In this lesson the writer seeks to direct the attention of his women
readers to certain subjects upon which the average woman is not well
informed, and upon which she usually requires sound, sane, clean, frank
information. In many cases women hesitate to ask even their family
physicians for such information, and, although there is no rational
reason for it, they even shrink from consulting better informed and
capable women concerning these subjects.
SEXUAL FEELING. Owing to erroneous teachings, and irrational prejudices
arising from ancient distorted and perverted ideals of sex, many women
have grown to maturity under the erroneous belief that it is a sign of
immorality, or at least low ideals and depraved nature, for a woman to
experience sexual emotions or feelings, wishes or desires. So true is
this that even many married women seek to withhold from their husbands
the knowledge that any sexual feeling is experienced by the wife.
Such a belief is of course absurd. It is as natural for a woman to
experience normal sexual feeling as it is for her to experience any
other feeling aroused by natural instincts and organism. Without such
instinct and the feelings arising therefrom, there would be no mating or
marriage, and no perpetuation of the race. The woman experiencing such
feelings should not allow herself to imagine that she is depraved or
perverted, or immoral in thought and feeling. Incredible as it may
appear to a normal, healthy-minded man, it is true that thousands of
young women have lost self-respect, and have lapsed into a morbid state
of mind, because of the occasional manifestation of their normal sexual
feeling.
This does not, of course, mean that the woman must necessarily manifest
into action the feeling experienced by her. On the contrary, she must
acquire self-mastery and self-control, just as she must in other phases
of her life. It may help some women of this kind to realize that the sex
feeling and impulses, arising unbidden (and often unwelcomed) from the
depths of their subconscious mentality, are essentially CREATIVE
impulses. If the woman be unmarried, or if married and placed under
conditions in which the marital relation with the husband is impossible
or undesirable, then she can TRANSMUTE this creative energy in some form
of creative work--in work which leads to the creation, manufacture,
building-up, or composing something. There is a hint here which will
prove a great blessing to the woman who will understand and apply the
principle suggested--for many other women have found it so.
As for the married woman, there is no reason whatsoever why she should
seek to withhold from her husband the knowledge that she is possessed of
normal, natural, healthy sexual feeling. In fact, the withholding of
such information, and the concealment and deception arising therefrom,
has often done much to bring marital inharmony between husband and wife.
If there is any deception to be practiced in the marital association of
husband and wife, it should rather be in the opposite direction, i. e.,
in the direction of pretending the emotional feeling when it exists only
partially or is absent. The last matter, however, is one for the
exercise of the judgment and conviction of each individual woman; but
the first mentioned admonition is one which should be observed, as it is
based on honesty, truth, and good judgment as well.
ALCOHOL AND SEXUALITY. It needs no extended argument to convince the
average person that an individual will do things when under the
influence of drink that he or she would not do when perfectly sober. It
is an old saying that "When the wine is in, the wits are out." But there
is a deeper connection and relation between alcoholic drink and sexual
indiscretions than is usually realized by the average person. Besides
the commonly known weakening of will-power and self-control arising from
the influence of strong drink, there are certain influences concerning
the sexual nature and arising from the presence of alcohol in the
system, which are not known to most persons. So true is this that the
writer has thought it well to utter a few words of warning to his women
readers concerning these things.
In the first place, there is an exhilarating effect arising from certain
kinds of liquor, wines, and other forms of alcoholic drinks, which
manifests directly in an excitement of the sexual centers and organism.
In many cases a strong sexual excitement, absent at other times, is
aroused, and the person is carried away with the force of passion
unknown under other circumstances. Added to this the weakened will-power
arising from too much drink, and we have an explanation of many cases of
"mistakes" of women. It would appear that women are even more
susceptible than are men to unusual sexual excitement arising from
alcoholic drinks; and that, therefore, they should be especially
cautious in the indulgence in such drinks, particularly when in the
company of strange men, or men careless in regard to sexual morality and
respect for women in their company.
