +<p>In the case of an elder child, all meat and vegetables +should be at once forbidden, and the only +food allowed for a day or two must be rice and +milk, arrowroot, or milk and water.</p> + +<p>The dose of castor oil which is so frequently +given by nurses in these cases under the impression +that the oil is 'healing,' is only of service when +the diarrhœa has been caused by food of improper +quality or quantity. It then aids nature in her +efforts to get rid of the offending matter, which by +its irritation is doing the mischief. In such instances +one dose of the oil is quite sufficient. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span> +has no 'healing' virtues, and should not be repeated +from day to day.</p> + +<p>Children who are teething are frequently affected +with looseness. A warm bath every evening, +and attention to the gums, will be ordinarily all +that is required in these cases, at least during +the cold months. It is of the utmost importance, +however, during the summer that such patients, +if living in the city, should be at once removed +into the country; otherwise their lives are in +danger.</p> + +<p>Looseness of the bowels in children is usually +best treated by careful management of the clothing +and diet, by attention to all that affects the health, +and by avoiding as much as possible the administration +of medicines. No case should be allowed, +however, to run on without seeking competent +medical advice.</p> + +<p>An excellent remedy for the diarrhœa of children +is the subnitrate of bismuth.</p> + +<p>This medicine may be disguised in the food, as +in a case narrated by Dr. Inmann. A lad about +ten years old was brought to him by an aunt, who +stated that the boy suffered much from diarrhœa, +and was emaciating visibly; that he would not try +any domestic remedy, was an obstinate fellow, and +determined to take no medicine. After sending +the lad to another room the doctor recommended +the lady to get some white bismuth and give it to +the cook, telling her to mix a large pinch of it with +some butter, and to send in the bread and butter +so arranged that the lady would know which was +for the boy. This was done. The lad was duly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> +drugged without his knowledge, and the diarrhœa +stopped in two days.</p> + + +<h3>INDIGESTION.</h3> + +<p>Infants and young children suffer often from indigestion, +or <i>dyspepsia</i>, as well as adults. One of the +most frequent signs of this disorder is vomiting. +But every infant which throws up its milk is not +suffering from indigestion. Vomiting is sometimes +a sign of health, and shows that the stomach is +vigorous enough to free itself promptly from excess +of food. The child is thus saved from the effects +of over-feeding. The obvious remedy is to diminish +the quantity of milk taken at each nursing or meal.</p> + +<p>But vomiting from over-feeding is very different +from that caused by irritation of the stomach, +which causes it to reject proper food. The common +sense of the mother will enable her easily to +distinguish between the two sorts. In the former, +the child remains cheerful, happy, and well nourished, +scarcely changing countenance even while +the superabundant milk is being returned from its +stomach. In the latter, the child soon becomes +pale, feeble, and distressed looking. Over-feeding, +if persisted in, may occasion indigestion.</p> + +<p>Indigestion during the first year of life shows +itself by languor, pallor, and evident discomfort. +The child wishes to be constantly at the breast, +and suckles eagerly, but vomits the milk shortly +after, usually curdled. The bowels are either constipated +or too loose. The most prominent and +often the only symptoms are this alternation of +vomiting and an eager desire to take the breast,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span> +associated with loss of flesh and strength. The +child is evidently not nourished by the food it +takes, and if relief be not afforded it sinks, and +dies from starvation in the course of a month or +two.</p> + +<p>Children who are <i>weaned abruptly, and at a very +early period</i>, are liable to a serious form of indigestion, +which may come on in a few days after weaning, +or not for several weeks.</p> + +<p>Older children are liable to slight attacks of +indigestion, which are attended with vomiting or +purging, or both, for a few days, when the stomach +recovers its health. In some cases, however, the +derangement continues longer, the child then losing +its appetite, and suffering from colic, and becoming +fretful, pale, and weak. The breath becomes sour, +and the passages green. Such cases require careful +watching and treatment, especially during the hot +weather of the summer.</p> + +<p>In infants at the breast indigestion is usually +caused by giving the breast too often or by an +excess or change in the quality of the milk. Errors +in diet on the part of the mother, and other faults +which we have pointed out in our chapter on nursing, +are the most frequent causes of this ailment. +In children who are weaned the causes are almost +invariably improper food or food taken too frequently, +or in too large quantities. The hint should +be taken when a child rejects its food, to change it, +or give it less. Instead of this, too frequently the +child is urged to take more, and thus derange the +stomach.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> of indigestion in childhood is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> +usually easy and satisfactory. The first thing is +to look to and regulate the quantity and quality of +the food. If it be due to excess of food, this is +easily remedied. If due to improper quality, change +it promptly. When the mother's health is such +that her milk is found to frequently or constantly +disagree with her child, a suitable wet-nurse must +be procured.</p> + +<p>In most cases the attack is mild, and readily +yields to a few hours' abstinence from food. As it +often happens, especially in artificially-fed infants, +that the gastric juice is more acid than it should be, +great benefit is derived from the use of <i>precipitated +chalk or carbonate of soda.</i> A few grains of either +of these, given several times a day for a few days, +will be found to effect a surprising change and alone +restore the appetite and digestion.</p> + +<p>In older children an attack of indigestion should +be the signal for putting them upon a simpler and +more restricted diet for a time. Milk, eggs, arrowroot, +tapioca, sago, panada, &c., are better than +animal food. If the child becomes much weakened, +jellies, chicken, lamb, mutton, or oyster broth, beef +tea, or wine whey, should be given to check the +tendency to exhaustion.</p> + +<p>We repeat, that most cases of indigestion in +infants and children yield promptly to an immediate +change in the diet, without medicine.</p> + + +<h3>HINTS ON HOME GOVERNMENT.</h3> + +<p>On this subject, as it may be regarded as outside +of our domain of hygiene, we have but few words +to say. We wish, however, in the interests of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> +medicine and hygiene, to insist upon the necessity +of training children to prompt, implicit obedience +to the parental voice. As physicians, we have seen +the spoilt, undisciplined child, when sick, rebellious +alike to persuasion and command, refusing food and +medicine, revolting against the slightest examination, +and by its violence and capriciousness, converting +a slight illness into a dangerous one. For a +child unaccustomed to obedience there is no proper +treatment possible when sick; nor when well is there +any proper care possible for the preservation of +the health. What it wants, and not what it ought to +have, is given it, and every one knows that a child's +instincts are no guide to health. With health, happiness +is sacrificed also. There is no surer way of +making a child miserable than by accustoming it +to obtain all it wishes, and to encounter no will +but its own. Its desires grow by what they feed +upon. As a French writer on education has well +expressed it: 'At first it will want the cane you +hold in your hand, then your watch, then the bird +it sees flying in the air, and then the star twinkling +overhead. How, short of omnipotence, is it possible +to gratify its ever-growing wants?' Accustom +the child to hear 'no' and 'must,' but let these +hard words be softened by voice and manner—an +art in which every true mother excels.</p> + +<p>But, on the other hand, do not harass the child +by needless restrictions, nor worry it by excess of +management. We desire to call attention here to +the words of an eminent English divine and learned +writer, Archbishop Whately:—</p> + +<p>'Most carefully should we avoid the error which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> +some parents, not (otherwise) deficient in good +sense commit, of imposing gratuitous restrictions +and privations, and purposely inflicting needless +disappointments, for the purpose of inuring children +to the pains and troubles they will meet with +in after life. Yes; be assured they <i>will</i> meet with +quite <i>enough</i> in every portion of life, including +childhood, without your strewing their paths with +thorns of your own providing. And often enough +you will have to limit their amusements for the +sake of needful study, to restrain their appetites +for the sake of health, to chastise them for faults, +and in various ways to inflict pain or privations for +the sake of avoiding some greater evils. Let this +always be explained to them whenever it is possible +to do so; and endeavor in all cases to make them +look on the parent as never the <i>voluntary</i> giver of +anything but good. To any hardships which they +are convinced you inflict reluctantly, and to those +which occur through the dispensation of the All-wise, +they will more easily be trained to submit +with a good grace, than to any gratuitous sufferings +devised for them by fallible man. To raise hopes +on purpose to produce disappointment, to give +provocation merely to exercise the temper, and, in +short, to inflict pain of any kind, merely as a training +for patience and fortitude—this is a kind of +discipline which man should not presume to attempt. +If such trials prove a discipline not so much +of cheerful fortitude as of resentful aversion and +suspicious distrust of the parent as a capricious +tyrant, you will have only yourself to thank for the +result.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> +It is a matter of common observation that those +who complain of their fortune and lot in life have +often to complain only of their own conduct. The +same is true of those who complain of their children. +They have themselves only to blame in +each case.</p> + +<p>Parents who do not appreciate the responsibilities +of their position usually err on the side of +over-indulgence to their children; on the contrary, +those fully alive to the importance of home discipline +often err on the side of over-regulation. +To the latter, we commend the reply of an old +lady to the anxious inquiry made by the mother of +a too rigorously disciplined child as to what course +should be pursued, 'I recommend, my dear, a +little wholesome neglect.'</p> + +<p>Lessons of truthfulness; of fortitude in bearing +pain and disappointment; of the duty of right +doing, because it is right and not because it is the +best policy; of frugality and industry; of self-denial, +contentment, and charity, should be early +impressed upon the plastic mind of infancy. We +wish also, in this connection, to quote the words of +a wise physician and observer of men, that 'the +little child who is brought up to repeat short and +simple prayers at his mother's knees, has a rule of +conduct thereby instilled into him which will probably +never be forgotten; and, in after life he may +not only look back to these beginnings with feelings +of reverence and love, but the recollection of them +may serve to strengthen him in some good resolution, +and help him to resist many a powerful +temptation.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span></p> + +<p>We have had occasion frequently in various +parts of this work to point out the intimate relations +which exist between the physical and mental +nature of parents and their offspring. Like +parent, like child. The same close connection and +sympathy extends to the moral and religious +character; hence that direction and training which +relies largely upon the <i>force of parental example</i> is +the most effective method of home government. +Virtuous precepts, or rigidly enforced rules of conduct, +avail little unless the parent keeps the path +to which he points the child.</p> + +<p>'Well, upon my word, Mrs. Primrose, you have +the handsomest children in the whole country.' +'Ah! neighbor,' replied the wife of the Vicar of +Wakefield, 'they are as heaven made them—handsome +enough if they be good enough—handsome is +that handsome does.'</p> + + +<h3>IS THE RACE DEGENERATING?</h3> + +<p>This is a question which perplexes some minds in +our times. A German author of note has recently +written a volume to prove that each generation is +feebler than the preceding. Old physicians say that +in their youth diseases of exhaustion were rarer +than now-a-days. For this our habits of life, the +pressure on our nervous systems, the prevalence of +hereditary diseases, and the excessive use of narcotics +and stimulants, are held responsible. 'The +fathers,' say these croakers, 'have eaten sour grapes, +and the children's teeth are set on edge.'</p> + +<p>We attach little weight to these gloomy views. +There are plenty of facts on the other side. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> +suits of old armour still preserved in our museums +prove that, as a rule, we have slightly gained in +weight and size. Tables of life insurance companies +and reports of statistics show that the +average length of human life is greater than it ever +was. Dr. Charles D. Meigs used to state in his +lectures that the size of the head of American infants +at birth is somewhat greater than in the Old +World.</p> + +<p>That there are more numerous diseases than +formerly, is not true; but it is true that we know +more, for we have learned to detect them more +readily and to examine them more minutely. This +is especially true of such as are peculiar to women. +Within the last ten or twenty years so much that +is of sovereign importance has been contributed to +this department of medical science, that it is hardly +possible for one to become an expert in it unless he +gives it his whole attention.</p> + +<p>To avoid the tendency to debilitated frames and +chronic diseases, woman should therefore learn not +only the laws of her own physical life, but the relations +in which she stands to the other sex. Thus +she can guard her own health, and preserve her offspring +from degeneracy. It is only by enlightenment, +and the extension of knowledge on the topics +relating to soundness of body and mind, that we +can found rational hopes of a permanent and wide-spread +improvement of the race.</p> + +<p>Some have maintained, not understanding the +bearing of the facts, that such degeneracy is more +conspicuous in the frame of woman than anywhere +else. They quote the narratives of travellers, who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> +describe with what fortitude—we might almost say +with what indifference—the Indian women, and +those of other savage races, bear the pangs of +childbirth, and how little the ordeal weakens them. +A squaw will turn aside for an hour or two when +on the march, bear a child, wash it in some stream, +bind it on the top of her load, and shouldering both, +quietly rejoin the vagrant troop. Our artificial life +seems indeed, in this respect, to be to blame; but +if we look closer, we can learn that these wild +women often perish alone, that they are rarely fertile, +that unnatural labors are not unknown, and +that the average duration of their life is decidedly +less than among the females in civilised States.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HEALTH" id="HEALTH"></a>HEALTH IN MARRIAGE.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<h3><i>THE PERILS OF MATERNITY.</i></h3> + +<p>In the early part of this work we quoted some +authorities to show that those women who +choose single life as their portion do not escape the +ills of existence, nor do they protract their days, +but, on the contrary, as shown by extensive statistics, +are more prone to affections of the mind, and +die earlier. While, therefore, nature thus rewards +those who fulfil the functions of their being, by +taking part in the mysterious processes of reproduction, +and perpetuating the drama of existence, +it is true also that she associates these privileges +with certain deprivations and suffering. We do not +wish to throw around the married state any charms +which are not its own. Rather is it our aim to portray +with absolute, and therefore instructive, fidelity +all that this condition offers of unfavorable as well +as favorable aspects.</p> + +<p>Let us say at once, maternity has its perils,—perils +as peculiar and as inevitable as those which +pertain to single life. Our present purpose is to +mention these, and by stating their nature and what +are their causes, so far as known, to put married<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> +women on their guard against them. Some are +almost trifling, at least not involving danger to life; +others most harassing to the sufferer and to her +friends.</p> + +<p>We shall now consider the principal diseases to +which married women are exposed from pregnancy, +from childbirth, and from nursing.</p> + + +<h3><a name="DISEASES_PREGNANCY" id="DISEASES_PREGNANCY"></a>DISEASES OF PREGNANCY.</h3> + +<p>In treating of pregnancy we have pointed out +that it was a healthy and happy condition to most +women. The exceptional cases are mainly those +in which the health is injured by mental trouble or +anxiety. Thus the young and delicate girl newly +married is full of vague alarms in regard to the +pains and dangers of her untried path to maternity. +She frets herself and embitters her life during those +months in which tranquility is of the utmost importance. +Is it surprising, then, that her health +should be disordered, and that she should suffer +from some of the diseases incident to the pregnant +state?</p> + +<p>Again, the mother of a large family, but the +mistress of a small income, is distressed by the +thought of additional expense, which it seems to +her, particularly in her nervous state, impossible to +meet. This condition of protracted anxiety is ill +fitted to enable her to resist any tendency to disease +to which she may be exposed. Indeed, prolonged +vexation from these and other causes not +unfrequently tend to <i>puerperal mania</i> (a disease of +which we shall shortly have something to say), or +to some other nervous affection.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span></p> + +<p>The wife during pregnancy should therefore be +treated with unusual kindness by those about her, +and every attempt made to soften her lot. The +erroneous impression prevails among some that the +pregnant wife should enure herself to toil and +hardship. This notion is doubtless due to the +observation that domestic animals that are subjected +to a life of labor bring forth their young +with little suffering. 'The cow in the country +farm living unfettered in the meadow until the day +of calving, has in general a safe and easy labor. +The poor beast, on the contrary, which is kept in a +town dairy, has a time so incredibly dangerous that +the proprietor generally sells off his stock every +year, and replaces it with cows in calf; such cows +not being put into the stalls till within six or eight +days of the expected period of labor. The deduction +from this is that an artificial mode of life—a +life maintained by improper food, and without a +sufficient supply of pure air, or a due amount of +exercise—has a most deleterious influence upon +the process of labor; and not that a toilsome existence, +embittered with all the pains and anxieties of +poverty, gives comparative immunity from danger +in the hour of childbirth.' One of the discomforts +of pregnancy is—</p> + + +<h3>MORNING SICKNESS.</h3> + +<p>This affection, when confined, as is usually the +case, to the morning and early part of the day, +rarely requires much medical care. Its absence, +which, as we have said, is a frequent cause of miscarriage, +is more to be regretted than its presence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> +especially as it is apt to be replaced by more serious +troubles.</p> + +<p>Relief will be afforded by washing the face and +hands in cold water, and taking a cup of milk or a +little coffee and a biscuit or sandwich, <i>before raising +the head from the pillow</i> in the morning, remaining +in bed about a quarter of an hour after +this early meal; then dressing quickly, and immediately +going out for a half-hour's walk. Rest in a +half-recumbent posture during the day, particularly +after meals, is beneficial. The affection is mostly +a nervous one, and is best combated by eating. +The food should be plain and unirritating, but +nutritious, and should be taken frequently, in small +quantities at a time.</p> + +<p>When the nausea and vomiting are excessive, +and continue during the day, there is generally +some disordered condition of the digestive apparatus.</p> + +<p>This may be corrected by taking at night a tea-spoonful +of the confection of senna, a pleasant +preparation of this ordinarily disagreeable medicine, +and by drinking three times a day, before +each meal, a wine-glassful of a tea made with +columbo. Half an ounce of powdered columbo +should be added, for this purpose, to a pint of boiling +water.</p> + +<p>Dr. John H. Griscom of New York recommends +the bromide of potassium, which is a harmless +medicine for domestic practice, as affording the +most useful means of arresting the nausea attendant +on pregnancy.</p> + +<p>The following prescription may be compounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span> +by any druggist, and will often be found very effective:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Take of Bromide of Potassium, two drachms,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Cinnamon water, three fluid ounces.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of this a dessert spoonful may be taken two or +three times a day. It may be used with confidence +as an entirely safe and harmless remedy in this +troublesome affection.</p> + +<p>A prescription frequently ordered for the nausea +of pregnancy by the late distinguished Dr. Meigs, +consisted of equal parts of sweet tincture of rhubarb +and compound tincture of gentian—a dessert spoonful +to be taken after meals.</p> + +<p><i>Pain in the abdomen</i>, caused by the distension of +its walls, may be relieved by the application of +equal parts of sweet oil and laudanum.</p> + +<p>Another common and annoying, but rarely dangerous, +trouble during pregnancy is—</p> + + +<h3>VARICOSE VEINS.</h3> + +<p>The veins of the legs become distended, knotted, +and painful. Women who have borne a number of +children suffer most from this affection. It seldom +attacks those passing through their first pregnancies. +It ordinarily first shows itself during the +second pregnancy, and becomes rapidly worse during +the third or fourth.