Every woman should be given plain, practical, sane, sensible instruction
concerning the sex organism of woman, its functions, its laws, its use,
and its abuse. This important feature of the physical organism plays an
all powerful part in the life of every woman, and particularly in the
life of the married woman. It is nature's mechanism for the reproduction
of the race. Every child that is born into the world is conceived,
gestated, and finally delivered as a result of the functioning of this
organism. Therefore, such instruction and knowledge is vitally
necessary, not only for the intelligent performance of the duties of
parenthood, but also for the best interests of race-preservation,
race-culture, and the physical well-being and health of the individual
woman.
And yet, custom and ancient prejudice have drawn the veil over this most
important subject, so that it is difficult for the average woman to find
practical, clean information concerning her own anatomy and
physiological functions concerned with her sex-life. To many it has
appeared that the particular organs and parts of the body concerned with
the reproductive functions of the woman are base, unclean, and impure,
and that any woman discussing them, or seeking information regarding
them, must be immoral or at least not "respectable." Anatomical charts
and physiological treatises on the subject are tabooed outside of the
doctor's office. Women are considered immodest if they seek to acquaint
themselves with the facts of life concerning one of their most important
classes of physical functions. It is considered "not nice" for a young
woman to know anything about her physical being in those phases which
play the most important part in her life. Can there be anything more
ridiculous and insane? This is a matter which excites the most intense
surprise, disgust, and despair in the average person possessing a
scientific tendency. But the dawn is breaking, and a better day is ahead
of the race concerning these things.
The sex organs of the woman are divided into two classes, as follows:
(1) The external organs; and (2) the internal organs. Let us consider
each of these classes in turn.