But there is still a deeper reason, based upon the latest discoveries in
psychology, why caution in this respect should be observed by women. We
allude to the discovery that alcohol first affects the mental and
emotional tendencies of more recent racial acquirement, acting so as to
paralyze and inhibit the activities thereof, and to thus release the
activity of the more primitive emotions and motive activities. Thus, the
woman under the influence of alcohol finds that the more recent racial
traits, such as sexual control, restraint, sexual morality, conventional
observations, etc., are practically temporarily paralyzed in
inhibitual--or to use the current slang phrase, are "put out of
commission" for the time being; and, at the same time, the old
elemental, savage, barbaric, "cave man" instincts, habits, and methods
of action, are brought to the surface, and proceed to manifest their
activity if opportunity be granted for the same--and the opportunity is
usually granted. This being seen to be true, it is seen that the woman
so under the influence of liquor is, for the time being, little more
than a "cave woman," or barbarian, with all the lax sex morality of the
latter, and with all the tendencies to manifest into activity the
primitive impulses arising in her nature and demanding expression. Added
to this the weakening of will-power always accompanying the alcoholic
influence, it is seen that the woman under the influence of strong drink
is an easy prey to designing men, and a willing victim to her own lower
passions.
An authority of sex subjects says: "That Bacchus, the god of wine, is
the strongest ally of Venus, the goddess of love, using the term Love in
its physical sense, as the French use the word 'amour,' has been well
known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, as it is well known today to
every saloon-keeper and every keeper of a disreputable house. And all
measures to combat venereal diseases and to prevent girls from making a
false step will only be partially successful if we do not at the same
time carry on a strong educational campaign against alcoholic
indulgence. * * * Of what use are warnings to a girl, when under the
influence of a heavy dinner and a bottle of champagne, to which she is
unaccustomed, her passion is aroused to a degree she has never
experienced before, her will is paralyzed and she yields, though deep
down in her consciousness something tells her she shouldn't? She yields,
becomes pregnant, and is in the deepest agony for several months, and
has a wound which will probably never heal for the rest of her life. Of
what use have all the lectures, books, and maternal injunctions been to
her? * * * I believe that the sex instinct can be stimulated
artificially beyond the natural needs, and among the artificial
stimulants of the sex instinct alcohol occupies the first place. And
bear in mind that alcohol produces even a stronger effect upon women, in
exciting the sexual passion, than it does on men. Women are more easily
upset by stimulants and narcotics, and that is the reason why it is more
dangerous for women to drink than it is for men. It is impossible to
give statistics and exact or even approximate figures. But there is no
question in my mind, in the mind of any careful investigator, that if
alcoholic beverages could be eliminated, the number of cases of venereal
infection would be diminished by about one-half. And what is true of
venereal disease is also true of the seduction of young girls. Alcohol
is the most efficient weapon that either the refined Don Juan or the
vulgar pimp has in his possession."
Our advice to the woman who is asked to drink liquor when in the company
of a man outside of her immediate family circle is emphatically this:
DON'T DO IT!
THE MENSTRUAL PERIOD. As strange as it may appear to those women who
have had the advantage of intelligent maternal advice, it is a fact
known to all physicians that many mothers permit their young daughters
to enter into the stage of puberty, with the accompanying menstrual
flow, without having first instructed the daughter as to the meaning and
character of this phenomenon of her nature, and without having given
her advice concerning the proper care of herself during this period.
Physicians constantly experience cases in which the young girl to whom
the first menstrual flow having come, without previous knowledge on her
part, has supposed it to be the result of a wound, or of a diseased
condition, and has attempted to stop the flow by the application of cold
water. Even where a partial knowledge has been attained by the girl, she
is found to lack the knowledge of the proper hygienic care of herself
during the period. The mothers in such cases are criminally negligent,
and have alluded a false modesty or prudery to interfere with a natural
and necessary maternal duty.