</p> + +<p>Although it is difficult to cure this disease during +the continuance of the pregnancy, much can be +done to prevent its occurrence, and to relieve it +when present. Tight garters worn below the knee, +and closely laced corsets, tend to cause and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span>crease +this swollen condition of the veins. Neither +should be used during pregnancy.</p> + +<p>Relief is best afforded to the suffering parts by +means of a well-made and adjusted <i>elastic stocking</i>, +which may be readily procured from a druggist or +surgical instrument maker. In severe cases it +may be necessary for the patient to keep herself as +much as possible in the recumbent position on the +bed or sofa. In all cases the feet should be supported +when seated, so as to keep the blood from +further distending the already swollen veins.</p> + + +<h3>PILES.</h3> + +<p>That painful condition of the veins of the lower +bowel known as hæmorrhoids, or piles, is a not unfrequent +annoyance to pregnant women. Sometimes +it is caused by prolonged constipation. +During the period of pregnancy, therefore, constipation +should be guarded against.</p> + +<p>Ordinarily the piles are small, and of little consequence +beyond the slight uneasiness they occasion. +The trifling loss of blood from them is of no +account, and often beneficial. The case is different, +however, when the piles are large and painful, and +give rise to much pain and copious bleeding. They +then require prompt treatment.</p> + +<p>In the <i>treatment</i> of piles the first point to be +aimed at is to keep the bowels moderately open. It +must not be forgotten, however, that during pregnancy +only the mildest of purgatives are ever to be +given. Castor oil, although a disagreeable, is a +most excellent prescription in these cases. A small +dose, repeated when necessary, will be found to act<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> +most kindly. If this remedy be too repugnant to +the patient, small quantities of citrate of magnesia, +or of cream of tartar, or of some of the natural +mineral waters, may be employed. Small injections +of lukewarm water are also of great service, +and may be tried instead of laxatives.</p> + +<p>After every movement the parts should be well +sponged with cold water, and an ointment of galls +and opium, procured from the druggist, applied.</p> + +<p>If the parts become very much inflamed, warm +poultices or hot chamomile solutions should be +used, and the patient kept in bed until the inflammation +subsides.</p> + +<p>No attempt is to be made to effect the radical +cure of piles during pregnancy. Any such attempt, +besides being dangerous, is unnecessary, for the +piles usually disappear of their own accord after +the confinement. Every effort to make the sufferer +more comfortable in the manner we have suggested +is, however, right and safe.</p> + + +<h3>DIARRHŒA.</h3> + +<p>Some women always suffer from looseness of the +bowels during pregnancy; others are very liable to +attacks of it during this period, either coming on +without any assignable cause or easily excited by +any slight indiscretion in eating. In many instances +these attacks alternate with constipation or with +morning sickness.</p> + +<p>The diarrhœa, if at all severe or prolonged, should +not be allowed to go on unchecked, for it quickly +weakens the patient and predisposes her to abor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span>tion. +The fœtus is especially endangered when +the passages are attended with much bearing-down +pain. In some exceptional cases, however, a slight +diarrhœa seems to be beneficial, for every attempt +to remove it appears to do harm; but these instances +are very rare.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> required is a simple, and must be a +cautious one. Ordinarily no medicine will be needed. +If the patient will merely confine herself to milk +and arrowroot and rice for twenty-four hours a cure +will be effected in mild cases. When it is apparent +that the attack has been caused by improper food, +a table-spoonful of castor-oil or a tea-spoonful or two +of tincture of rhubarb will remove the offending +material in the bowels, upon the presence of which +the diarrhœa depends. A small injection of a tea-spoonful +of rice water and thirty or forty drops of +laudanum will often speedily arrest the excessive +discharges, and relieve the pain.</p> + + +<h3>CONSTIPATION.</h3> + +<p>No woman while pregnant should allow several +days to elapse without a movement from the bowels. +The symptoms of constipation, slight at the outset, +soon cause great inconvenience. Among the effects, +which, sooner or later, show themselves, may be +feverishness, sleeplessness, headache, distressing +dreams, sickness at the stomach, severe bearing-down +pains, and piles.</p> + +<p>Medicines are rarely required in the treatment of +constipation, and the pregnant woman should never +take an active purgative, excepting under medical +advice. Outdoor exercise and regularity in solicit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span>ing +nature's calls, together with a change in the +diet, will usually have the desired effect. Brown +bread, wheaten grits, oatmeal gruel, ripe fruits, +fresh vegetables, stewed prunes, or prunes soaked +in olive oil, baked apples, figs, tamarinds, honey, +and currant jelly, are all laxative articles which +should be tried.</p> + +<p>In some instances a tumbler of cold water drunk +the last thing at night, and another the first thing in +the morning, will act in a most satisfactory manner. +If the constipation should resist these safe and +homely remedies, which will rarely be found the +case, then medical assistance should be called in. +On no account should the wife herself, or in accordance +with the counsel of any non-medical friend, +resort to purgative drugs.</p> + + +<h3>COUGH.</h3> + +<p>A troublesome cough sometimes affects delicate, +nervous women during the early months of pregnancy. +If it be not very frequent nor severe, it +requires no attention, as it will pass away of itself +in a short time. When, however, it disturbs the +sleep at night, renders the patient anxious, and +causes headache and weariness, it is time to do +something for it. It may, indeed, be so violent as +to threaten abortion on account of the forcible concussion +of the abdomen it produces.</p> + +<p>A tea-spoonful of paregoric occasionally repeated +during the day will be found a most efficient soothing +remedy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>WAKEFULNESS.</h3> + +<p>Sleeplessness, always distressing, is particularly +so to pregnant women. If prolonged, it leads to +serious consequences. It should receive, therefore, +the most prompt attention.</p> + +<p>The <i>causes</i> of sleeplessness during pregnancy are +numerous. Dyspepsia is one of them. Whenever +indigestion is present the diet should be plain and +simple, and everything avoided which produces +heartburn, sourness, or flatulency. It is important +also not to take tea or coffee late in the afternoon +or evening—a late cup of either being a frequent +cause in itself of sleeplessness.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the reason for the wakefulness will be +found in a want of exercise or too constant confinement +to closely-heated rooms. Or, it may be that +exciting novels are read late in the evening. Perhaps +the evening meal is too heavy and taken too +late.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> of sleeplessness consists first, of +course in the removal of the apparent cause. The +patient should have a regular hour for retiring, +which should be an early one. The bed-room +should be quiet, well ventilated, and slightly warmed. +The bed coverings must not be too heavy nor the +pillows too high.</p> + +<p>A warm bath of the temperature of 90 to 96 +degrees Fahrenheit, taken just before going to bed, +often invites sleep. A rapid sponging of the body +with warm water may have the same effect. A +tumbler of cold water, when the skin is hot and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> +dry, swallowed at bed-time, sometimes affords relief. +If the bowels are constipated relief should be +sought in the manner we have just mentioned in +speaking of constipation.</p> + +<p>When there is nervous excitement at night, and +the means we have advised fail to propitiate +'nature's soft nurse,' there is a sedative medicine +which may be used with safety and effect—it is +bromide of potassium. The same proportion which +we have given for the treatment of morning sickness +(see page 355) may be now used. Have the +three-ounce mixture put up by the druggist, and +take a dessert-spoonful or a table-spoonful just before +bed-time. It frequently acts almost as if by magic. +On no account should recourse be had to opiates or +dangerous sedative drugs.</p> + + +<h3><a name="DISEASES_CHILDBED" id="DISEASES_CHILDBED"></a>DISEASES OF CHILDBED.</h3> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<p>Childbirth being a healthful physiological condition, +is usually neither attended nor followed by +mischievous results. Occasionally, however, the +mother suffers in consequence of the prolonged or +difficult character of her labor. The longer the +labor the greater the danger to both mother and +child. Thus childbirth pangs prolonged beyond +twenty-four or thirty-six hours are much more apt +to be attended with danger or followed by disease +than those terminated within a few hours.</p> + +<p>The following aphorisms were laid down by the +late distinguished Professor James Y. Simpson, +namely:—</p> + +<p>The mother is more liable to suffer under diseases +of the womb after long than after short labors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> +The child for some time after birth is more liable to +disease and death, in proportion as the labor has +been longer in its duration. First labors are longer +in duration than subsequent ones, and in a proportionate +degree more complicated and dangerous to +mother and child. Male births are longer in duration +than female births, and in a proportionate degree +more complicated and dangerous to mother +and child.</p> + +<p>Many tedious confinements, however, are happily +terminated without the slightest injury to mother +or child. Whenever the labor has been unusually +prolonged, unusual care and caution should be +exercised in the treatment of the mother and +infant for many weeks after the event.</p> + +<p>One of the most distressing affections to which +women are exposed from childbirth is</p> + + +<h3>PUERPERAL MANIA.</h3> + +<p>This is a variety of insanity which attacks some +women shortly after childbirth, or at the period of +weaning a child. The period of attack is uncertain, +as it may manifest itself first in a very few +days, or not for some months after the confinement. +Its duration is likewise very variable. In most +instances a few weeks restore the patient to herself; +but there are many cases where judicious treatment +for months is required, and there are a few where +the mental alienation is permanent, and the wife +and mother is never restored to her sanity.</p> + +<p>The question has been much discussed, Whether +such a condition is to be imputed to a hereditary +tendency to insanity in the family, and also whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> +a mother who has had such an attack is liable to +transmit to her children, male or female, any greater +liability to mental disease. We are well aware what +deep importance the answers to these inquiries have +to many a parent; and in forming our replies, we +are guided not only by our own experience, but by +the recorded opinion of those members of our profession +who have given the subject close and earnest +attention. To the first query, the reply must be +made that in one-half, or nearly one-half, of the +cases of this variety of insanity there is traceable a +hereditary tendency to aberration of mind. Usually +one or more of the direct progenitors, or of the near +relatives of the patient, will be found to have manifested +unmistakable marks of unsoundness of mind. +In the remaining one-half cases no such tendency +can be traced, and in these it must be presumed +that the mania is a purely local and temporary disorder +of the brain. The incurable cases are usually +found in the first class of patients, as we might +naturally expect.</p> + +<p>The likelihood of the children, in turn, inheriting +any such predisposition, depends on the answer to +the inquiry we first put. If the mania itself is the +appearance of a family malady, then the chances +are that it will pass downward with other transmissible +qualities. But if the mania arise from +causes which are transitory, then there is no ground +for alarm.</p> + +<p>An inquiry still more frequently put to the physician +by the husband and by the patient herself +after recovery, is, Whether an attack at one confinement +predisposes her to a similar attack at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span> +a subsequent similar period. There is considerable +divergence of opinion on this point. Dr. +Gooch, an English physician of wide experience, is +very strenuous in denying any such increased likelihood, +while an American obstetrician of note is +quite as positive in taking the opposite view. The +truth of the matter undoubtedly is, that where the +mania is the exhibition of hereditary tendency, it is +apt to recur; but where it arises from transient +causes, then it will only occur again if such causes +exist.</p> + + +<h3>THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION.</h3> + +<p>Here, therefore, we perceive the importance of +every woman, who has had, or who fears to have, +one of these distressing experiences, being put on +her guard against disregarding those rules of health +the neglect of which may result so disastrously. +One of the most powerful of these causes is <i>exhaustion.</i> +We mean this in its widest sense, mental or +physical. In those instances where mania appears +at weaning, it is invariably where the child has been +nursed too long, or where the mother has not had +sufficient strength to nourish it without prostrating +herself. It should be observed as a hygienic law, +that no mother should nurse her children after she +has had one attack of mania. The mere nervous +excitement is altogether too much for her. She +must once and for ever renounce this tender pleasure. +We even go so far as to recommend that no +woman in whose family a mental taint is hereditary +shall nurse her children.</p> + +<p>Anxiety, low spirits, unusual weakness from any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span> +cause, are powerful predisposing causes; and therefore +in all cases, especially in those where the family +or personal history leads one to fear such an attack, +they should be avoided. The diet should be nourishing +and abundant, but not stimulating. Cheerful +society and surroundings should be courted, and indulgences +in any single train of ideas avoided. As +for directions during the attack, they are unnecessary, +as to combat it successfully often tasks the +utmost skill of the physician; and it will be for him +to give these directions.</p> + + +<h3>WHITE-FLOWING.</h3> + +<p>This affection, though not confined to married +women, is quite common during pregnancy and +after confinement. There are few married women +who pass through their lives without at some time +or other having suffered from it.</p> + +<p>We will consider first that <i>form of white discharge +which affects pregnant women.</i> It ordinarily +comes on during the latter half of pregnancy. +Not only does it occasion much inconvenience, but +it may, when copious, seriously weaken the system +and impair the health.</p> + +<p>The best treatment consists in a regulated, but +supporting, diet without stimulants, the avoidance +of all marital relations, plenty of rest in bed or on +a sofa, a warm hip bath every morning, and the use +of injections. One of the best injections for this +purpose is made by adding a table-spoonful of lead-water +to a pint of water, and injecting the whole +twice a day, by means of a rubber, hard-ball +syringe. As this solution will stain the body-linen,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span> +due precautions should be taken. Instead of this +injection, a small tea-spoonful of alum dissolved in a +pint of water and injected once a day may be used.</p> + +<p>We will now say a few words upon the <i>form of +white-flowing which affects women after childbirth.</i> +It is a common result of too frequent confinements +or of successive abortions. In women of a tendency +to consumption it has been observed that white-flowing +is more apt to arise in connection with +child-bearing. Prolonged nursing, resulting in great +debility of the mother, often produces very profuse +white discharges.</p> + +<p>In warm countries this affection is much more +frequent than elsewhere. Moist and damp climates +are said also to render women particularly prone +to it.</p> + +<p>The <i>treatment</i> must have regard to the general +health of the patient. The mode of life must be +regulated. A change of scene, if it can be procured, +is often of the greatest benefit. Baths are +also very useful. They may be taken in the form +of a 'sponge bath,' or 'hip bath.' If the former be +preferred, the patient should every morning, in a +warm room, sponge the whole body, at first with +tepid water and, after a time, with cold, the skin +being well dried and rubbed with a coarse towel. +The hip-bath may be employed either of simple, or +of salt, or of medicated water. It should be at +first warm, and afterwards cold. The skin is to be +well rubbed after the hip as after the sponge-bath. +The hip-bath may be medicated with three or four +table-spoonfuls of alum, or with a quarter of a pound +of common household soda.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span></p> + +<p>In connection with this treatment, injections +should be employed in the manner just directed for +the white-flowing of pregnancy.</p> + + +<h3>MILK-LEG.</h3> + +<p>This affection usually appears about ten days or +two weeks after confinement. The first symptoms +which show themselves are general uneasiness, +chills, headache, and a quickened pulse. Then +pains in the groin, extending down the thigh and +leg of that side are complained of. Soon the whole +limb becomes enlarged, hot, white, and shining. +Feverishness and sleeplessness now naturally show +themselves.</p> + +<p>The disease rarely lasts more than two or three +weeks, although the limb remains stiff, perhaps, for +a number of weeks longer. It is painful, but not +dangerous—rarely proving fatal.</p> + +<p>When one leg is recovering, the disease sometimes +attacks the other, and runs through the same +course.</p> + +<p>The treatment consists in enveloping the limb +in turpentine stupes, followed by the application of +poultices to the groin and a light diet at first. So +soon as the severity of the attack is over, tonics +and a generous diet should be given. The limb is +then to be painted with tincture of iodine, or rather +a mixture of one part of the tincture of iodine with +two parts of alcohol, and afterwards wrapped in a +flannel bandage.</p> + +<p>The term 'milk-leg' has been applied to this +inflammation, for such it is, from the notion that in +some way the milk was diverted from the breasts<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span> +to the limb causing the white swelling. It is +scarcely necessary to say this theory is entirely +erroneous.</p> + + +<h3>INWARD WEAKNESS.</h3> + +<p>Many, we may say most, married women whose +health is broken down by some disease peculiar to +their sex, refer the commencement of their suffering +to some confinement or premature birth. Perhaps, +in four cases out of five, this breaking down +is one of the symptoms of a displacement of the +internal organs,—a malposition, in other words, of +the uterus. This is familiarly known as an 'inward +weakness;' and many a woman drags through years +of misery caused by a trouble of this sort.</p> + +<p>It is true that these malpositions occur in unmarried +women, and occasionally in young girls. +But it is also true that their most frequent causes +are associated with the condition of maternity. The +relaxation of the ligaments or bands which hold the +uterus in its place, which takes place during pregnancy +and parturition, predisposes to such troubles. +It requires time and care for these ligaments to +resume their natural strength and elasticity after +childbirth. Then, too, the walls of the abdomen +are one of the supports provided by nature to keep +all the organs they contain in proper place by a +constant elastic pressure. When, as in pregnancy, +these walls are distended and put on the strain, +suddenly to be relaxed after confinement, the +organs miss their support, and are liable to take +positions which interfere with the performance of +their natural functions. Therefore we may rightly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span> +place the greater tendency of married women to this +class of diseases among the perils of maternity.</p> + +<p>Within the last fifteen years, probably no one +branch of medical science has received greater attention +at the hands of physicians than this of +diseases of women. Many hitherto inexplicable +cases of disease, much suffering referred to other +parts of the system, have been traced to local misfortunes +of the character we have just described. +Medical works are replete with cases of the highest +interest illustrative of this. We are afraid to state +some of the estimates which have been given of the +number of women in this country who suffer from +these maladies; nor do we intend to give in detail +the long train of symptoms which characterize +them. Such a sad rehearsal would avail little or +nothing to the non-medical reader. It is enough +to say, that the woman who finds herself afflicted +by manifold aches and pains, without obvious +cause; who suffers with her head and her stomach +and her nerves; who discovers that, in spite of the +precepts of religion and the efforts of will, she is +becoming irritable, impatient, dissatisfied with her +friends, her family, and herself; who is, in short, +unable any longer to perceive anything of beauty +and of pleasure in this world, and hardly anything +to hope for in the next,—this woman, in all probability, +is suffering from a displacement or an +ulceration of the uterus. Let this be relieved, and +her sufferings are ended. Often a very simple procedure +can do this. We recall to mind a case +described in touching language by a distinguished +teacher of medicine. It is of an interesting young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span> +married lady, who came from the Southern States +to consult him on her condition. She could not +walk across the room without support, and was +forced to wear, at great inconvenience to herself, +an abdominal supporter. Her mind was confused, +and she was the victim of apparently causeless +unpleasant sensations. She was convinced that +she had been, and still was, deranged.</p> + +<p>The physician could discover nothing wrong +about her system other than a slight falling of the +womb. This was easily relieved. She at once improved +in body and mind, soon was able to walk +with ease and freedom, and once more enjoyed the +pleasure of life. In a letter written soon after her +return home, she said, 'This beautiful world, which +at one time I could not look upon without disgust, +has become once more a source of delight.' How +strongly do these deeply felt words reveal the difference +between her two conditions!