The approach of the first menstruation is often accompanied by unusual
physical, mental and emotional changes in the young girl. Her nervous
system is affected, and she is apt to become irritable or morbid, or
even somewhat "flighty." Her appetite may become irregular, and there is
often present a craving for indigestible food. A physical languor is
often experienced, and there may be pains in the back and legs,
chilliness and headaches, and a general upsetting of the usual physical
condition, accompanied by a manifestation of peevishness and
irritability. These unpleasant symptoms usually disappear when the
periodical menstrual flow is permanently established. In fact, they are
frequently superseded by the awakened energy and heightened spirits of
healthy, normal adolescence.
The time of the beginning of the menstrual period varies according to
climate, race, condition of health, and temperament. In the tropical
countries, menstruation begins from the tenth to the fourteenth year; in
temperate countries, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth; in cold
countries, from the fifteenth to the twentieth year. The Italian,
Hebrew, Spanish, or French girl is apt to menstruate earlier than the
English, German, or Swedish girl. The Negro girl menstruates early, as a
rule. The full-blooded girl usually menstruates earlier than the anemic
one.
Normally, menstruation should proceed naturally and without pain or
suffering. When pain or suffering is experienced in connection with
menstruation, it is simply because of some lack of health in the general
system; and when such general health is restored, the trouble ceases.
Painful menstruation is called "dysmenorrhea," and arises from several
causes, principal among which are the following: Errors in diet, errors
in dress, undue exposure, constipation, lack of proper exercise, or to a
contracted or congested condition of the Uterus or the Fallopian Tubes.
The pain, however, cannot be considered as a feature of normal
menstruation, for the latter is no more painful than a normal movement
of the bowels--the painful condition results from abnormal conditions,
the removal of these conditions resulting in the cure of the complaint.
DYSMENORRHEA should be treated by the discarding of all unhygienic
clothing, tight shoes, etc., and their replacement by rational clothing;
the dietary should be carefully scanned, and improper articles replaced
by nourishing elements of food--discard the pastries, pickles,
confections, and stimulants, and substitute sensible articles of diet;
if constipation is present, remove it by eating articles of food which
promote free movements of the bowels, and drink more water each day;
take a proper amount of exercise--housework is as good a form of
exercise as any; many authorities advocate the free drinking of water
prior to and during the menstrual period--some going so far as to say
that WHERE THERE IS PAINFUL MENSTRUATION THERE IS ALWAYS A LACK OF A
PROPER AMOUNT OF WATER TAKEN INTO THE SYSTEM. In some cases
Dysmenorrhea is due to disorders of the general nervous system, and
treatment therefore should be sought at the hands of a capable
physician.
AMENORRHEA, another disorder arising in connection with the menstrual
process, consists of the retention or suppression of the menses, or of
"scanty" menses, or occasional "skipping" of the periods. This condition
is apt to be manifest in cases of extreme obesity or "fatness;" the
nervous system being burdened with superfluous flesh, its menstrual
rhythm is often affected. Suppression of the menses also sometimes
results from exposure and disturbing mental emotions. The most approved
treatment is that of remedying the abnormal general physical condition,
proper diet, and the use of hot drinks, hot sitz baths, and hot enemas
about the time of the beginning of the normal period.
MENORRHAGIA, another menstrual-period disorder, consists of very profuse
flowing--it is, in fact, a mild form of hemorrhage. It usually arises
from general debility, shocks, too violent exercise or labor, and also
in many cases from undue and too frequent sexual intercourse. Sometimes
the excessive flow occurs during the regular menstrual period, while in
other cases it may manifest itself out of season--sometimes as often as
two or three times a month. The duration of the normal period of
menstrual flow, however, varies greatly among different women; the
normal period may be said to last from two to six days, so what might be
an excessive flow for one woman would be only normal for
another--temperament plays a large part in determining the quantity of
the menses.
Some of the accompanying symptoms of Menorrhagia, or profuse flow, are
lassitude, shortness of breath, faintness, dizziness, headache,
irritability and nervousness, and often also leucorrhea between periods.
The general treatment consists in measures calculated to bring the
general health of the woman back to the normal. The building up of the
general system, by means of nourishing food, proper exercise, etc., will
almost always result in curing this disorder.