</p> + +<p>There is one source of great comfort in considering +these afflictions. It is, that they are in the great +majority of cases traceable to</p> + + +<h3>CAUSES WHICH ARE AVOIDABLE.</h3> + +<p>Most of them are the penalties inflicted by stern +nature on infractions of her laws. Hence the great, +the unspeakable, importance of women being made +aware of the dangers to which they are exposed, +and being fully informed how to avoid them. This +task we now assume.</p> + +<p>There is, we concede, a tendency in the changes +which take place during pregnancy and parturition +to expose the system to such accidents. But this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span> +tendency can be counteracted by care, and by the +avoidance of certain notorious and familiar infractions +of the laws of health. It is usually not until +she gets up and commences to go about the house, +that the woman feels any pain referable to a displaced +womb. Very frequently the origin of it is +leaving the bed too soon, or attempting to do some +work, too much for her strength, shortly after a +premature birth or a confinement. Not only should +a woman keep her bed, as a rule, for nineteen days +after every abortion and every confinement, but for +weeks after she commences to move about she +should avoid any severe muscular exertion, especially +lifting, long walks, straining, or working on +the sewing-machine. Straining at stool is one of +the commonest causes. Many women have a tendency +to constipation for weeks or months after +childbirth. They are aware that it is unfavorable +to health, and they seek to aid nature by violent +muscular effort. They cannot possibly do a more +unwise act. Necessarily the efforts they make +press the womb forcibly down, and its ligaments being +relaxed, it assumes either suddenly on some one +well-remembered occasion, or gradually after a succession +of efforts, some unnatural position. The same +reasoning applies to relieving the bladder, which is +connected in some persons with undue effort.</p> + +<p>Constipation, if present, must, and almost always +can, be relieved by a judicious diet, and the moderate +use of injections. These simple methods are +much to be preferred to purgative medicines, which +are rarely satisfactory if they are continued for +much time. When anything more is needed, we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span> +recommend a glass of some laxative mineral water, +which should be taken before breakfast.</p> + +<p>For the difficulty with the bladder we mentioned, +diet is also efficacious. It is familiarly known that +several popular articles of food have a decided action +in stimulating the kidneys: for instance, asparagus +and water-melon. Such articles should be freely +partaken, and their effect can be increased by some +vegetable infusion, taken warm,—as juniper-tea or +broom-tea. The application to the parts of a cloth +wrung out in water as hot as it can conveniently be +borne, is also a most excellent assistant to nature.</p> + +<p>Similar strains on the muscles of the abdomen +are consequent on violent coughing and vomiting. +Therefore these should be alleviated, as they always +can be, by some anodyne taken internally. Any +medical man is familiar with many such preparations, +so that it seems unnecessary to give any formula, +particularly as it would have to be altered, +more or less, to suit any given case.</p> + + +<h3>OTHER CAUSES OF INWARD WEAKNESS.</h3> + +<p>Women of languid disposition and relaxed muscles +are frequently urged to 'take exercise,' and to +'go to work.' Their condition sometimes excites +censure rather than commiseration, because it is +thought that they do not exert, and thus strengthen, +themselves as much as they should. We are quite +as much in favour of work and vigorous muscles as +any one. But often it were the most foolish advice +possible to give a woman, to tell her to seek active +exercise. It is just what she should avoid, as it +may ultimately give rise to that very trouble which,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span> +now only threatening, is the cause of her listlessness. +Many instances are familiar to every physician +of extensive experience, where a long walk, +a hard day's work, a vigorous dance in the evening, +or a horseback ride, has left behind it a uterine +weakness which has caused years of misery. Especially +after confinement or premature delivery it is +prudent for a woman to avoid any such exertion +for months and months. Moderate employment +of her muscles in any light avocation, short walks +and drives, fresh air, with judicious exercise,—these +are well enough in every instance, but beyond them +there is danger. We know too well that advice +like this will sound like mockery to some who read +these lines. They have to work, and work hard; +they have no opportunity to spare themselves; the +iron hand of necessity is upon them, and they must +obey. We can but sympathize with them, and +cheer them with the consolation that many a woman +has borne all this and lived to a healthy and happy +old age. Nature has surrounded the infinitely +delicate machinery of woman's organization with a +thousand safeguards, but for all that, the delicacy +remains; and it is because so many women are +forced to neglect their duties to their ownselves, +that so many thousands walk the streets of our +great cities, living martyrs.</p> + +<p>But no. We must modify what we have just +written. In justice to our own sex, and in all truthfulness, +we cannot allow the blame to be removed +altogether from women themselves. They alone +are responsible for one of the most fruitful causes of +their wretchedness. The theme is a threadbare one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> +We approach it without hardly any hope that we +shall do good by repeated warnings utterly monotonous +and tiresome. But still less can we feel comfortable +in mind to pass it over in silence. We refer +to the foolish and injurious pressure which is +exerted on the lower part of the chest and the abdomen +by tight corsets, belts, and bands to support +the under-clothing; in other words,</p> + + +<h3>TIGHT LACING.</h3> + +<p>Why it is, by what strange freak of fashion and +blindness to artistic rules, women of the present day +think that a deformed and ill-proportioned waist is +a requisite of beauty, we do not know. Certainly +they never derived such an idea from a contemplation +of those monuments of perfect beauty bequeathed +to posterity by the chisels of Attic artists, +nor from those exquisite figures which lend to the +canvas of Titian and Raphael such immortal fame. +Look, for instance, at that work of the former +artist, now rendered so familiar by the chromo-lithographic +process, called 'Titian's Daughter.' It is +the portrait of a blonde-haired maiden holding aloft +a trencher heaped with fruits. She turns her face +to the beholder, leaning slightly backward to keep +her equilibrium. Her waist is encircled by a zone +of pearls; and it is this waist we would have our +readers observe with something more than an +æsthetic eye. It is the waist of health as well as +beauty. Narrower than either the shoulders or the +hips, it is yet anything than that 'wasplike waist,' +which is so fashionable a deformity. With such a +waist, a woman is fitted to pass through her mar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span>ried +state with health and pleasure. There is little +fear that she will be the tenant of doctors' chairs, +and the victim of drugs and instruments. Let +women aim at beauty, let them regard it as a matter +of very high importance, worth money and time +and trouble, and we will applaud them to the echo. +But let them not mistake deformity, vicious shape, +unnatural and injurious attitudes, and hurtful distortions +for beauty. That not only degrades their +physical nature, but it lowers their tastes, and places +them in æsthetics on a level with the Indian squaw +who flattens her head and bores her nose, and with +the Chinese woman who gilds her teeth, and compresses +her foot into a shapeless mass. True beauty +is ever synonymous with health; and the woman +who, out of subservience to the demands of fashion, +for years squeezes her waist and flattens her breast, +will live to rue it when she becomes a mother. +Away, then, with tight corsets and all similar contrivances.</p> + +<p>Of a similar objectionable character are many of +the devices which ignorant men connected with the +medical profession urge upon the public for the sake +of remedying curvature of the spine, restoring the +figure, or supporting the abdomen. Not a few of +such braces and supporters are seriously dangerous. +A good brace, well-fitting, carefully adjusted, suited +to the particular case, is often of excellent service; +but the majority of them do not answer this description. +Our advice is, that no girl, and still more +no mother, should wear one of these without it is +fitted upon her by an experienced hand. We have +known more than one instance where the binder put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span> +on after childbirth has been wrongly placed, and +pinned so firmly that it has resulted in producing +falling of the womb. This, too, should be sedulously +looked after.</p> + +<p>All these are causes which are strictly under the +control of the woman herself. They are therefore +such as she should have in mind and be on her +guard against. There are others, but they are less +frequent, which are beyond her power; and it +would be labor lost, therefore, for us to mention +them.</p> + +<p>Equally vain would it be for us to speak of the +various means by which difficulties of this nature +are removed. Probably no one branch of medical +surgery has been more assiduously cultivated than +this; and the number of supporters, pessaries, +braces, and levers which have been recently brought +before the medical profession for this purpose is +simply appalling. There are women and men who +make it their business to carry them through the +country and sell them on commission. We distinctly +warn our readers against this class. They +are almost invariably ignorant and unscrupulous, +rich in promises, and regardless of performances. +She who patronizes them will be sure to lose her +money, and will be lucky if she does not forfeit her +health also.</p> + +<p>The most we shall do is to give some advice how +to treat such complaints on principles of hygiene. +And indeed this means nearly one-half the battle. +For without these simple cares, treatment of any +kind is useless, and sure to fail; and with them, +many complaints are remedied as well as avoided.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>THE HYGIENIC TREATMENT OF INWARD WEAKNESS.</h3> + +<p>The first point we would urge is, that the woman +who finds herself thus afflicted should seek to have +such a position that she can <i>rest.</i> If she is burdened +with family cares, let her, if possible, diminish +or escape them for a time. A rest of a month +or two, not at a fashionable watering-place, nor at a +first-class hotel in some noisy city, but in quiet +lodgings, or with some sympathizing friend, will be +of great advantage. This she should obtain without +travelling too far. Prolonged motion in railway +carriages is in every instance injurious. If it must +be undertaken, for instance, in order to consult a +qualified physician or to reach some friends, the +modern appliances of comfort, such as air-cushions, +foot-rests, and head-supports, should be provided. +They cost but little, and to the invalid their value +is great. No such journey should be undertaken +at or near the time when the monthly illness might +come on, as the suffering is always greater at these +periods.</p> + +<p>The pleasant associations which group themselves +around a <i>happy home</i> are an important element in +the treatment of diseases which, like these, are so +intimately connected with the mind and nervous +system. It will not do heedlessly to throw such +advantages away. When the home <i>is</i> pleasant, and +rest can there be had, the patient, in the majority +of instances, will do well to abide there. But when +this is not the case, for any reason, be it domestic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span> +infelicities, in which the husband has a share,—be +it disagreeable relatives, or importunate and tedious +visitors,—then the sooner such a mental weight is +removed or avoided the better.</p> + +<p>The <i>diet</i> is a very common subject of error. It +is popularly supposed that everybody who is weak +should eat a 'strengthening' diet,—meat three times +a day,—eggs, ale, and beef-tea to any extent. This +is a great error. Frequently such a diet has just +the contrary effect from what is expected. The +patient becomes dyspeptic, nervous, and more debilitated +than ever. The rule is, that only that diet +is strengthening which is thoroughly digested, and +taken up in the system. Frequently, we may say +in the majority of cases, a small amount of animal +food, especially game, fowls, fish, and soups, with +fresh vegetables, and ripe fruits, will be far more +invigorating than heavier foods. Pastry, cakes, and +confectionery should be discarded, and great regularity +in the hours of meals observed. Stimulants +of all kinds are, as a rule, unnecessary, and highly +spiced food is to be avoided. There is an old German +proverb which says, 'Pepper helps a man on +his horse, and a woman to her grave.' This is much +too strong; but we may avail ourselves, in this +connection, of the grain of truth that it contains.</p> + +<p><i>Cleanliness</i>, in its widest sense, is an important +element in the treatment. Not only should the +whole surface of the body be thoroughly washed +several times a week, but the whole person should +be <i>soaked</i> by remaining in the water for an hour +or more. This has an excellent effect, and is far +from unpleasant. It was regarded in the days of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span> +ancient Rome as such a delightful luxury, and such +a necessity, indeed, that every municipality erected +public bathing establishments, with furnaces to heat +the water to such a temperature that persons could +remain in it for several hours without inconvenience.</p> + +<p>The use of public baths is almost unknown in +this country; but, in place of them, every modern +house of even moderate pretensions has its own +bath-room, so that the custom of cleanliness might +appear to be hardly less general among all classes +than in old Rome.</p> + +<p>The difficulty is, that so few people appreciate +that to thoroughly cleanse the skin, still more for +the bath to have a medicinal effect, it must be prolonged +far beyond the usual time we allow it. The +European physicians, who, as a rule, attach much +greater importance to this than ourselves, require +their patients to remain immersed two, three, four, +and occasionally even ten or twelve hours daily! +This is said to have most beneficial results; but +who would attempt to introduce it in this country?</p> + +<p>Local cleanliness is of equal importance. This +is obtained by means of——</p> + + +<h3>INJECTIONS AND IRRIGATIONS</h3> + +<p>of simple water, or of some infusion or solution. +The use of the syringe as an article of essential +service in preserving the health of married women +should never be overlooked. Even when they are +aware of no tendency to weakness or unusual discharge, +it should be employed once or twice a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> +week; and when there is debility or disease of the +parts actually present, it is often of the greatest +service.</p> + +<p>There are many varieties of female syringes now +manufactured and sold, some of which are quite +worthless. Much the most convenient, cleanly, and +efficient is the self-injecting india-rubber syringe, +which is worked by means of a ball held in the +hand, and which throws a constant and powerful +stream. They come neatly packed in boxes, occupying +small space, and readily transported from +place to place. Much depends on knowing how to +apply them. The patient should be seated on the +edge of a low chair or stool with a hard seat, immediately +over a basin. The tube should then be +introduced as far as possible without causing pain, +and the liquid should be thrown up for five or ten +minutes. About one or two quarts may be used +of a temperature, in ordinary cases, a little lower +than that of the apartment. Water actually cold +is by no means to be recommended, in spite of +what some physicians say to the contrary. It unquestionably +occasionally leads to those very evils +which the judicious use of the syringe is intended +to avoid.</p> + +<p>No fluid but water should be used in ordinary +cases. When, however, there is much discharge, a +pinch of powdered alum can be dissolved in the +water; and when there is an unpleasant odor +present, a sufficient amount of solution of permanganate +of potash may be added to the water, to +change it to a light pink color. This latter substance +is most admirable in removing all unpleasant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span> +odors; but it will stain the clothing, and must on +that account be employed with caution.</p> + +<p>We will add a few warnings to what we have +just said about injections. There are times when +they should be omitted,—as for instance during the +periodical illness, when the body is either chilled +or heated, and generally when their administration +gives pain. There are also some women in whom +the mouth of the womb remains open, especially +those who have borne many children. In such cases, +the liquid used is liable to be thrown into the womb +itself, and may give rise to serious troubles. These +should either omit the use of the syringe altogether, +or obtain one of those which throw the water backward +and not forward. This variety is manufactured +and sold by various dealers.</p> + +<p><i>Irrigations</i> are more convenient in some respects +than injections. They are administered in the following +manner:—A jar holding about a gallon of +water, simple or medicated, as may be advisable, +is placed upon a table or high stand. A long india-rubber +tube is attached to the bottom of the jar, +ending in a metallic tube, and furnished with a +stopcock. The patient seats herself on the edge of +a chair over a basin, introduces the tube, and turns +the stopcock. The liquid is thus thrown up in a +gentle, equable stream, without any exertion on +her part. No assistant is required, and the force +and amount of the liquid can be exactly graduated +by elevating or lowering the jar, or by turning the +stopcock. When there is much debility, or when +it is desirable to apply the liquid for a long time, +this method is much preferable to syringing. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> +necessary apparatus can readily be obtained in any +large city. It has, however, the drawback that +the jar is large, and not convenient to carry on +journeys.</p> + +<p>We shall close this chapter on Health in Marriage +by a few words on some of the <i>ailments to +which mothers are subject while nursing.</i></p> + + +<h3>GATHERED BREASTS.</h3> + +<p>Gathering of the breasts may occur at any time +during the period of nursing, but it is most frequently +met with within the first three months after +childbirth, and is more common after the first than +after subsequent confinements. All women are +more or less liable to it, but those who are weakly, +and particularly those who are scrofulous, are most +prone to its attacks.</p> + +<p>The <i>causes</i> of inflammation of the breast are +numerous. It may be created by a blow or fall, by +a cold, by mental excitement, by indiscretions in +eating or drinking, and by moving the arms too +much when the breasts are enlarged, but its most +common cause is undue accumulation of milk in +the breasts. Dr. Bedford is of the opinion that in +nineteen cases out of twenty it is the result of carelessness—of +neglect in not having the breasts properly +drawn. 'For example, the child may be +delicate, and not able to extract the milk; or the +nurse, in the gratification of some ancient prejudice +derived from a remote ancestry, does not think it +proper to allow the infant to be put to the breast +for two or three days after its birth. In this way, +the milk ducts become greatly distended, inflamma<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span>tion +ensues, which, if not promptly arrested, terminates +in suppuration.'</p> + +<p>Often the love of pleasure brings with it this +punishment to the nursing mother who neglects her +maternal duties. During an evening spent in society +or at the theatre the breasts cannot be relieved in +the manner required for the preservation of their +health.</p> + +<p>Soreness of the nipples, which renders suckling +painful, often leads the mother to avoid putting the +child to the breast as often as she should. It is +only when forced by the pain in the over-distended +parts that she can summon courage to permit of +their being emptied. This partial and irregular +nursing is very dangerous, and cannot fail, in most +cases, to lead to the very painful affection of which +we are now speaking.</p> + +<p>No nursing mother is safe whose breasts are not +properly and daily emptied. If this cannot be +done by the child, another infant should be applied, +or a small puppy, either of which expedients is +preferable to a breast-pump, which, however, is +much better than neither. If the tender or chapped +condition of the nipples interferes with free nursing, +this condition must be promptly remedied. When +undue accumulation of milk is threatened gentle +friction of the breasts with sweet oil and camphor +is also of service; and they should be supported by +means of a handkerchief placed under them and +tied over the shoulders.</p> + +<p>It must not be forgotten, however, that though +<i>gentle</i> rubbing afford relief to the breasts when they +are hard, knotty, and over-distended, any friction is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span> +injurious if gathering has actually commenced. In +all cases, therefore, it is of importance to distinguish +between over-distension (which may <i>lead</i> to inflammation) +and a condition of already established +gathering of the breasts. This it is not difficult to +do. In the former case the skin is pale, there is +little or no tenderness, and the hardness is evenly +diffused over the whole of the breast; whereas, +when gathering has taken place there is a blush of +redness on some portion of the breast, which is +always painful to the touch, and which will be found +to be particularly hard and sore in some one spot.</p> + +<p>The <i>symptoms</i> of gathered breasts we have just +described in part. The severity of the symptoms +will depend upon the extent and depth of the +inflammation. The affection is always ushered in +by shivering, followed by fever and a shooting pain +in the breasts. A small, hard, painful swelling will +be noticed in the breast even before the skin shows +any sign of redness. This swelling increases in +size and the suffering becomes very great and difficult +to bear, preventing sleep and prostrating the +whole system. The secretion of milk is suspended +at least during the first active stage of the disease.</p> + +<p>The object of <i>treatment</i> is to prevent the formation +of an abscess by subduing the inflammation as +speedily as possible. This is to be sought first by +keeping the breast as nearly empty as possible. +For this reason the child should be assiduously applied +to the affected rather than to the well side, +although suckling will be painful. Indeed, it is +better, if it can be done, to procure an older child +and let it keep the milk under. When, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> +the inflammation is fully established, the pain will +compel the restriction of the child to the well side. +The application of warmth is both grateful to the +part and beneficial. This may be done by means +of poultices or fomentations, or by immersing a +wooden bowl in hot water and putting the breast, +wrapped in flannel, within it. This latter means +will be found an easy and agreeable one of keeping +up the application of dry heat. The bowels should +be briskly purged by a dose of citrate of magnesia +or cream of tartar. The diet must be mild, and +the breasts supported in a sling. If, in spite of all +these efforts, an abscess actually forms, the attending +physician will doubtless advise its immediate +opening, to which advice the patient should accede, +as that is the course which will afford her quicker +and more effectual relief than she can hope for from +nature's unaided efforts at effecting a discharge of +the pent-up matter.</p> + +<p>It is interesting for the mother to know that if +her child be still-born, or if unfortunately she be +unable from any of the reasons mentioned in our +chapter on Hindrances to Nursing to give the +breast at all to her child, she is not liable to gathering +on this account. This is contrary to what might +be expected. It is not the mother who is unable +to nurse at all who suffers, but she who does so in +an unsatisfactory manner and who fails to have her +breasts properly emptied.</p> + +<p>The first milk which makes its appearance in the +breast towards recovery from inflammation is likely +to be stringy and thick, and should, therefore, be +rejected before nursing is resumed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SINGLE_LIFE" id="THE_SINGLE_LIFE"></a>THE SINGLE LIFE.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<a name="ADVANTAGES" id="ADVANTAGES"></a> + +<p>A few words, ere we pass to another branch of +our subject, on the physical relations of her +who by choice or other reasons never marries. It is +a common observation among physicians who have +devoted themselves to the study of woman's physical +nature, that, in spite of those perils of maternity +which we have taken no pains to conceal, the +health of single women during the child-bearing +period is, as a general rule, not better, not even so +good, as that of their married sisters. Those insurance +companies who take female risks, do not ask +any higher premium for the married than the unmarried.</p> + +<p>Various suggestions have been made to account +for this unexpected fact. Some writers have pointed +out that in many diseases marriage exerts a +decidedly curative influence, especially in chronic +nervous ailments. Chorea, for instance, or St. +Vitus's dance, as it is popularly termed, has been +repeatedly cured by marriage. As a rule, painful +menstruation, which always arises from some defect +or disease of the ovaries or adjacent organs, is improved, +and often completely removed, by the same +act. There are, as is well known, a whole series of +emotional disorders,—hysteria, and various kinds of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> +mania and hallucination,—which are almost exclusively +confined to single persons, and only occur in +the married under exceptional circumstances. An +instance has lately been detailed in the medical +journals by a Prussian physician, of a case of undoubted +hereditary insanity which was greatly +benefited—indeed temporarily cured—by a fortunate +nuptial relation. Few who have watched a +large circle of lady acquaintances but will have observed +that many of them increased in flesh and +improved in health when they had been married +some months. An English writer of distinction +accounts for these favourable results in a peculiar +manner. Success, he says, is always a tonic, and +the best of tonics. Now, to women, marriage is a +success. It is their aim in social life; and this accomplished, +health and strength follow. We are +not quite ready to subscribe to such a sweeping +assertion, but no doubt it is applicable in a limited +number of cases. Our own opinion is, that nature +gave to each sex certain functions, and that the +whole system is in better health when all parts and +powers fulfil their destiny.</p> + +<p>Common proverbs portray the character of the +spinster as peevish, selfish, given to queer fancies, +and unpleasant eccentricities. In many a case we +are glad to say this is untrue. Instances of noble +devotion, broad and generous sympathy, and distinguished +self-sacrifice, are by no means rare in single +women. But take the whole class, the popular +opinion, as it often is, must be granted to be correct. +Deprived of the natural objects of interest, the sentiments +are apt to fix themselves on parrots and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> +poodles, or to be confined within the breast, and +wither for want of nourishment. Too often the +history of those sisterhoods who assume vows of +singleness in the interest of religion, presents to +the physician the sad spectacle of prolonged nervous +maladies, and to the Christian that of a sickly +sensibility.</p> + +<p>In this connection we may answer a question +not unfrequently put to the medical attendant. +Are those women who marry late in their sexual +life more apt to bear living children than the +married of the same age; and are they more +likely to prolong their child-bearing period by their +deferred nuptials? To both these inquiries we +answer No. On the contrary, the woman who +marries a few years only before her change of life, +is almost sure to have no children who will survive. +She is decidedly less apt to have any than the +woman of the same age who married young. If, +therefore, love of children and a desire for offspring +form, as they rightly should, one of the inducements +to marry, let not the act be postponed too +long, or it will probably fail of any such result.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CHANGE_OF_LIFE" id="THE_CHANGE_OF_LIFE"></a>THE CHANGE OF LIFE.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<p>After a certain number of years, woman lays +aside those functions with which she had +been endowed for the perpetuation of the species, +and resumes once more that exclusively individual +life which had been hers when a child. The evening +of her days approaches; and if she has observed +the precepts of wisdom, she may look forward to a +long and placid period of rest, blessed with health,—honored, +yes, loved with a purer flame than +any which she inspired in the bloom of youth and +beauty. Those who are familiar with the delightful +memoirs of Madame Swetchine or Madame Recamier +will not dispute even so bold an assertion +as this.</p> + +<p>But ere this haven of rest is reached, there is a +crisis to pass which is ever the subject of anxious +solicitude. Unscientific people, in their vivid language, +call it <i>the change of life</i>; physicians know it +as the <i>menopause</i>—the period of the cessation of +the monthly flow. It is the epoch when the ovaries +cease producing any more ova, and the woman +becomes therefore incapable of bearing any more +children.</p> + +<p>The age at which it occurs is very variable. In +this country from forty-five to fifty is the most com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span>mon. +Instances are not at all unusual when it does +not appear until the half century has been turned; +and we have known instances where women past +sixty still continued to have their periodical illnesses.</p> + +<p>Examples of very early cessation are more rare. +We do not remember to have met any, in our experience, +earlier than thirty years, but others have +observed healthy women as young as twenty-eight +in whom the flow had ceased.</p> + +<p>The physical change which is most apparent at +this time is the tendency to grow stout. The fat +increases as the power of reproduction decreases. +And here a curious observation comes in. We +have said that when the girl changes to a woman, +a similar deposit of fat takes place (though less in +amount), which commences at the loins. This is +the first sign of puberty. In the change of life the +first sign is visible at the lower part of the back of +the neck, on a level with the bones known as the +two lowest cervical vertebræ. Here commences +an accumulation of fat, which often grows to form +two distinct prominences, and is an infallible index +of the period of a woman's life.</p> + +<p>The breasts do not partake of this increase, but +become flat and hard, the substance of the gland +losing its spongy structure. The legs and arms +lose their roundness of outline, and, where they do +not grow fat, dry up, and resemble those of the +other sex. The abdomen enlarges, even to the +extent occasionally of leading the wife to believe +that she is to be a mother,—a delusion sometimes +strengthened by the absence of the monthly sick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span>ness. +Finally, a perceptible tendency to a beard +at times manifests itself, the voice grows harder, +and the characteristics of the female sex become +less and less distinct.</p> + +<p>Some who are more fortunate than their neighbours +do not experience the least discomfort at the +change of life. They simply note that at the expected +time the illness does not appear, and for +ever after they are free from it. These are the +exceptions. More commonly, marked alterations +in the health accompany this important crisis, and +call for sedulous hygienic care. It is gratifying to +know that nearly all these threatening affections +can be avoided by such care, as they depend upon +causes under the control of the individual. Another +fact, to which we have already referred, is full of +consolation. It is an unexpected fact—one that +we should hardly credit, did it not rest on statistical +evidence of the most indisputable character. +The popular opinion, every one knows, is, that the +period of the change of life is one peculiarly dangerous +to women. If this is so, we might expect +that, if the number of deaths between the ages of +forty and fifty years in the two sexes be compared, +we should find that those of females far exceed +those of males. This is, however, not the case. +On the contrary, the deaths of the males exceed in +number those of the females.</p> + +<p>Hasty readers may draw a false conclusion from +this statement. They may at once infer that the +change of life merits little or no attention, if it thus +in nowise increases the bills of mortality. This +would be a serious error. All intelligent physicians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> +know that there are in very many cases a most +unpleasant train of symptoms which characterize +this epoch in the physical life of woman. They +are alarming, painful, often entailing sad consequences, +though rarely fatal. All physicians are, +however, not intelligent; and there are too many +who are inclined to ridicule such complaints, to +impute them to fancy, and to think that they have +done their full duty when they tell the sufferer that +such sensations are merely indicative of her age, +and that in a year or two they will all pass away. +Such medical attendants do not appreciate the +gravity of the sufferings they have been called to +relieve. Says a distinguished writer on the subject, +after entering into some details in the matter: 'I +would not dwell on things apparently so trivial as +these, had I not seen some of the worst misery +this world witnesses induced thereby.' Such a +conviction should be in the mind of the physician, +and lead him to attach their full weight to the +vague, transitory, unstable, but most distressing +symptoms described to him.</p> + + +<h3>SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS.</h3> + +<p>We shall speak of the various signs and symptoms +which occur at and mark the change; and in +commencing so to do, we call attention to an interesting +illustration of the rhythm which controls +the laws of life. As in old age, when we draw +near the last scene of all, we re-enter childhood, +and grow into second infancy, so the woman, +finishing her pilgrimage of sexual life, encounters +the same landmarks and stations which greeted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span> +her when she first set out. She obeys at eve the +voice of her own nature which she obeyed at prime. +The same diseases and disorders, the same nervous +and mental sensations, the same pains and weaknesses +which preceded the first appearance of her +monthly illness, will in all probability precede its +cessation. Even those affections of the skin or of +the brain, as epilepsy, which were suffered in childhood, +and which disappeared as soon as the periodical +function was established, may be expected +to reappear when the function has reached its +natural termination. Therefore if a woman past +the change notices that she suffers from bleeding +at the nose, headache, boils, or some skin disease, +let her bethink herself whether it is not a repetition +of some similar trouble with which she was plagued +before the eventful period which metamorphosed +her from a girl into a woman.</p> + +<p>So true is what we have just said, that in detailing +the symptoms which frequently occur at the +change of life, we could turn back to the previous +pages where we discussed the dangers of puberty, +and repeat much that we there said as of equal +application here. For instance, the green-sickness, +<i>chlorosis</i>, is by no means exclusively a disease of +girls. It may occur at any period of child-bearing +life, but is much more frequent at the <i>beginning</i> +and the <i>end</i> of this term. Hardly any one has +watched women closely without having observed +the peculiar tint of skin, the debility, the dislike of +society, the change of temper, the fitful appetite, +the paleness of the eye, and the other traits that +show the presence of such a condition of the ner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span>vous +system in those about renouncing their powers +of reproduction. The precautions and rules which +we before laid down, can be read with equal profit +in this connection.</p> + +<p>In addition to these symptoms, which in a measure +belong to the individual's own history, there +are others of a general character which betoken the +approaching change. One of them is an increasing +irregularity in the monthly appearance. This is +frequently accompanied with a sinking sensation,—a +'feeling of goneness,' as the sufferer says—at the +pit of the stomach, often attended by flushes of +heat, commencing at the stomach and extending +over the whole surface of the body. The face, +neck, and hands are suffused at inopportune +moments, and greatly to the annoyance of the +sufferer. This is sometimes accompanied by a +sense of fulness in the head, a giddiness, and dulness +of the brain, sometimes going so far as to +cause an uncertainty in the step, a slowness of +comprehension, and a feeling as if one might fall +at any moment in some sort of a fit.</p> + +<p>This is not the worst of it. These physical +troubles react upon the mind. An inward nervousness, +intensely painful to bear, is very sure to be +developed. She fears she will be thought to have +taken liquor, and to be overcome with wine; she +grows more confused, and imagines that she is +watched with suspicious and unkind eyes, and +often she worries herself by such unfounded fancies +into a most harassing state of mental distress. +Society loses its attractions, and solitude does but +allow her opportunity to indulge to a still more in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span>jurious +extent such brooding phantasms. Every +ache and pain is magnified. Does her heart palpitate, +as it is very apt to do? Straightway she +is certain that she has some terrible disease of that +organ, and that she will drop down dead some day +in the street. Is one of her breasts somewhat sore, +which, too, is not unusual? She knows at once it +is a cancer, and suffers an agony of terror from a +cause wholly imaginary.</p> + +<p>Vibrating between a distressing excitement and +a gloomy depression, her temper gives way; and +even the words of the Divine Master lose their +influence over her. She becomes fretful, and yet +full of remorse for yielding to her peevishness; she +seeks for sympathy, without being able to give +reasons for needing it; she annoys those around +her by groundless fears, and is angered when they +show their annoyance. In fine, she is utterly +wretched, without any obvious cause of wretchedness.</p> + +<p>This is a dark picture, but it is a true one—inexorably +true. Let us hasten to add that such a mental +condition is, however, neither a necessary nor a +frequent concomitant of the change. We depict it, +so that friends and relatives may better appreciate +the sufferings of a class too little understood, and +so that women themselves, by knowing the cause +of such complaints, and the sad results which flow +from them, may make the more earnest efforts to +avoid them.</p> + +<p>Other symptoms are, a sense of choking, a feeling +of faintness, shooting pains in the back and +loins, creepings and chilliness, a feeling as if a hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> +were applied to the back or the cheek, a fidgety restlessness, +inability to fix the mind on reading or in +following a discourse, and a loss of control over the +emotions, so that she is easily affected to tears or to +laughter. All these merely indicate that nature is +employing all her powers to bring about that mysterious +transformation in the economy by which she +deprives the one sex for ever of partaking in the +creative act after a certain age, while she only +diminishes the power of the other.</p> + + +<h3>EFFECTS ON THE CHARACTER.</h3> + +<p>The effects on the character of this 'grand +climacteric' are often marked. Not unfrequently +the woman becomes more masculine in thought +and habit, as has been admirably described by Dr. Tilt:—'There +are almost always while the change +is progressing various forms of nervous irritability +and some amount of confusion and bewilderment, +which seem to deprive women of the mental endowments +to which they had acquired a good title by +forty years' enjoyment. They often lose confidence +in themselves, are unable to manage domestic or +other business, and are more likely to be imposed +on either within or without the family circle. When +the change is effected, the mind emerges from the +clouds in which it has seemed lost. Thankful that +they have escaped from real sufferings, women cease +to torture themselves with imaginary woes, and as +they feel the ground grow steadier underfoot, they +are less dependent on others—for, like the body, +the mental faculties then assume a masculine character. +The change of life does not give talents,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> +but it often imparts a firmness of purpose to bring +out effectively those that are possessed, whether it +be to govern a household, to preside in a drawing-room, +or to thread and unravel political entanglements. +When women are no longer hampered +by a bodily infirmity periodically returning, they +have more time at their disposal, and for obvious +reasons they are less subject to be led astray by +a too ardent imagination, or by wild flights of +passion.'</p> + +<p>Changes in the moral character also frequently +show themselves, and for a time astonish friends +and relatives. These shades of moral insanity all +disappear in a little while, if there be no family +tendency to insanity to prolong and intensify +them.</p> + + +<h3>THOSE WHO SUFFER MOST.</h3> + +<p>Those women especially may anticipate serious +trouble at this epoch in whom the change at puberty +was accompanied by distressful and obstinate disorders,—those +in whom the menstrual periods have +usually been attended with considerable pain and +prostration, and those in whose married life several +abortions or several tedious and unnatural labors +have occurred; also those who from some temporary +cause are reduced in health and strength,—as +from repeated attacks of intermittent fever, or disorders +of the liver and digestive organs. Still more +predisposed are they who are subject to some of +those displacements or local ulcerations which we +have mentioned in our chapter on Health in Marriage. +It becomes of great consequence, that any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> +such deviation from the healthy standard shall be +corrected before a woman reaches this trying passage +in her career.</p> + +<p>The constitution and temperament have much +to do with the liability to disease and suffering +during the change of life. Those of weak constitutions +sometimes fail of the necessary stamina to +carry them easily through the trials of this transition +period. It has been remarked that the <i>lymphatic</i> +temperament is the most favorable to an easy +change. Women with this temperament suffer +less from nervous or bilious disorders, and quickly +show signs of having been benefited by what +has occurred. Those of a <i>sanguine</i> temperament +are more liable to floodings and to head symptoms; +but such disorders with them usually readily +yield to treatment. The <i>bilious</i> temperament predisposes +to disorders of the stomach and liver at +this epoch; while the union of the nervous with +the bilious temperament seems to predispose to +mental diseases. The most suffering at this time +of life is experienced by women of a <i>nervous</i> +temperament.</p> + +<p>The social position exerts an influence on the +pain and the tendency to disease at this epoch. +The poor who are forced to labor beyond their +strength and who are exhausted by fatigue, +anxiety, and want, suffer much. So also do those +who have recently been exposed to some great +sorrow. As the poet says:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Danger, long travel, want, or woe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Soon change the form that best we know——<br /></span> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span><span class="i0">For deadly fear can time out-go,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And blanch at once the hair.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hard toil can roughen form and face,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And want can quell the eye's bright grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor does old age a wrinkle trace<br /></span> +<span class="i2">More deeply than despair.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The occupations of women also have an influence +upon the change of life. Washerwomen are said +in particular to suffer more than others on account +of the exposure to which they are subject by their +trade. Those who are confined many hours a day +in close or damp rooms are unfavorably situated +for passing through the various stages of the 'grand +climacteric.' The rich, with plenty of time and +means to care for themselves, often blindly or obstinately +create an atmosphere about them and follow +a mode of life, quite as deleterious as the enforced +surroundings of their poorer sisters.