A well-known authority has well said: "The hygiene of menstruation can
be expressed in two words: CLEANLINESS AND REST."
So far as Rest is concerned, the woman need not be urged to take it at
this period--that is, if she is able to do so. Care should be taken not
to exercise unduly at this time, and under the head of exercise may be
included dancing, horseback riding, and automobiling, as well as the
more common forms of athletic work.
It would seem that common sense and the general desire for cleanliness
and daintiness would cause all women to observe the plain hygienic laws
of Cleanliness at the time of the menstrual period. And, indeed, it is
probable that such would be the case were it not for the fact that some
ancient superstitions still exert their power over the mind of many
women, in regard to the use of water during the menstrual period. While
it is true that cold baths, or cold-water bathing, are not advisable for
the average woman during the menstrual period (although some especially
robust women bathe and swim as usual during this period), this
prohibition does not apply to the use of WARM water during the period.
Lukewarm baths are permissible at this time; and the woman should wash
the external genital parts with warm water, with soap if desired, every
morning and evening of the period. A vaginal douche of lukewarm water is
an excellent adjunct to the bathing of the parts.
It is astonishing to meet with the superstitious prejudice existing in
the minds of some women concerning the use of the vaginal douche; these
good creatures seem to think that it is either unnatural and unhealthy,
or else is something "not respectable," and fit only for the use of
immoral women. These women should get in touch with modern hygienic
methods, and learn to use the douche at least during their menstrual
periods. At this time, if the plain rules of cleanliness are not
observed, there often occurs a decomposition of the blood which has
gathered in or about the genitals, and an offensive odor is manifested.
Some women, while feeling distressed about this odor, are afraid to use
lukewarm water in washing themselves, owing to some old unexplored
superstition handed down from the great-grandmother's time.
The napkins should be changed at least every morning and evening.
Unclean napkins may lead to infection, and it is probable that many
cases of leucorrhea have their origin in lack of cleanliness concerning
the napkins, cloths, or rags, used during menstruation. It may seem
almost incredible to the average woman reader, but physicians know of
cases (usually among the poorer and more ignorant foreign classes) in
which the girl is instructed by her mother, grandmother, or aunts, that
she must wear the original cloth or rag during the entire period, as she
will "catch cold" by a change to a clean, fresh cloth while the flow
continued. Imagine the result of such a practice! This last is an
extreme instance, of course, but it will serve to show the absurd and
harmful notions prevalent concerning this important natural function,
and its incidents.
LEUCORRHEA. A very common disorder among women is that known as
Leucorrhea, or "the whites." It consists of a discharge from the Vagina,
or the Uterus through the Vagina. It is, in fact, of a catarrhal nature,
and results from an over-secretion of the mucus fluids which, in proper
quantity, keep the mucus membrane of the said organs in good condition.
The discharge manifests in various shades and degrees of consistency.
From the character of the discharge, physicians are able to determine
whether it comes from the Vagina or the Uterus. The discharge from the
Vagina usually is a light creamy fluid; that from the neck of the Uterus
is a sticky, thick fluid flowing rather freely; that from the lining of
the Uterus is alkaline, and generally precedes and follows menstruation;
and that accompanying ulceration of the womb is semi-purulent and
offensive in odor.
Leucorrhea has many causes, among which may be mentioned the following:
getting chilled feet or body, particularly during the menstrual period;
over exertion and overwork standing on one's feet; chills following
dancing in overheated rooms; excessive worry or emotional strain, etc.
It is a quite common complaint, and some assert that fully twenty-five
per cent (perhaps more) of all women suffer from it to at least some
extent.
The general treatment of Leucorrhea consists of the building up of the
entire system by the proper hygienic methods. Constipation should be
removed, and the system is built up by the proper articles of food,
exercise, etc. The use of the proper douches are also advised by the
best practitioners. Physicians also treat inflamed areas by local
treatments consisting of painting the Vagina or neck of the Uterus with
certain medicinal solutions. Certain suppositories and douches are also
employed in some cases. It is always better to consult a good physician
in these cases, particularly where the trouble is aggravated or of long
standing.