</p> + + +<h3><a name="DISEASES_AND_DISCOMFORTS" id="DISEASES_AND_DISCOMFORTS"></a>DISEASES AND DISCOMFORTS.</h3> + +<p>In rather more than one out of every four cases +the change of life is either ushered in or accompanied +by considerable flooding. When this occurs +at the regular period, and is not in sufficient quantity +to cause debility, and is not associated with +much pain, it need not give rise to any alarm. It +is an effort of nature to relieve the impending plethora +of the system, to drain away the excessive +amount of blood which would otherwise accumulate +by the cessation of the flow. When it is remembered +that every month, for some thirty years of +life, the woman of forty-five has been moderately +bled, we need not wonder that suddenly to break<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span> +off this long habit would bring about a plethora, +which would in turn be the source of manifold +inconveniences to the whole system. Therefore +this flooding may be regarded as a wise act of +nature, and, as such, allowed to take its course +so long as it is not attended with the symptoms +mentioned above. When this is the case, however, +the doctor should be consulted, as then the +bleeding may be from inflammation or ulceration, +or even from that dreaded foe to life, cancer.</p> + +<p>Instead of finding this exit, the blood occasionally +is thrown off by bleeding at the nose, or is spat +up from the lungs, or is passed from bleeding piles. +Due caution must be used about stopping such discharges +too promptly. Rest, cool drinks, and the +application of cold to the parts, are generally all that +is needed.</p> + +<p>We have just spoken of cancer. This is a subject +of terror to many women, and their fears are often +increased and deliberately played upon by base +knaves who journey about the country calling themselves +'cancer doctors,' and professing to have some +secret remedy with which they work infallible cures. +It should be generally known that all such pretensions +are false. It is often a matter of no little +difficulty, requiring an experienced eye, to pronounce +positively whether a tumour or ulcer is cancerous. +These charlatans have no such ability; but +they pronounce every sore they see a cancer, and +all their pretended cures are of innocent, non-malignant +disorders. Cancers are more apt to develope +themselves at this period. Their seat is most frequently +in the womb or the breast, and they are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> +said to be especially liable to arise in those women +who have suffered several abortions or unnatural +labours. Undoubtedly they are more frequent in +the married than the unmarried, and they evidently +bear some relation to the amount of disturbance +which the system has suffered during childbirth, and +the grief and mental pain experienced. For this +reason a celebrated teacher of obstetrics insists upon +classing them among nervous diseases. The surgeon +alone can cure them, and he but rarely. Medicine +is of no avail, however long and painstaking +have been its searches in this direction. A touching +story is related in this connection of Raymond +Sully, the celebrated philosopher. When a young +man, he was deeply impressed with the beauty of +a lady, and repeatedly urged his suit, which she +as persistently repelled, though it was evident she +loved him. One day, when he insisted with more +than usual fervor that she should explain her +mysterious hesitation, she drew aside the folds of +her dress and exposed her breast, partly destroyed +by a cancer. Shocked and horrified, but unmoved +in his affection, he rushed to the physicians and +demanded their aid. They replied they could give +none. He determined to find a cure, if he had to +seek in all parts of the earth. He visited the +learned doctors of Africa and Asia, and learned +many wonderful things—even, it was said, the composition +of the philosopher's stone itself; but what +he did not find, and what has never yet been +found, was what he went forth to seek—a cure for +cancer.</p> + +<p>At this time, too, tumors or swellings of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span> +ovaries are apt to commence. They are nearly +always preceded by scanty or painful menstruation; +and this, therefore, it is the duty of every +woman, as she values the preservation of her +future health, to remedy by every means in her +power.</p> + +<p>Generally, from the commencement of the +change of life commences also a steady diminution +of the sexual passions, and soon after this period +they quite disappear. Sometimes, however, the +reverse takes place, and the sensations increase in +intensity, occasionally exceeding what they even +were before. This should be regarded with alarm. +It is contrary to the design of nature, and can but +mean that something is wrong. Deep-seated disease +of the uterus or ovaries is likely to be present, +or an unnatural nervous excitability is there, which, +if indulged, will bring about dangerous consequences. +Gratification, therefore, should be temperate, +and at rare intervals, or wholly denied.</p> + + +<h3>PRECAUTIONS AND REMEDIES.</h3> + +<p>To guard against the dangers of this epoch, +those general rules of health which we have +throughout insisted upon should be rigidly observed. +If during the whole of her sexual life the +woman has been diligent in observing the laws of +health, she has little to fear at this period. Some +simple remedies will suffice to allay the disagreeable +symptoms; and the knowledge that most of +them are temporary, common to her sex, and not +significant of any peculiar malady, will aid her in +opposing their attacks on her peace of mind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span> +When plethora, flooding, or congestion is apparent, +the food should be light, chiefly vegetable, and +moderate in quantity. Liquors, wines, strong tea, +coffee, and chocolate should be avoided; an occasional +purgative or a glass of some laxative mineral +water should be taken, and cool bathing regularly +observed. Exercise should be indulged in with +caution, and care taken to avoid excitement, severe +mental or bodily effort, and exhaustion. If the +system is debilitated, and the danger is rather from +a want of blood than too much blood, nourishing +food, tonic medicines, and perhaps some stimulant, +are called for. When the perspiration is excessive, +flannel should be worn next the skin in the daytime, +and a flannel night-dress at night. A tepid +bath before retiring is also useful. The 'goneness' +and other unpleasant sensations referred to the pit +of the stomach may be much relieved by wearing +a well-made spice-plaster over the stomach, or +binding there a bag of gum camphor; or if these +fail, an opium plaster will hardly fail to be of service. +Internally, we think, nothing at all is needed; +but as something must be taken, let it not be spirits +or wine, but half a tea-spoonful of aromatic spirits +of ammonia in a few table-spoonfuls of water. +There is too much of a tendency among some +women to seek alleviation in intoxicating compounds, +'bitters,' 'tonics,' and so forth, at such +times. They can only result in injury, and should +be shunned. The pains in the back and loins +often experienced, can generally be removed by rubbing +the parts with hot mustard-water and taking +a gentle purgative, or by placing against the lower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span> +part of the spine a hot brick wrapped in a flannel +cloth wrung out in warm water or laudanum and +water.</p> + +<p>Once safely through this critical period, the +woman has a better chance for long life and a +green old age than the man of equal years. Tables +of human life show this conclusively. With the +sweet consciousness of duty performed, she is now +prepared to assist others by intelligent advice, +cheerful counsel, and tender offices; she can now +surround herself with that saintly halo of kind +words and good works which wins a worthier love +than passion offers; and, passing onward to the +silence of eternal rest, she will leave in the memory +of all who knew her, pleasant impressions and +affectionate reminiscences.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NOTES" id="NOTES"></a>NOTES.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<p><a href="#Page_20">P. 20.</a> <span class="smcap">Hermaphrodites and Asexualism</span>.—Rokitansky +decides Hohmann to be a case of <i>hermaphrodita vera +lateralis</i>, and all who examine her say the same. See +<i>Wiener Medicin. Wochenschrift</i>, October, 1868, and the +<i>Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, vol. xix. p. 487. A marked +case of asexualism, proven so by a <i>post mortem</i> examination, +is reported in the <i>Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal</i> for +April, 1869, p. 338; and another in the <i>Medical Times and +Gazette</i> of about the same date. We might refer to many +more recent and authentic cases.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_25">P. 25.</a> <span class="smcap">Age of Puberty</span>.—See case by Dr. T. H. Twiner, +in the <i>Richmond and Louisville Medical Journal</i>, March, +1869, Raciborski, <i>De la Menstruation et de l'Age Critique +chez la Femme</i>, p. 130. The quotation (<a href="#Page_26">p. 26</a>) is from Dr. +Edward Smith, <i>Cyclical Changes in Health and Disease</i>,—a +profound work. Raciborski is the principal authority +for this and the following section. Our own inquiries fully +confirm his statements.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_32">P. 32.</a> <span class="smcap">Influence of the Moon on Menstruation</span>.—On +this question, see the researches of M. Parchappe, +<i>Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences</i>, tom. xvi. p. 550. +See also Dr. Shrye, <i>Tractatus de Fluxu Menstruo</i>, in the +<i>Acta Lipsiensia</i> for 1686, p. 111; Dr. W. Charleton, <i>Inquisitio +Physica de Causis Catameniorum</i>, p. 78; and Galen, +<i>De Diebus Decretoriis</i>, lib. iii., for other curious particulars.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_37">P. 37.</a> <span class="smcap">Chlorosis.</span>—For the pathology of this disease, see +Dr. Gaillard Thomas, <i>Diseases of Women</i>, p. 625, and Dr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> +C. H. Bauer, in the <i>Weiner Medicin. Zeitung</i>, No. 33, 1868. +Occasionally the change at puberty leads to an affection very +closely resembling typhoid fever, but which is strictly due to +the sexual crisis; and often goitre commences at this period. +See a review of Raciborski, in the <i>Bulletin de Therapeutique</i>, +June, 1869.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_39">P. 39.</a> <span class="smcap">Masturbation in Girls</span>.—See Miss Catherine E. +Beecher, <i>Letters to the People on Health and Happiness</i>, p. +159. The late medical literature on the subject is abundant. +See <i>Ueber die Behandlung der Masturbation bei kleinen +Mädchen, Journal jür Kinderkrankheiten</i>, Bd. li. p. 360; +H. R. Storer, <i>Western Journal of Medicine</i>, July, 1868; +and <i>Journal of the Gynecological Society</i>, vol. i. No. 1.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_50">Pp. 50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51.</a><span class="smcap">Premature Marriages</span>.—See Dr. Duncan, +<i>Fecundity, Fertility</i>, etc., p. 241; Reich, <i>Natur und Gesundheitslehre +des Ehelichen Lebens</i>, p. 518.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_56">P. 56.</a> <span class="smcap">Holy Love</span>.—The distinction between ἁγἁπη and +ιῥωή is too familiar to all scholars to need extended mention. +See Trench, <i>Synonyms of the New Testament, sub voce.</i></p> + +<p><a href="#Page_57">Pp. 57</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58.</a> <span class="smcap">Single Life in Its Relation To Sanity +And Mortality</span>.—The extraordinary statements in the text +are vouched for by Dr. Casper, <i>Medicinische Statistik</i>, vol. +ii. p. 164, and Dr. Reich, <i>Geschichte, Natur, und Gesundheitslehre +des Ehelichen Lebens</i>, pp. 510, 511. We have +compared the reports of a number of asylums for the insane, +and find the proportions very nearly as great as stated by +these authorities.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_70">P. 70.</a> <span class="smcap">Intermarriage of Relatives</span>.—The view we +advocate on this point, we know, is neither the received nor +the popular one. In the middle ages it was forbidden to +intermarry within the seventh degree of consanguinity; but +this and all other regulations were based on theological and +political, not physiological, grounds. Among others, Dr. +Nathan Allen has insisted on the danger of consanguineous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span> +marriages (<i>Journal of Psychological Medicine</i>, Volume ii). +But other very careful and recent students adopt the view of +our text: for instance, Dr. F. J. Behrend, <i>Journal für +Kinderkrankheiten</i>, December, 1868, p. 316; Dr. A. Voisin, +in the reports of the <i>Paris Académie de Médecin</i>,1864, 1865, +and 1868; and Dr. H. Gaillard, in the last edition (1868) of +the <i>Dictionnaire de Médecine et de Chirurgie Pratique.</i> All +the statements in the text are supported with incontrovertible +evidence by these writers. If we are asked how to meet the +seemingly alarming array of allegations by Dr. Bemiss, the +Kentucky physician referred to in the <i>Transactions of the +American Medical Association</i> for 1859, we would refer to +Dr. Behrend's articles, where the researches of Bemiss are +severely criticised. For Dr. Edward Smith's assertion, see +his <i>Essay on Consumption</i>, p. 244 (Philadelphia, 1865).</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_80">P. 80.</a> <span class="smcap">Communication of Venereal Diseases</span>.—Many +instances are recorded where a drinking-glass, a +spoon, a fork, or a handkerchief has infected innocent persons +with these terrible diseases (see Cullerier, <i>Atlas of +Venereal Diseases</i>, p. 43). They are communicated from +the male to the female, or from the female to the male, with +equal facility, and either parent can transmit them to the +children. The physician referred to is Dr. Sigmund, in the +<i>Humboldt Medical Archives</i>, 1868.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_83">P. 83.</a> <span class="smcap">Symbolism</span>.—See Dr. Carus, <i>Symbolik der Menschlichen +Gestalt</i>, the most scientific work ever written on +physiognomy, phrenology, and allied subjects.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_90">Pp. 90</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91.</a>—See Raciborski, <i>De la Puberté et de l'Age +Critique chez la Femme</i>, p. 133; Tilt, <i>Uterine Therapeutics</i>, +p. 315.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_94">P. 94.</a> <span class="smcap">Contagion of Phthisis</span>.—See Dr. William A. +Hammond's <i>Treatise on Hygiene</i>, p. 438, for air-space +required by a healthy person. The contagion of phthisis is +maintained by many authorities—among others, Dr. W. W. +Gerbard (see Pennsylvanian Hospital Reports for 1868, p.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span> +266). Professor Castan has recently collected, in the <i>Montpelier +Médicale</i>, a variety of facts, which seem to show that +tuberculosis may be communicated from a diseased to a +healthy person by transpiration, breathed air, and living +together (<i>Press and Circular</i>, March 10, 1869). In regard +to the inoculation of tubercle, we have reference to the well-known +experiments of M. Villemin, of the Hôpital Val-de-Grace, +Paris. In this connection we may record an instance +of recent medical heroism. M. Lespiaud, attached to the +surgical department of the Val-de-Grace, in presence of +several of his colleagues, extracted granular matter from the +body of a phthisical subject, and introduced it under his own +integument. This zealous investigator into the etiology of +tuberculosis has thus exposed himself in a courageous way +for the benefit of science, to the effects of a most dangerous +and merciless disease.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_96">P. 96.</a> <span class="smcap">The Dignity and Propriety of the Sexual +Instinct</span>.—Dr. Edward John Tilt is the medical writer +referred to (see <i>Uterine Therapeutics</i>, pp. 95, 313). See +also Bosquet, <i>Noveau Tableau de l'Amour Conjugal</i>, vol. ii. +p. 2, etc.; Rousel, <i>Système Physique et Moral de la Femme</i>, +p. 211; Menville, <i>Histoire Médicale et Philosophique de la +Femme</i>, vol. i. p. 36 et seq.; Raciborski, <i>De la Puberté</i>, etc., +p. 45.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_99">P. 99.</a> <span class="smcap">On the Indulgence and Restraint of Sexual +Desire</span>.—Menville, vol. ii. p. 91; Bosquet, vol. ii. p. 280; +<i>Economy of Life—or, Food, Repose, and Love</i>, by George +Miles. Dr. Edward Smith, in his valuable work on <i>Cyclical +Changes in Health and Disease</i>, has collected extensive +statistics showing the effect of the time of conception on the +viability of the fœtus. The quotation is from Carpenter's +<i>Human Physiology</i>, p. 753.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_103">P 103.</a> See <i>Lancet</i> for March 6, 1869, p. 337, for report of +discussion in the Pathological Society of London upon the +physical degeneracy resulting from procreation during intoxication. +Authorities could be cited at length upon this sub<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span>ject, +but it is not necessary. See Huleland's <i>Art of Prolonging +Life</i>, p. 207.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_106">Pp. 106-114.</a> <span class="smcap">Sterility</span>.—For statistics referred to, see +Dr. Matthews Duncan, <i>Fecundity, Fertility, and Sterility</i> +(Edinburgh, 1866), p. 181 <i>et seq.</i>; Dr. Tilt, <i>Uterine Therapeutics</i>, +p. 291; Dr. Edward Reich, <i>Gesundheitslehre des +Ehelichen Lebens</i>, Th. ii.</p> + +<p>Dr. J. Marion Sims, <i>On the Microscope as an Aid in the +Diagnosis and Treatment of Sterility</i>, <i>New York Medical +Journal</i>, January 1869, p. 406; Charles Darwin, <i>The Variation +of Animals and Plants under Domestication</i>, vol. ii. p. +198; <i>Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, November +2, 1867, p. 384; A. Debay, <i>Hygiène et Physiologie du +Mariage</i>, p. 288 (Paris, Quarante-quatrième édition); Raciborski, +<i>De la Puberté</i>, etc., p. 451; Virey, <i>De la Femme +sous ses Rapports Phys.</i>, etc., p. 332; Dr. Gunning S. +Bedford, <i>The Principles and Practice of Obstetrics</i>, p. 107.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_115">P. 115.</a> <span class="smcap">The Limitation of Offspring</span>.—We have taken +great pains to avoid giving false or dangerous impressions +in this section. The references in the order of quotation are:—Dr. +Tilt, <i>Hand-Book of Uterine Therapeutics</i>, p. 317; Dr. +Duncan, <i>Fecundity, Fertility, Sterility, and Allied Topics</i>, +pp. 289, 290; Dr. Hillier, <i>Diseases of Children</i>, p. 114; John +Stuart Mill, <i>Principles of Political Economy</i>, p. 591; Dr. +Drysdale, <i>London Medical Press and Circular</i>, December, +1868, p. 478; Raciborski, <i>De l'Age Critique chez la Femme</i>, +p. 484; <i>The Nation</i>, June 1869; Dr. Edward Reich, <i>Natur +und Gesundheitslehre des Ehelichen Lebens</i>, p. 493; <i>Boston +Medical and Surgical Journal</i>, February 1867; <i>Philadelphia +Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, vol. xix. p. 305; Sismondi, +<i>Principles of Political Economy</i>, book vii. chap. v.; Dr. +MacCormac, in <i>London Medical Press and Circular</i>, March +1869, p. 244; Dr. Gaillard Thomas, <i>Diseases of Women</i>, p. +58; <i>Leavenworth Medical Herald</i>, April, 1867; Dr. N. K. +Bowling, in <i>The Nashville Journal of Medicine and Surgery</i>, +October 1868. We have rather let others speak than spoken +ourselves, and have collected the opinions of many most +distinguished physicians and statesmen, who thus pronounce<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span> +against excessive child-bearing. Any intelligent physician +will acknowledge the weight to be assigned to such names.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_128">P. 128.</a> <span class="smcap">Signs of Fruitful Conjunction</span>.—Carpenter, +<i>Human Physiology</i>, p. 772; Dr. Gunning S. Bedford, <i>Principles +and Practice of Obstetrics</i>, p. 304; Menville, vol. i +p. 295; Montgomery, <i>Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy</i>, +p. 90.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_132">P. 132.</a> <span class="smcap">Inheritance</span>.—Darwin, <i>Animals and Plants +under Domestication</i>, pp. 42, 473; Sir Henry Holland's +<i>Medical Notes and Reflections</i>, p. 30; Pritchard, <i>Researches +into the Physical History of Mankind</i>, vol. ii. p. 551; Carpenter, +<i>Human Physiology</i>, p. 779; A. Debay, <i>Hygiène et +Physiologie du Mariage</i>, p. 173; Fleurens, <i>De la Longévité +et de la Quantie de Vie sur le Globe</i>, p. 256 (Paris, 1860); +Hufeland, <i>Art of Prolonging Life</i>, pp. 91, 206; Hammond's +<i>Hygiene</i>, p. 116; <i>American Journal of Medical Sciences</i>, +July, 1865, p. 82; Francis Galton, <i>On Hereditary Talent and +Character</i>, in <i>Macmillan's Magazine</i>, vol. xii. pp. 157, 318; +Madden, <i>The Infirmities of Genius</i>, vol. ii. p. 107; <i>Lancet</i>, +December 22, 1868, p. 825; <i>The British Medical Journal</i>, +January 11, 1868, p. 25; Dr. Prosper Lucas, <i>Traité de l'Hérédité +Naturelle</i>; Victor Hugo, <i>L'Homme qui Rit</i>, le seconde +chapitre préliminaire; Watson's <i>Practice</i>, p. 1153; Dr. +Daniel G. Brinton, <i>Guide-Book to Florida and the South</i>, +Pt. iii.; Dr. J. V. C. Smith, <i>Physical Indications of Longevity +in Man.</i></p> + +<p><a href="#Page_163">P. 163.</a> <span class="smcap">Plural Births</span>.—Duncan, <i>Fecundity, Fertility, +and Sterility</i>, p. 69; Ramsbotham, <i>System of Obstetrics</i>, p. +461; <i>Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, vol. xix. +p. 508, xx. p. 98.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_167">P. 167.</a> <span class="smcap">Pregnancy</span>.—Menville, i. p. 299; Dr. Gunning +S. Bedford, <i>System of Obstetrics</i>, p. 144 et seq.; Montgomery, +<i>Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy</i>; Dr. Edward Rigby, +<i>System of Midwifery</i>, p. 47.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_180">P. 180.</a> <span class="smcap">Mothers' Marks</span>.—See a very interesting article +by Professor Wm. A. Hammond, in <i>The Quarterly Journal +of Psychological Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence</i>, Janu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span>ary, +1868, p. 1, in which he says, in regard to the influence of +the maternal mind over the fœtus <i>in utero</i>: 'The chances of +these instances, and others which I have mentioned, being +due to coincidence, are infinitesimally small; and though I +am careful not to reason upon the principle of <i>post hoc ergo +propter hoc</i>, I cannot—nor do I think any other person +can, no matter how logical may be his mind—reason +fairly against the connection between cause and effect +in such cases. The correctness of the facts only can be +questioned: if these be accepted, the probabilities are thousands +of millions to one, that the relation between the phenomena +is correct.' See also Dr. J. Lewis Smith, <i>Diseases +of Infancy and Childhood</i>, 1869, p. 21; <i>Philadelphia Medical +and Surgical Reporter</i>, vol. xix. p. 359.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_192">Pp. 192-197.</a> <span class="smcap">Concurrent Pregnancies</span>.—Raciborski, +<i>De la Puberté</i>, etc., p. 491; Dr. Gunning S. Bedford, <i>System +of Obstetrics</i>, p. 442; <i>Dict. des Sciences Médicales</i>, t. L. iii.; +<i>Lancet</i>, August, 1856, p. 131; Carpenter, <i>Human Physiology</i>, +p. 779; Beck's <i>Elements of Medical Jurisprudence</i>, art. +'Superfœtation;' Rokitansky, <i>Pathological Anatomy</i>; <i>Philadelphia +Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, May 1, 1869, p. 335.—Professor +Pancost removed some years since, from the +cheek of a child some months old, a rudimentary second +child.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_198">P. 198.</a> <span class="smcap">Can the Fœtus Cry in Utero?</span>—Dr. Bedford +Obstetrics, p. 264; <i>Lancet</i>, January 23, 1869.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_199">P. 199.</a> <span class="smcap">Is It a Son Or Daughter?</span>—<i>Philadelphia Medical +and Surgical Reporter</i>, vol. xvii. p. 495; Dr. Frankenhauser, +in the <i>Monatschrift für Geburtskunde</i>; Dr. Packman, +<i>On Impregnation</i>, <i>Lancet</i>, July 18, 1863.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_202">P. 202.</a> <span class="smcap">Gardner Peerage Case</span>.—Dr. Bedford, <i>System +of Obstetrics</i>, p. 299.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_204">P. 204.</a> <span class="smcap">Prolonged Pregnancies</span>.—Taylor, <i>Medical +Jurisprudence</i>, p. 586; <i>Report of Proceedings against the +Rev. Fergus Jardine</i> (Edinburgh, 1839).</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_207">P. 207.</a> <span class="smcap">Care of Health During Pregnancy</span>.—Churchill, +<i>On Women</i>, p. 451; Menville, ii. 114; Tilt's <i>Elements +of Health</i>, p. 271.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span></p> + +<p><a href="#Page_236">P. 236.</a> <span class="smcap">To Have Labor Without Pain</span>.—Professor T. +Gaillard Thomas says, 'The rule should be to employ an +anæsthetic in every case of labor, <i>during the second stage</i>, +unless some contra-indication exists. After a delivery, under +its influence patients recover more rapidly, are freer from +complications, and show fewer signs of prostration.' See +<i>Lecture on the Management of Women after Parturition</i>, in +the <i>Richmond and Louisville Medical Journal</i>, February, +1869, p. 145.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_238">P. 238.</a> <span class="smcap">Weight and Length of New-born Children</span>—<i>Philadelphia +Medical and Surgical Reporter</i>, vol. xix. p. +388; Carpenter, <i>Human Physiology</i>, p. 810; Ramsbotham, +<i>Obstetrics</i>, p. 111; <i>Detroit Review of Medicine and Pharmacy</i>, +March, 1869, p. 150.</p> + +<p><a href="#Page_271">P. 271.</a> <span class="smcap">The Child</span>.—Dr. J. Lewis Smith, <i>A Treatise on +the Diseases of Infancy and Childhood</i>, 1869, p. 28 <i>et seq.</i>; +Dr. Thomas Hillier, <i>Clinical Treatise on the Diseases of +Children</i>, p. 17; Dr. Edward Smith, <i>Cyclical Changes in +Health and Disease</i>; Dr. John Marshall, <i>Outlines of Physiology, +Human and Comparative</i>, pp. 761, 765, 998; Dr. +Charles A. Cameron, <i>Lectures on the Preservation of Health</i>, +1868, p. 174; Dr. Charles J. B. Williams, <i>Principles of Medicine</i>, +p. 480; Dr. J. Forsyth Meigs, <i>Diseases of Children</i>; +Dr. E. J. Tilt, <i>Elements of Health and Principles of Female +Hygiene</i>, p. 50 <i>et seq.</i>; Dr. Andrew Combe, <i>The Management +of Infancy</i>, p. 73 <i>et seq.</i> (ninth ed. Edinburgh, 1860), +<i>Report of Board of Health of Philadelphia</i> for 1868, p. 43; +<i>British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review</i>, April 1868, +pp. 382, 454; <i>Southern Journal of the Medical Sciences</i>, +November, 1867, p. 555; Dr. Thomas Hawkes Tanner, <i>Practice +of Medicine</i>, p. 108; Dr. William A. Hammond, <i>Treatise +on Hygiene</i>, p. 95 <i>et seq.</i>; <i>Philadelphia Medical and Surgical +Reporter</i>, vol. xvi. p. 530, xix. pp. 37, 59, 119, 134, 382; +Edward C. Seaton, M.D., <i>A Hand-Book of Vaccination</i>; +Professor J. B. Fonssagrives, <i>L'Education Physique des +Filles; Le Rôle des meres dans les maladies des Enfants</i>; +Sir James Y. Simpson, <i>Selected Obstetrical and Gynecological +Works</i>, etc., etc.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX.</h2> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + +<ul class="ix"> +<li>Abdomen, changes in, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_173">173</a></li> +<li class="ix">pain in, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_355">355</a></li> +<li>Abortion, crime of, how to stop, <a href="#Page_122">122</a></li> +<li class="ix">evils of, <a href="#Page_123">123</a></li> +<li>Advantages of the games and plays of children, <a href="#Page_314">314</a></li> +<li>Advice to wives who desire to have children, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> +<li>After birth, <a href="#Page_230">230</a></li> +<li>Age of husband, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> +<li class="ix">nubility, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li class="ix">puberty, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li> +<li>Air and ventilation during infancy, <a href="#Page_307">307</a></li> +<li>Air space required in bed-room, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> +<li>Anger, effect of, on the mother's milk, <a href="#Page_252">252</a></li> +<li>Appetite, depraved, a sign of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_175">175</a></li> +<li>Approaching labor, signs of, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> +<li>Arrowroot, how to prepare, for children, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_291">291</a></li> +<li>Articles wanted for confinement, <a href="#Page_221">221</a></li> +<li>Atavism explained, <a href="#Page_133">133</a></li> +<li>Attendants during confinement, hints for, <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> +<li>Avoidance of hereditary tendencies, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>'Bad-getting-up,' causes of, <a href="#Page_241">241</a></li> +<li>Bandage after confinement, how to make, <a href="#Page_221">221</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to apply, <a href="#Page_230">230</a></li> +<li>Barrenness, its causes and cure, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> +<li>Bath, hour of, for infants, <a href="#Page_303">303</a></li> +<li class="ix">drying of the skin after, <a href="#Page_304">304</a></li> +<li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></li> +<li class="ix">value of, in infantile diseases, <a href="#Page_305">305</a></li> +<li>Beautiful children, how to have, <a href="#Page_140">140</a></li> +<li>Beauty, inheritance of, <a href="#Page_135">135</a></li> +<li>Bedroom, size of, for the married, <a href="#Page_94">94</a></li> +<li>Bed-wetting, causes and cure, <a href="#Page_337">337</a></li> +<li>Bed, for married persons, <a href="#Page_95">95</a></li> +<li class="ix">clothing, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> +<li class="ix">the most healthful, <a href="#Page_95">95</a></li> +<li class="ix">in confinement, how to 'dress it', <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> +<li>Binder, how to make, <a href="#Page_221">221</a></li> +<li>Births, relative proportion of male to female, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li> +<li>Blondes, age of puberty of, <a href="#Page_28">28</a></li> +<li>Boarding school life, effect of, on girls, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a></li> +<li>Body, changes in, at puberty, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> +<li class="ix">symbolism of, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></li> +<li>Bowel complaints of children, <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> +<li>Boys, more born than girls, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> +<li>Braces, abdominal, <a href="#Page_376">376</a></li> +<li>Breasts, attention required towards the end of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> +<li class="ix">changes in, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></li> +<li class="ix">first application of child to, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> +<li class="ix">inflammation and abscess of, <a href="#Page_382">382</a></li> +<li class="ix">management after confinement, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> +<li>Bringing up by hand, <a href="#Page_274">274</a></li> +<li>Brunettes, age of puberty of, <a href="#Page_28">28</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Care of infancy, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li> +<li>Carrying an infant, manner of, <a href="#Page_309">309</a></li> +<li>Celibacy not chastity, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> +<li class="ix">results of, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li> +<li>Change of life, regimen and perils of, <a href="#Page_389">389</a></li> +<li>Changes, the monthly, precautions during, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li> +<li class="ix">precautions in the intervals of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li> +<li class="ix">when delayed, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></li> +<li class="ix">painful, <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> +<li class="ix">worked by puberty, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> +<li>Child, the, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li> +<li class="ix">attention to, at birth, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +<li class="ix">can it cry before birth?, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> +<li class="ix">education, of before birth, <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> +<li>Child-bearing, excessive, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>Childbed, diseases of, <a href="#Page_361">361</a></li> +<li class="ix">mortality of, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> +<li>Childbirth, imprudence after, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> +<li class="ix">preparations for, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> +<li class="ix">to preserve form after, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> +<li>Children, bathing of, <a href="#Page_303">303</a></li> +<li class="ix">bed for, <a href="#Page_297">297</a></li> +<li class="ix">clothing of, <a href="#Page_300">300</a></li> +<li class="ix">decreased number of, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li> +<li class="ix">diet for, <a href="#Page_288">288</a></li> +<li class="ix">new-born, weight and length of, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> +<li class="ix">three and more at a birth, <a href="#Page_164">164</a></li> +<li>Children's diseases, home management of, <a href="#Page_325">325</a></li> +<li>Chlorosis, <a href="#Page_36">36</a></li> +<li>Choice of a husband, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>City life, effect of, on puberty, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li> +<li>Cleanliness, curative influence of, <a href="#Page_378">378</a></li> +<li class="ix">importance of, to wives, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></li> +<li>Climate, effect of, on puberty, <a href="#Page_27">27</a></li> +<li>Clothing at puberty, <a href="#Page_43">43</a></li> +<li class="ix">at confinement, <a href="#Page_227">227</a></li> +<li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li> +<li class="ix">of new-born infants, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> +<li class="ix">of young children, <a href="#Page_300">300</a></li> +<li>Cold, effect of, on infants, <a href="#Page_300">300</a></li> +<li>Color of infant, influence of mind of mother on, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> +<li>Completion of puberty, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> +<li>Complexion, <a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> +<li class="ix">inheritance of, <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> +<li>Conception, is it possible during pregnancy?, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></li> +<li class="ix">nature of, <a href="#Page_125">125</a></li> +<li class="ix">signs of, <a href="#Page_128">128</a></li> +<li>Confinement, bed for, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> +<li class="ix">day of, how to calculate, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> +<li class="ix">dress for, <a href="#Page_227">227</a></li> +<li class="ix">hints for attendants at, <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> +<li class="ix">imprudence after, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> +<li class="ix">preparations for, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> +<li>Constipation of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_358">358</a></li> +<li>Constitution, effect of the, on puberty, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li class="ix">on change of life, <a href="#Page_398">398</a></li> +<li>Consumption, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>Continence demanded from husbands, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></li> +<li>Cough of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_359">359</a></li> +<li>Count, how to make the, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> +<li>Country life, effect of, on puberty, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> +<li>Courtship, <a href="#Page_65">65</a></li> +<li>Cousins, shall they marry?, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>Crime of abortion, <a href="#Page_122">122</a></li> +<li>Croup, home treatment of, <a href="#Page_325">325</a></li> +<li>Culture of the skin, <a href="#Page_306">306</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Dangers of puberty, <a href="#Page_35">35</a></li> +<li>Daughters, influenced by fathers, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> +<li>Deformities, are they hereditary?, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li> +<li>Degeneracy, cause of, <a href="#Page_349">349</a></li> +<li class="ix">of the human race, a query, <a href="#Page_348">348</a></li> +<li>Diet for infants, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a></li> +<li class="ix">children, <a href="#Page_292">292</a></li> +<li class="ix">the pregnant, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> +<li>Diarrhœa during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_357">357</a></li> +<li class="ix">of infants, <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> +<li>Directions for mothers who cannot nurse their own children, <a href="#Page_267">267</a></li> +<li>Dignity and propriety of the sexual instinct, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> +<li>Disease, communication of, <a href="#Page_80">80</a></li> +<li>Diseases, hereditary, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> +<li class="ix">of children, home management of, <a href="#Page_325">325</a></li> +<li class="ix">of wives and mothers, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> +<li>Distinction of the sexes, <a href="#Page_18">18</a></li> +<li>Divorce, unnatural and improper, <a href="#Page_63">63</a></li> +<li>Dress, attention to, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li> +<li class="ix">for confinement, <a href="#Page_227">227</a></li> +<li>Dressing of the new-born child, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +<li>Drying up of the milk, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a></li> +<li>Duration of labor, <a href="#Page_239">239</a></li> +<li>Dyspepsia of children, <a href="#Page_342">342</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Ear, the hygiene of, in childhood, <a href="#Page_323">323</a></li> +<li>Education, influence of, over hereditary qualities, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> +<li class="ix">of the child in the womb, <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> +<li class="ix">special senses in children, <a href="#Page_318">318</a></li> +<li>Emotion, influence of, on unborn child, <a href="#Page_185">185</a></li> +<li>Emotions, stimulation of, effects of, on puberty, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> +<li>Engagement, the, <a href="#Page_85">85</a></li> +<li>Engagements, long, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li> +<li>Epilepsy, a cause of, <a href="#Page_255">255</a></li> +<li>Eruptions of childhood, how to prevent, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> +<li>Eternity of love, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></li> +<li>Exercise at puberty, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> +<li><ul><li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_210">210</a></li> +<li class="ix">of children, <a href="#Page_309">309</a></li></ul></li> +<li>Excessive child-bearing, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>Eyes, the education of, in childhood, <a href="#Page_319">319</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Falling of the womb, <a href="#Page_368">368</a></li> +<li>False labor pains, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li>Fathers, influence of, on daughters, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> +<li>Feeding of infants, manner of, <a href="#Page_291">291</a></li> +<li>Fertility, hereditary, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li> +<li class="ix">laws of, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></li> +<li>First application of child to breasts, <a href="#Page_232">232</a></li> +<li class="ix">cares to the child newly born, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +<li class="ixx">mother after childbirth, <a href="#Page_230">230</a></li> +<li class="ix">labors, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> +<li class="ix">seven years of life, <a href="#Page_314">314</a></li> +<li>Fits of children, home treatment of, <a href="#Page_330">330</a></li> +<li>Flat nipples, how to remedy, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> +<li>Food, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></li> +<li class="ix">of infants and children, <a href="#Page_288">288</a></li> +<li class="ix">bill of fare for, <a href="#Page_292">292</a></li> +<li>Foreigners, should native women marry, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li> +<li>Form, to preserve after confinement, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> +<li>Frigidity, <a href="#Page_109">109</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Galen, anecdote of, <a href="#Page_127">127</a></li> +<li>Games and plays, advantages of, <a href="#Page_314">314</a></li> +<li>Gardner, Lord, the case of, <a href="#Page_202">202</a></li> +<li>Garters, danger of, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_355">355</a></li> +<li>Gathered breasts, <a href="#Page_382">382</a></li> +<li>Goftr, story of, <a href="#Page_166">166</a></li> +<li>Government of children, hints on, <a href="#Page_344">344</a></li> +<li>Green sickness, <a href="#Page_36">36</a></li> +<li>Growth of children, <a href="#Page_287">287</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Habits, dangers and advantages of, <a href="#Page_316">316</a></li> +<li>Hair, its significance, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> +<li class="ix">transmission of, <a href="#Page_137">137</a></li> +<li>Hardening of infants, dangerous theories on the, <a href="#Page_303">303</a></li> +<li>Hearing, the training of, in children, <a href="#Page_323">323</a></li> +<li>Head colds of children, home treatment of, <a href="#Page_329">329</a></li> +<li>Health, care of, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></li> +<li class="ix">effect of pregnancy on, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> +<li class="ix">in marriage, <a href="#Page_351">351</a></li> +<li>Hereditary diseases, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> +<li class="ix">qualities influenced by education, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> +<li>Hermaphrodite, a true, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> +<li>Hindrances to nursing, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> +<li>Hints for attendants at confinement, <a href="#Page_229">229</a></li> +<li>Home government, hints on, <a href="#Page_344">344</a></li> +<li class="ix">management of some common children's diseases, <a href="#Page_325">325</a></li> +<li class="ix">treatment of female ailments, <a href="#Page_377">377</a></li> +<li>Husband, age of, <a href="#Page_75">75</a></li> +<li class="ix">and wife, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> +<li class="ixx">shall they occupy same room and bed, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> +<li class="ix">character of, <a href="#Page_79">79</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to choose, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li class="ixx">retain the affections of, <a href="#Page_130">130</a></li> +<li>Husbands, plurality of, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> +<li>Hygiene of puberty, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> +<li class="ix">the monthly periods, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li> +<li class="ix">pregnancy, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></li> +<li class="ix">of infancy, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li> +<li class="ix">of the special senses, <a href="#Page_318">318</a></li> +<li>Hygienic habits, importance of teaching children, <a href="#Page_316">316</a></li> +<li class="ix">treatment of inward weakness, <a href="#Page_377">377</a></li> +<li>Hysterics, <a href="#Page_38">38</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Imagination of mother, influence of, on unborn child, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> +<li>Imprudence after childbirth, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> +<li>Indigestion of childhood, <a href="#Page_342">342</a></li> +<li>Indulgence and restraint of sexual desire, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> +<li>Infancy, care of, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li> +<li class="ix">deaths in, <a href="#Page_272">272</a></li> +<li>Infant, first clothing of, <a href="#Page_222">222</a></li> +<li class="ixx">washing of, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to carry, <a href="#Page_309">309</a></li> +<li class="ixx">lift, <a href="#Page_310">310</a></li> +<li class="ixx">teach to walk, <a href="#Page_313">313</a></li> +<li>Infants' food, <a href="#Page_288">288</a></li> +<li>Inheritance, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to avoid evil tendencies of, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to have beautiful children, <a href="#Page_140">140</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of education over, <a href="#Page_147">147</a></li> +<li class="ixx">each parent over, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> +<li class="ix">of beauty, <a href="#Page_135">135</a></li> +<li class="ix">of diseases, <a