A popular writer on the subject gives the following prescription for a
vaginal injection: White Fluid Hydrastics, 2 ounces; Borax, 1/2 ounce;
Distilled Witch Hazel Extract, 1 pint. Use of this preparation ONE
OUNCE, DILUTED IN A PINT OF LUKEWARM WATER, as a vaginal injection,
taken twice each day.
A well-known authority gives the following advice concerning treatment
of Leucorrhea: "One of the simplest things is an alum tampon. You take a
piece of absorbent cotton, about the size of a fist, spread it out, put
about a tablespoonful of powdered alum on it, fold it up, tie a string
around the center, insert it in the vagina as far as it will go, and
leave it in twenty-four hours. Then pull it gently by the string and
syringe yourself with a quart or two of warm water. Such a tampon may be
inserted every other day or every third day, and I have known where this
simple treatment alone produced a cure. In some cases, however, douches
work better, and the two best things for douching are: tincture of
iodine and lactic acid. Buy, say, four ounces of tincture of iodine, and
use two teaspoonsful in two quarts of hot water in a douche bag. This
injection should be used twice a day, morning and night. Of the lactic
acid you buy, say, a pint, and use two tablespoonsful to two quarts of
water. The lactic acid has the advantage over the tincture of iodine
that it is colorless, while the iodine is dark and stains whatever it
comes in contact with. Sometimes I order the use of the tincture of
iodine and the lactic acid alternately: for one douche the tincture of
iodine, for the next the lactic acid, and so on. When the condition
improves, it is sufficient to use one teaspoonful of the tincture of
iodine and one tablespoonful of the lactic acid to two quarts of water.
These injections are quite efficient and have the advantage of being
perfectly harmless. One point about the injections: they should be taken
not in the standing or squatting position (in which position the fluid
comes right out), but while laying down, over a douche pan. The douche
bag should be only about a foot above the bed, so that the irrigating
fluid may come out slowly; the patient, after each injection taken in
the daytime, should remain at least half an hour in bed (in the
nighttime she stays all night in bed.) This gives the injection a better
chance to come in contact with all the parts of the vagina, and a
portion of it comes in contact with the cervix, where it exerts a
healing effect. Avoid the use of patent medicines."
UTERINE DISPLACEMENT. The woman suffering from Uterine Displacement
should, of course, consult a competent physician and be governed by his
advice. The following suggestions, however, will be found to be of
service in many cases:
In the case of PROLAPSUS, or falling of the womb, many women have found
great relief, and in many cases permanent improvement, by taking
occasional rests in bed for an hour or so, with the feet and lower part
of the legs raised at least eight inches above the level of the head. In
this plan, the Uterus is replaced by gravitation. Some authorities
advise practicing waist-breathing while lying in this position, thus
exercising the abdominal muscles. Dr. Taylor says: "Increase the
pump-like action of the chest, and it will be found that the displaced
viscera will return to their normal position." Some have also found
relief from the use of alum-water vaginal injections once or twice each
day. The alum-water is prepared by dissolving one heaping teaspoonful of
powdered alum in a pint of lukewarm water. This last treatment often
strengthens the vaginal muscles whose yielding has at least partially
been the cause of the falling womb.
In cases of RETROVERSION, in which the Uterus is turned or bent
backward, the "knee and chest" position will often aid in causing the
organ to regain its normal position. In this position the woman kneels,
and rests her chest upon the bed, thus causing the hips to be elevated.
In cases of ANTROVERSION, in which the Uterus is turned or bent forward,
relief is often obtained by the woman resting upon the back, using a
pillow to elevate her hips.
INTERCOURSE DURING MENSTRUATION. It would seem that the natural esthetic
repulsion to the exercise of the marital relations during the menstrual
period should be sufficient to deter men and women from indulgence at
this time; but many seem to have overcome this instinctive repulsion,
and to these a stronger reason must be given--and the reason is at hand.