href="#Page_148">148</a></li> +<li class="ix">of longevity, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li> +<li class="ix">of mutilations, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> +<li class="ix">of personal qualities, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li> +<li class="ix">of physical ", <a href="#Page_136">136</a></li> +<li class="ix">of talent and genius, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> +<li class="ix">of temperament, <a href="#Page_137">137</a></li> +<li class="ix">late manifestations of, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li class="ix">the effects of, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>Injections, <a href="#Page_379">379</a></li> +<li>Injurious exercises for infants, <a href="#Page_311">311</a></li> +<li>Intemperance, of several kinds, <a href="#Page_117">117</a></li> +<li>Intermarriage of relatives, <a href="#Page_69">69</a></li> +<li>Inward weakness, <a href="#Page_368">368</a></li> +<li>Irregularities, causes of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li> +<li>Irrigations, <a href="#Page_381">381</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Knowledge, safety in, <a href="#Page_17">17</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Labor, cause of, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li class="ix">duration of, <a href="#Page_239">239</a></li> +<li class="ix">dress during, <a href="#Page_227">227</a></li> +<li class="ix">false and true, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to calculate time of, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to have, without pain, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li> +<li class="ix">mortality of, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> +<li class="ix">signs of approaching, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> +<li class="ix">symptoms of actual, <a href="#Page_224">224</a></li> +<li>Late manifestations of the effects of inheritance, <a href="#Page_151">151</a></li> +<li>Late marriages, offspring of, <a href="#Page_388">388</a></li> +<li>Length of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_200">200</a></li> +<li>Liebig's soup for infants, <a href="#Page_289">289</a></li> +<li>Lifting an infant, manner of, <a href="#Page_310">310</a></li> +<li>Light, necessity of, for children, <a href="#Page_308">308</a></li> +<li>Limitation of offspring, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>Long engagements, <a href="#Page_86">86</a></li> +<li>Longevity, hereditary, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></li> +<li>Longings in pregnancy, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></li> +<li>Love, at first sight, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> +<li class="ix">differs from lust, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li class="ix">is a necessity, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> +<li class="ix">is eternal, <a href="#Page_60">60</a></li> +<li class="ix">its power on humanity, <a href="#Page_52">52</a></li> +<li class="ix">what is it?, <a href="#Page_54">54</a></li> +<li>Looseness of bowels in children, <a href="#Page_339">339</a></li> +<li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_357">357</a></li> +<li>Lying-in room, the management of, <a href="#Page_226">226</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Maiden, the, <a href="#Page_23">23</a></li> +<li>Manner of feeding infants, <a href="#Page_291">291</a></li> +<li>Mania, puerperal, <a href="#Page_362">362</a></li> +<li>Marital relations, times to suspend, <a href="#Page_103">103</a></li> +<li class="ix">when painful, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a></li> +<li>Marriage, age for, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li class="ix">health in, <a href="#Page_351">351</a></li> +<li class="ix">time of month for, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li class="ix">year for, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li>Marriages, second, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> +<li>Maternity, duties and privileges of, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> +<li class="ix">perils of, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> +<li>Matrimony, necessity of, for happiness, <a href="#Page_58">58</a></li> +<li>Matron, the happy, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> +<li>Memory, visual, cultivation of, in childhood, <a href="#Page_320">320</a></li> +<li>Men, as wet-nurses, <a href="#Page_260">260</a></li> +<li>Menstruation explained, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> +<li>Mental impressions, effect of, on hysterics, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> +<li class="ix">on unborn children, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li class="ix">troubles of girlhood, <a href="#Page_47">47</a></li> +<li>Milk, mother's, effect of anger on, <a href="#Page_253">253</a></li> +<li class="ix">effect of retention in the breasts, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of diet on, <a href="#Page_249">249</a></li> +<li class="ixx">pregnancy on, <a href="#Page_250">250</a></li> +<li class="ix">over-abundance of, <a href="#Page_258">258</a></li> +<li class="ix">scantiness of, <a href="#Page_259">259</a></li> +<li class="ix">quantity required by infant, <a href="#Page_256">256</a></li> +<li class="ix">when poisonous, <a href="#Page_252">252</a></li> +<li class="ix">value as food, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> +<li>Milk-leg, causes and treatment of, <a href="#Page_367">367</a></li> +<li>Mind, changes in, at puberty, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></li> +<li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of over conception, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> +<li class="ixx">nursing child, <a href="#Page_251">251</a></li> +<li class="ixx">unborn child, <a href="#Page_182">182</a></li> +<li>Miscarriage, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></li> +<li class="ix">causes and dangers of, <a href="#Page_178">178</a></li> +<li class="ix">frequency of, <a href="#Page_176">176</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of age of mother on, <a href="#Page_177">177</a></li> +<li class="ix">prevention of, <a href="#Page_179">179</a></li> +<li class="ix">symptoms of, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Mixture of races by marriage, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> +<li>Month, right time of the, to marry, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li>Monthly changes, precautions in the intervals of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a></li> +<li class="ix">precautions during, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li> +<li class="ix">when delayed, <a href="#Page_48">48</a></li> +<li class="ix">when painful, <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> +<li>Moon, connection of monthly periods with, <a href="#Page_32">32</a></li> +<li>Morning sickness of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a></li> +<li>Mortality of childbed, <a href="#Page_237">237</a></li> +<li class="ix">comparative, of the two sexes in early life, <a href="#Page_154">154</a></li> +<li>Mortality of infants, causes of, <a href="#Page_271">271</a></li> +<li class="ix">relative to married life, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> +<li>Mother, the, <a href="#Page_243">243</a></li> +<li class="ix">diseases of, <a href="#Page_361">361</a></li> +<li class="ix">duties of, towards daughters at puberty, <a href="#Page_44">44</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of, over sons, <a href="#Page_144">144</a></li> +<li class="ix">position in nursing, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li class="ix">who is unable to nurse her child, <a href="#Page_267">267</a></li> +<li>Mothers' marks, <a href="#Page_180">180</a></li> +<li>Music, influence of, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> +<li>Mutilations, are they inheritable?, <a href="#Page_149">149</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Native women, shall they marry foreigners?, <a href="#Page_73">73</a></li> +<li>Near-sightedness, how to prevent, <a href="#Page_322">322</a></li> +<li>Neck, form of, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></li> +<li class="ix">its significance, <a href="#Page_84">84</a></li> +<li>New-born babe, first cares for, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +<li class="ixx">weight and length of, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> +<li>Night dress of children, <a href="#Page_301">301</a></li> +<li class="ix">covering of children, <a href="#Page_298">298</a></li> +<li class="ix">the wedding, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></li> +<li>Nipples, how to harden, <a href="#Page_220">220</a></li> +<li>Nose-bleed in childhood, <a href="#Page_333">333</a></li> +<li>Nubility, the age of, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li>Nursing, <a href="#Page_244">244</a></li> +<li class="ix">care of health during, <a href="#Page_263">263</a></li> +<li class="ix">diseases of, <a href="#Page_382">382</a></li> +<li class="ix">hindrances to, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> +<li class="ix">position during, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li class="ix">prolonged, <a href="#Page_262">262</a></li> +<li class="ix">rules for, <a href="#Page_248">248</a></li> +<li class="ix">when improper, <a href="#Page_245">245</a></li> +<li>Nursing mother, qualities of good, <a href="#Page_257">257</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Offspring, the limitation of, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li class="ix">influenced by the mind, <a href="#Page_126">126</a></li> +<li>Over-nursing, signs of, <a href="#Page_265">265</a></li> +<li>Overlaying of children, deaths from, <a href="#Page_273">273</a></li> +<li>Over-production, evils of, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li class="ix">remedies for, <a href="#Page_121">121</a></li> +<li>Ovulation, the meaning of, <a href="#Page_24">24</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Painful monthly changes, causes and treatment, <a href="#Page_49">49</a></li> +<li>Pains of labor, true and false, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li>Painless labors, how to have, <a href="#Page_236">236</a></li> +<li>Parr, Thomas, the long life of, <a href="#Page_139">139</a></li> +<li>Pendulous abdomen after confinement, how to escape, <a href="#Page_242">242</a></li> +<li>Perils of maternity, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> +<li>Persons of both sexes, and of neither sex, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> +<li>Perspiration, fetid, <a href="#Page_131">131</a></li> +<li>Phases, the three, of woman's life, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li> +<li>Piles, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_356">356</a></li> +<li>Plays, the, of children, advantages of, <a href="#Page_314">314</a></li> +<li>Plural births, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Plurality of wives or husbands, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> +<li>Position of child while eating, <a href="#Page_294">294</a></li> +<li class="ix">of child while sleeping, <a href="#Page_299">299</a></li> +<li>Position of mother while nursing, <a href="#Page_255">255</a></li> +<li>Precautions necessary at the time of the monthly changes, <a href="#Page_45">45</a></li> +<li>Precocity, remarkable instances of, <a href="#Page_25">25</a></li> +<li>Pregnancy, <a href="#Page_167">167</a></li> +<li class="ix">bathing during, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></li> +<li class="ix">care of health during, <a href="#Page_207">207</a></li> +<li class="ix">causes of protracted, <a href="#Page_205">205</a></li> +<li class="ix">can a woman again become pregnant during, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></li> +<li class="ix">clothing during, <a href="#Page_209">209</a></li> +<li class="ix">diseases of, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> +<li class="ix">double, <a href="#Page_192">192</a></li> +<li class="ix">effect of, on the health, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> +<li class="ix">exercise during, <a href="#Page_210">210</a></li> +<li class="ix">food during, <a href="#Page_208">208</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of, on the milk of nursing mother, <a href="#Page_250">250</a></li> +<li class="ix">length of, <a href="#Page_200">200</a></li> +<li class="ix">relation of husband and wife during, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> +<li class="ix">signs and symptoms of, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li class="ix">sleep during, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></li> +<li class="ix">ventilation of sleeping-room during, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></li> +<li>Premature marriages, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li>Preparations for confinement, <a href="#Page_219">219</a></li> +<li>Prolific wives, <a href="#Page_115">115</a></li> +<li>Puerperal mania, <a href="#Page_362">362</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Qualities transmitted by parents, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></li> +<li>Quantity of milk required by infant, <a href="#Page_256">256</a></li> +<li>Quickening, as a sign of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_170">170</a></li> +<li class="ix">flatulence mistaken for, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> +<li class="ix">how caused, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +<li class="ix">time of, <a href="#Page_171">171</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Race, the human, is it degenerating?, <a href="#Page_348">348</a></li> +<li>Races, mixture of, <a href="#Page_71">71</a></li> +<li>Relation of husband and wife during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_216">216</a></li> +<li class="ixx">nursing, <a href="#Page_264">264</a></li> +<li>Relative age of man and wife, <a href="#Page_76">76</a></li> +<li class="ix">proportion of men and women living, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> +<li>Religion, mistaken notions of, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> +<li>Rest, after delivery, <a href="#Page_241">241</a></li> +<li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_211">211</a></li> +<li>Re-vaccination, <a href="#Page_286">286</a></li> +<li>Right time of the month to marry, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li class="ix">time of the year to marry, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Schooling, the, of the first seven years of life, <a href="#Page_316">316</a></li> +<li>Scrofulous diseases, a cause of, <a href="#Page_309">309</a></li> +<li>Second marriages, <a href="#Page_62">62</a></li> +<li>Secret bad habits, <a href="#Page_39">39</a></li> +<li>Self-deceptions regarding pregnancy, <a href="#Page_172">172</a></li> +<li>Senses, training of the special, in childhood, <a href="#Page_318">318</a></li> +<li>Sex of child, how to predict before birth, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> +<li>Sexes, distinction of, <a href="#Page_18">18</a></li> +<li class="ix">laws which determine the relative numbers of the, <a href="#Page_155">155</a></li> +<li>persons of both and of neither, <a href="#Page_20">20</a></li> +<li>production of, at will, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> +<li>Sexual desire, indulgence and restraint of, <a href="#Page_99">99</a></li> +<li class="ix">moderation in, <a href="#Page_100">100</a></li> +<li class="ix">instinct, dignity and propriety of, <a href="#Page_96">96</a></li> +<li class="ix">false notions about, <a href="#Page_97">97</a></li> +<li class="ix">desire, influence of on offspring, <a href="#Page_98">98</a></li> +<li>Sexuality, what it implies, <a href="#Page_18">18</a></li> +<li>Sickness, morning, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_353">353</a></li> +<li class="ix">during labor, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li>Signs of approaching labor, <a href="#Page_223">223</a></li> +<li class="ix">puberty, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> +<li class="ix">conception, <a href="#Page_128">128</a></li> +<li class="ix">over-nursing, <a href="#Page_265">265</a></li> +<li class="ix">pregnancy, <a href="#Page_168">168</a></li> +<li>Sight, the training of, in childhood, <a href="#Page_319">319</a></li> +<li>Single life, the, <a href="#Page_386">386</a></li> +<li class="ix">in its relation to sanity and mortality, <a href="#Page_57">57</a></li> +<li>Skin, changes in, during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_174">174</a></li> +<li class="ix">culture, of, in infancy, <a href="#Page_306">306</a></li> +<li>Sleep, amount required in early life, <a href="#Page_295">295</a></li> +<li class="ix">at puberty, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></li> +<li class="ix">during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_213">213</a></li> +<li class="ix">position in, <a href="#Page_299">299</a></li> +<li>Sleeplessness during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_360">360</a></li> +<li>Small pox, death rate from, <a href="#Page_283">283</a></li> +<li class="ix">the only preventive against, <a href="#Page_284">284</a></li> +<li>Son or daughter?, <a href="#Page_198">198</a></li> +<li>Sore nipples, <a href="#Page_246">246</a></li> +<li>Soup, Liebig's, <a href="#Page_289">289</a></li> +<li>Sphere of woman, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li>Spinal disease, <a href="#Page_36">36</a></li> +<li>Spring-time, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li> +<li>Spurious labor pains, <a href="#Page_225">225</a></li> +<li>Stages of labor, <a href="#Page_123">123</a></li> +<li>Starvation of girls, <a href="#Page_41">41</a></li> +<li>Sterility, <a href="#Page_106">106</a></li> +<li class="ix">how to remedy, <a href="#Page_113">113</a></li> +<li>Still-births, <a href="#Page_240">240</a></li> +<li>Stilling Jung, anecdote of, <a href="#Page_67">67</a></li> +<li>Stimulation of the emotions, dangers of, at puberty, <a href="#Page_29">29</a></li> +<li>St. Pierre, anecdote of, <a href="#Page_78">78</a></li> +<li>Sully Raymond, anecdote of, <a href="#Page_401">401</a></li> +<li>Swimming, benefit of, <a href="#Page_306">306</a></li> +<li>Symbolism of the human body, <a href="#Page_83">83</a></li> +<li>Syringes, and how to use them, <a href="#Page_379">379</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Talent, hereditary, <a href="#Page_141">141</a></li> +<li>Teething, period of, <a href="#Page_279">279</a></li> +<li>Temperament, transmission of, <a href="#Page_137">137</a></li> +<li>Temperaments, explained, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of, <a href="#Page_101">101</a></li> +<li class="ix">in marriage, <a href="#Page_77">77</a></li> +<li>Things wanted during confinement, <a href="#Page_221">221</a></li> +<li>Tight-lacing, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_374">374</a></li> +<li>Time of expected labor, how to calculate it, <a href="#Page_206">206</a></li> +<li class="ix">of the year to marry, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li class="ix">of the month to marry, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li>Times when marital relations should be suspended, <a href="#Page_103">103</a></li> +<li>Toilet, innocent arts of, <a href="#Page_132">132</a></li> +<li>Tour, the wedding, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li>Toys, a mean of infantile education, <a href="#Page_315">315</a></li> +<li>Twins, how to predict, <a href="#Page_199">199</a></li> +<li class="ix">why born, <a href="#Page_161">161</a></li> +<li>Twin-bearing, <a href="#Page_160">160</a></li> +<li class="ix">influence of, on size of families, <a href="#Page_163">163</a></li> +<li>Thury, Prof., discovery of, <a href="#Page_157">157</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Unborn child, education of, <a href="#Page_191">191</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Vaccination, age for, <a href="#Page_285">285</a></li> +<li class="ix">importance of, <a href="#Page_282">282</a></li> +<li>Varicose veins of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_355">355</a></li> +<li>Ventilation of sleeping rooms during pregnancy, <a href="#Page_212">212</a></li> +<li>Virgins, wet-nursing by, <a href="#Page_260">260</a></li> +<li>Voice, change in, at puberty, <a href="#Page_30">30</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Wakefulness of pregnancy, <a href="#Page_360">360</a></li> +<li>Walk, how to teach a child to, <a href="#Page_313">313</a></li> +<li>Washing of the new-born infant, <a href="#Page_231">231</a></li> +<li>Weakness, inward, <a href="#Page_368">368</a></li> +<li>Weaning, <a href="#Page_277">277</a></li> +<li>Wedding tour, the, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li class="ix">night, the, <a href="#Page_91">91</a></li> +<li>Weight and length of new-born children, <a href="#Page_238">238</a></li> +<li>Wet-nurse, how to select, <a href="#Page_269">269</a></li> +<li>Wet-nursing by virgins and men, <a href="#Page_260">260</a></li> +<li>White-flowing, <a href="#Page_365">365</a></li> +<li>Wives famous in history, <a href="#Page_59">59</a></li> +<li class="ix">plurality of, <a href="#Page_64">64</a></li> +<li>Woman, the three phases in the life of, <a href="#Page_22">22</a></li> +<li class="ix">physical differences from man, <a href="#Page_19">19</a></li> +<li class="ix">sphere of, <a href="#Page_21">21</a></li> +<li class="ix">to be sought, <a href="#Page_65">65</a></li> +<li>Womb, falling of, <a href="#Page_368">368</a></li> +<li>Worms of children, home treatment of, <a href="#Page_335">335</a></li> +<li>Women, diseases peculiar to, <a href="#Page_352">352</a></li> +<li class="ix">treatment of, <a href="#Page_377">377</a></li> +<li class="ix">why redundant, <a href="#Page_153">153</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Young wives, <a href="#Page_50">50</a></li> +<li class="ix">mothers, <a href="#Page_51">51</a></li> +<li>Year, right time of, to marry, <a href="#Page_87">87</a></li> +<li style="list-style:none"><br /></li> +<li>Zurich, curious custom in, <a href="#Page_93">93</a></li> +</ul> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2><a name="TESTIMONIALS" id="TESTIMONIALS"></a>TESTIMONIALS</h2> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h3>EMINENT MEN AND OF THE PRESS</h3> +<h4>TO THE</h4> +<h2>PHYSICAL LIFE OF WOMAN</h2> +<h3>AND ITS AUTHOR.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>Of the <i>very numerous</i> testimonials in our hands we select those of +earlier date in preference, as showing the acumen of the writers and +the warmth with which they welcomed the book.</p></div> + +<h4>FROM WILLIAM A. HAMMOND, M.D.,</h4> + +<p>Late Surgeon-General of U. S. Army; Professor of Diseases of the Mind and +Nervous System and of Clinical Medicine in the Bellevue Hospital Medical +College, New York.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Aug. '69.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Napheys</span>—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have read with much interest and satisfaction your +very admirable book on “The Physical Life of Woman.” I am glad +that the subject has been taken up by one who shows himself so thoroughly +qualified for the task, and I trust the instruction and advice +contained in the volume will reach every woman in the land.</p> +<center>Yours, sincerely,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">WILLIAM A. HAMMOND.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Brooklyn, N. Y.</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Geo. H. Napheys</span>—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have examined your volume: “The Physical Life of +Woman,” and desire to thank you for performing a work so long +needed, so difficult to perform, and now, at length, so well done by +you. Every mother should have this book, nor should she suffer a +child to be married without the knowledge which this work contains. +Thousands have dragged through miserable lives and many have perished +for want of such knowledge. It is to be hoped, too, now that +these delicate topics have been so modestly and plainly treated, that +your work will supersede the scores of ill-considered and often mischievous +treatises addressed “to the married,” which too often serve +the lusts of men under the pretence of virtue.</p> +<p style="text-align: right;">HENRY WARD BEECHER.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM REV. HORACE BUSHNELL, D.D.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Hartford, Conn.</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Geo. H. Napheys, M.D.</span>—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have read a large part of your book with interest. I +shrink from expressing any estimate of it as respects its physiological +merit, but it seems to be a book well studied, and it is written with +much delicacy and a careful respect, at all points, to the great interests +of morality. It will certainly be a great help to intelligence +on the subject, and ought, therefore, to be correspondingly useful.</p> +<center>Very respectfully yours,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">HORACE BUSHNELL.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM HARVEY L. BYRD, M.D.,</h4> + +<h5>Professor of Obstetrics in the Medical Department of Washington University +of Baltimore, Maryland.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Baltimore</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Geo. H. Napheys</span>, Philadelphia—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have examined with much pleasure and satisfaction +your work on “The Physical Life of Woman,” and do not hesitate to +commend it most warmly to our countrywomen, for whose benefit it +is intended. I congratulate you on the felicitous manner in which +you have treated so difficult a subject, and would recommend it to the +public as supplying a want that has long been felt in this country.</p> + +<p><i>Omne verum utile dictu</i>, and what can be more proper or more useful +than that woman should be made acquainted with the great laws +of her being and the duties for which she was created?</p> +<center>Very respectfully, your obed't servant,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">HARVEY L. BYRD.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>EXTRACT FROM LETTER RECEIVED FROM EDWIN M. SNOW,<br /> +M.D., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Providence</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Napheys</span>—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have examined with much interest the advance sheets +of your book, “The Physical Life of Woman:” I am highly pleased +with it. The advice given seems to me to be generally correct, and +judiciously expressed; and, in my opinion, the wide circulation of the +book would be a benefit to the community,</p> +<center>Truly yours,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">EDWIN M. SNOW.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<h4>FROM REV. GEORGE ALEX. CROOKE, D.D., D.C.L.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Geo. H. Napheys</span>—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have carefully read your work entitled “The Physical +Life of Woman,” and, as the result, I must candidly say that I believe +the information it contains is well calculated to lessen suffering and +greatly benefit the human race. I know there are some falsely fastidious +persons who would object to any work of the kind, but “to the +pure all things are pure.” You have done your part fearlessly and +well, and in a popular manner, and I trust that your work may be +productive of all the good you design by its publication.</p> +<center>Very faithfully,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">GEO. ALEX. CROOKE.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>OPINION OF LLOYD P. SMITH, Esq.</h4> + +<h5>Librarian Philadelphia Library.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Library Co. of Philadelphia, Fifth St. Bel. Chestnut,<br /> +Philadelphia</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p>It is an open question whether books de <i>secretis mulierum</i> should be +written for the general public; but there is no doubt that, when they +are written, it should be done by the regular faculty, and not by ignorant +quacks. Dr. Napheys' “Physical Life of Woman” shows not +only the scientific attainments of the author, but also a wide range of +miscellaneous reading. The delicate subjects treated of are handled +with a seriousness and earnestness becoming their importance, and +the author's views are expressed in excellent English.</p> +<p style="text-align: right;">LLOYD P. SMITH.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>OPINION OF S. W. BUTLER, M.D.</h4> + +<h5>Editor of the Philadelphia “Medical and Surgical Reporter.”</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>I have carefully examined “The Physical Life of Woman,” and find +it a work at once thoroughly representing modern science, and eminently +adapted for family instruction. It is well suited to female +readers, to whom it is especially addressed both in the matter it contains +and in the delicacy with which points relating to their physiological +life are mentioned.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right;">S. W. BUTLER.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>EXTRACT FROM LETTER RECEIVED FROM JOHN H. +GRISCOM, M.D.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">New York</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr Napheys</span>—</p> +<p><i>My Dear Sir</i>: The “Physical Life of Woman” is a very scientific +and intellectually written work, and contains almost all the physiological +and sanitary facts and directions needed for the preservation of +the health and longevity of the maiden, wife, and mother. It must +prove attractive and useful for any lady who reads it.</p> +<center>Your sincere friend,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">JOHN H. GRISCOM.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<h4>FROM THE NATIONAL BAPTIST, PHILA., DEC. 30, 1869</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>We join in the cordial welcome which this book has received. There +is no other work which tells so well just what every woman—and every +considerate man also—ought to know. Maternity is the one great +function of woman, according to God's ordinance, and for this marvelous +and holy mission her physical, intellectual, and moral constitution +has been designed. Dr. Napheys, in his wise “Advice to +maiden, wife, and mother,” passes in review the cardinal facts respecting +woman's physical life. The book is written in a very clear +and simple style, so that no one can misunderstand it, while there is +nothing to disturb or offend the most sensitive. A judicious mother +would do her maturing daughters great service by first carefully reading +this volume herself, and then have them read it under her guidance.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>OPINION OF MRS. R. B. GLEASON, M.D.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Elmira</span>, N. Y., Sept. 1869.</p> +<p>The advance sheets of “The Physical Life of Woman” have been +read with much interest. In this book Dr. Napheys has well met a +real need of the age. There are many things incident to woman's +physical organization which she needs to know, and concerning which +she still does not want to ask a physician, and may not have one at +hand when she most desires the information. This book can be easily +read and perfectly understood by those not familiar with medical +terms. All matters of delicacy are treated with freedom, and still +with a purity of thought and expression which is above criticism.</p> + +<p>For many years we have been often asked for just such a book, and +shall gladly commend it to the many wives and mothers who want for +themselves and grown-up daughters such a book of helps and hints for +home life.</p> +<p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Mrs.</span> R. B. GLEASON.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM PROFESSOR JOHN S. HART, LL.D.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">State Normal School, Trenton, N. J.</span></p> +<p>Geo. H. Napheys, M.D.—</p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have read with attention the advance sheets of your +book, “The Physical Life of Woman:” and take pleasure in saying +that you have handled a most difficult and important subject with +equal delicacy and ability.</p> +<center>Yours truly,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">JOHN S. HART.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>OPINION OF MARK HOPKINS, D.D., LL.D.,</h4> + +<h5>President of Williams College.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Your book is conscientiously written, and will be likely to do +good.”</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE N. Y. EVANGELIST, NOV. 18, 1869.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>This is a plain and practical treatise, prepared by a physician of +skill and experience, in which he aims to furnish information to +women, in their peculiar conditions and relations, married and single, +so as to enable them to preserve their own health, and perform their +duties to themselves and their children. The most delicate subjects +are treated in language so chaste as not to offend any pure mind.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<h4>OPINION OF DR. R. SHELTON MACKENZIE.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, Oct. 1869.</p> +<p>“Believing that such a work as Dr. Napheys' 'Physical Life of +Woman,' giving a great deal of valuable information, explicitly and +delicately, is likely to be of very essential importance to the fair sex, +I cannot hesitate to express my favorable opinion of its object and +execution.”</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>LETTER RECEIVED FROM REV. GEO. BRINGHURST,</h4> + +<h5>Rector of the P. E. Church of the “Messiah,” Philadelphia.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Geo. H. Napheys</span>—</p> +<p><i>My Dear Sir</i>: I have perused with considerable care and pleasure +the work on the “Physical Life of Woman,” and feel no hesitation in +pronouncing it admirably composed, honest, succinct, refined, and +worthy of the companionship of every lady of this age. I hail its appearance +with gratitude, and look upon it as a valuable contribution +to those efforts which are making in various directions to elevate the +tone of morals of the nineteenth century, and to enable mothers to +discharge faithfully the duties they owe their children.</p> +<center>Sincerely yours,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">GEORGE BRINGHURST.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM H. N. EASTMAN, M.D.,</h4> + +<h5>Professor of Practical Medicine in Geneva Medical College.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Geneva</span>, Sept. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Geo. H. Napheys, M.D.—</span></p> +<p><i>Dear Sir</i>: I have just completed a careful reading of your advance +sheets of “The Physical Life of Woman,” and I unhesitatingly pronounce +it an admirable work, and one especially needed at this time. +The book is written in a chaste, elevated, and vigorous style, is +replete with instruction indispensable to the welfare and happiness of +woman, and should be placed in the hands of every mature maiden +and matron in our land.</p> +<p style="text-align: right;">H. N. EASTMAN.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>EDITORIAL FROM PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL AND +SURGICAL REPORTER.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It is a singular fact, that in this country, most of the works on +medical and hygienic matters have been written by irregular practitioners +in order to help on its legs some ism or pathy of their own. +The public is really desirous of information about the great questions +of life and health. It buys whatever is offered it, and cannot tell of +course the tares from the wheat. In fact, as we have said, there has +been very little wheat offered it. Scientific physicians do not seem to +have taken the pains in this country, as in Germany, to expand sound +medical information among the people.</p> + +<p>We therefore welcome all the more warmly a work which, under any +circumstances, would command our praise, advance sheets of which +are now before us. The author is Dr. George H. Napheys, of this +city, well known to all the readers of the “Reporter” as a constant +contributor to its pages for a number of years, a close student of +therapeutics, and a pleasing writer. The title of the book is “The +Physical Life of Woman: advice to the Maiden, Wife, and Mother.” +It is a complete manual of information for women, in their peculiar +conditions and relations, married and single.</p> + +<p>The style is simple, agreeable, and eminently proper and delicate, +conspicuously so when treating of such difficult topics to handle in a +popular book, yet so necessary to be handled, as the marital relations +of husband and wife, the consummation of marriage, etc.</p> + +<p>We do not doubt that this work will find as large a sale both in and +out of the profession in this country, as the works of Bock and +Klencke in Germany, and of Tilt and Chavasse in England.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE NASHVILLE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND +SURGERY FOR NOVEMBER, 1869.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The outside of this book is more stylish and artistic than any the +market has owed to the press this season. The type and paper of the +inside are in keeping with the elegant exterior. The work contains +much valuable matter, in a style peculiarly attractive. It is intended +to treat woman as a rational being, to let her know much about herself +as a woman, that from this knowledge she may prevent and therefore +escape much of the suffering endured by her sex.</p> + +<p>And who can do this but a physician? This may be regarded as +the first attempt of the kind in this country.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE MEDICAL RECORD, NEW YORK, JAN. 15, 1870.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Doctor Napheys, in his work on “The Physical Life of Woman,” +has acquitted himself with infinite credit. The subject, which for a +work of its size takes a very wide range, is treated in choice, nay elegant +language, and we have not noticed a single expression upon the +most delicate matter that could offend the most refined taste. There +are, too, a great many interesting historical facts connected with the +general topic, both in an ethical and physiological point of view, which +show much discrimination in their production, and a good amount of +sterling scholarship. To the medical reader there are many points in +the book that are worthy of attention, prominent among which are +remarks bearing upon the right of limitation of offspring. We sincerely +hope that, for the real benefit of American women, it may meet +with a hearty reception, and be productive of great good, in preventing +many of those disorders now so rife in the community, which are +solely the result of ignorance of the ordinary laws of female hygiene.</p> + +<p>No one, however scrupulous, need fear to admit the work within the +pale of his family circle, and place it, with confidence, in the hands of +his daughters.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE NEW YORK MEDICAL GAZETTE, JAN. 8, 1870.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Though professedly written for popular instruction, this little book +will not fail to instruct as well the professional reader. We cordially +recommend the perusal of Dr. Napheys' book to every woman seeking +a fuller acquaintance with her physical organism.</p></div> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<h4>FROM THE BOSTON MEDICAL AND SURGICAL JOURNAL, +NOV. 25, 1869.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Most valuable for the perusal of mothers, and of those fathers who +may be equal to the task of advising sons liable to commit matrimony. +The style—of the text—is unexceptionable. Words are not wasted, +and those used are to the point. The volume is not a mere <i>resumé</i> of +others' opinions; but the author has made the topics of which he +treats his own.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE CHICAGO MEDICAL EXAMINER OF NOV. 1869.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>This work is written in a plain and pleasing style, well calculated +both to please and instruct. There is nothing of the <i>sensational</i> or +imaginative character in it. On the contrary, its teachings are in +strict accordance with scientific facts and good sense. Though designed +specially for females, yet a careful perusal would be productive +of much benefit to both sexes.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE METHODIST HOME JOURNAL, DEC. 4, 1860.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Hitherto, the subjects so honestly and so skilfully treated in this +volume have, to a very great extent, been ruled out of the realm of +popular knowledge, and information of this class sought only in a +clandestine manner. The people have suffered by deplorable ignorance +on those topics, which should be as familiar to us as the alphabet. +Dr. Napheys, by his scientific handling of the physiological points +which relate to health, training, and development, has rendered a +great service to the world. This, the press, and public men, have not +been slow to acknowledge. The book has gained unqualified praise, +and well deserves it.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 4, '69.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A book which treats wisely and delicately of very important subjects, +and subjects which ought to be treated by competent hands, +instead of being left to quacks and the venders of nostrums. Dr. +Napheys is evidently a conscientious and intelligent physician, and +his counsels are such as may be put in the hands of all persons needing +such counsels. We commend it for its judicious exposition of the +laws of nature.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE NEW YORK CHRISTIAN UNION, JAN. 8, 1870.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Society owes a debt of gratitude to this brave and scientific physician +for the unexceptionable way in which he has performed a work +that has, up to the publication of this book, been a paramount need, +not to be satisfied anywhere in the English language. If the volume +contained only the chapter on the influence of the mother's mind upon +her unborn child, we would recommend its purchase by every family +in the United States.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE PHILA. EVENING TELEGRAPH, OCT. 6, 1869.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>This is a work by a physician of reputation on the hygiene of woman, +designed for popular use, and introducing a variety of topics not generally +discussed outside of regular scientific medical works. Dr. Napheys +writes with dignity and earnestness, and there is not a chapter in his +book that may not be read by persons of both sexes. Of course such +a work as this is intended for men and women of mature years, and +it is not suitable to be left lying about for the gratification of idle +curiosity. The author has been careful to write nothing that can possibly +give offence, and he conveys much sound instruction that, if +heeded by those to whom it is particularly addressed, will save much +suffering.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE INDEPENDENT, NEW YORK, NOV. 11, 1869.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It required a brave but sensitively pure man to provide for the want +which existed for some reliable medical instruction upon points which +every woman and every married man ought to know, and few do. Dr. +Napheys we do not know personally. But his book is at once brave +and pure. It is written in such a spirit that she who really desires to +learn the truths of which she cannot with justice to herself or others +be ignorant, may do so without being shocked; while he who hopes +to stimulate a vicious imagination by its perusal will turn from its +pages disappointed away.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM REV. HENRY CLAY TRUMBULL,</h4> + +<h5>Secretary of New England Department of Missions of the American Sunday-school +Union.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Hartford, Ct</span>., Oct. 1869.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Geo. H. Napheys, M.D</span>.—</p> +<p><i>My Dear Sir</i>: Understanding, from my long acquaintance with +you, your thoroughness of mental culture, your delicacy of sentiment, +and your sound good sense, I was prepared to approve heartily the +tone and style of your new work, “The Physical Life of Woman,” +when its advance sheets were first placed in my hands.</p> + +<p>A close examination of it convinces me that it is a book which can +be read by every woman to her instruction and advantage. Its manner +is unexceptionable. Its style is remarkably simple. Its substance +evidences your professional knowledge and your extensive study. I +believe it needs only to be brought to notice to commend itself widely. +I think you have done an excellent work in its preparation.</p> +<center>Sincerely your friend,</center> +<p style="text-align: right;">H. CLAY TRUMBULL.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> + +<h4>FROM THE REV. W. H. H. MURRAY,</h4> + +<h5>Pastor of the Park Street Church, Boston, Mass.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Dec</span>. 2, 1871.</p> +<p>It is with sincere gratitude to the author that I give my endorsement +to the book entitled “The Physical Life of Woman.” Never +was such a work more needed anywhere, or in any age, than it is in +America at this time. I should rejoice at its introduction among the +people until every wife and mother in the country and the world had +a copy in her possession. In it the author has indeed given needed +instruction and warning. He deserves the thanks of every Christian +and well-wisher of the race.</p> +<p style="text-align: right;">W. H. H. MURRAY.</p></div> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Physical Life of Woman:, by +Dr. George H Napheys + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHYSICAL LIFE OF WOMAN: *** + +***** This file should be named 24001-h.htm or 24001-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/0/0/24001/ + +Produced by Joseph R. Hauser, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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