The reasons in question are as follows: first, that congestion of the
Uterus and Ovaries sometimes results from this unnatural practice;
second, that the man may possibly contract an inflammation of the
urethra by infection from the degenerated membrane, tissue, blood, etc.,
of the menstrual flow; and third, that such practices may result in the
aggravation of discharges from the woman, such as leucorrhea, etc.
INTERCOURSE DURING PREGNANCY. The best authorities advise total
abstinence from sexual intercourse during the period of pregnancy; but
in view of the fact that such abstinence is very difficult for most men,
and that few will persist in it, it is thought well to point out the
fact that at least an extreme moderation is desirable in such cases. A
leading authority says on this point: "During the first four months of
pregnancy, no change need be made in the usual sex relations; their
intensity should be moderated, their frequency need not. During the
fifth, sixth, and seventh months, intercourse should be indulged in at
rarer intervals--once in two or three weeks--the act should be performed
without any violence or intensity. During the eighth and ninth months
relations had best be given up altogether. And this abstinence should
last until about six weeks after the birth of the child. During this
period the uterus undergoes what we call involution; that is, it goes
back to the size and shape it had before pregnancy, and it is best not
to disturb this process by sexual excitement, which causes engorgement
and congestion."
STERILITY IN WOMEN. Sterility, or barrenness, i. e., the inability to
bear children, is frequently met with among married people. It is
usually blamed upon the woman, whereas in at least one-half of the cases
the fault is with the man.
The causes of sterility in women are usually one or more of the
following: Inflammation of the Fallopian Tubes, which may have been
caused by gonorrhea or ordinary inflammation--in some rare cases
childbirth has been known to set up an inflammation in this region,
which has prevented the woman from future childbearing--the inflammation
causes the tubes to clog up or become closed, so that no more ova can
pass through them from the ovaries to the womb; in some cases, also,
severe cases of leucorrhea have caused sterility, as the discharge is
sometimes fatal to the life of the spermatozoa and destroys them; in
other cases misplacement of the womb causes sterility; also severe
inflammation of the neck or mouth of the womb operates in the same way,
in some cases. In cases of sterility, the woman should have an
examination made by a competent physician, and it often will be found
that the cure of the disorders above noted will work a cure of the
sterility.
But, in all cases of sterility, it will be found that the husband should
be examined as well as the wife--in fact, many authorities insist that
the husband should be examined first. Venereal diseases frequently
produce sterility in the man, although he is loath to admit this and is
apt to place the blame entirely upon the woman.
MISCARRIAGE AND ABORTIONS. The terms "miscarriage," and "abortion,"
respectively, mean the expulsion of the fetus from the womb before its
natural time of delivery. In common usage, the term "miscarriage" is
usually employed to indicate instances in which the premature delivery
has occurred without any voluntary act on the part of the woman, or
other persons acting with her permission; the term "abortion" being
reserved for instances in which the miscarriage has been voluntarily
produced.
When the fetus dies within the womb of the mother, it is usually
expelled spontaneously within a few days or even a few hours. Some women
suffer from certain weakness which result in habitual miscarriage; such
women seem unable to carry the child for the full natural term, and lose
it at some time during the period of gestation. Like results often arise
from certain diseases, principal among which is syphilis. In some cases
the physician produces what is known as "therapeutic abortion," for the
purpose of saving the life of the woman--this is sanctioned by medical
custom and by law. Other forms of abortion, performed for the purpose of
preventing the progress of the gestation, and designed for the
destruction of the embryo or fetus, are known as "criminal abortion,"
and are punishable by several legal penalties.
Abortions are frequently followed by severe illness, invalidism, or even
death for the woman. Many women have had their entire lives ruined by
this evil practice. It is one of the curses of modern civilization, and
one which must be removed by means of rational instruction and education
along the lines of sexual science if the race is to be prevented from
deterioration. The subject will be further considered in the subsequent
lessons in this book.
The best advice to those who have contemplated the performance of
abortion is simply this: Don't; DON'T; DON'T!