and daughters has equally tended to the loss of physical development
and vigor in the present generation of women. The Creator has wisely
adapted the physical organization of woman to her appropriate duties,
so that the alternating sedentary and active exercises of the nursery
and household are exactly those best fitted to sustain and invigorate
the organs which now are so extensively displaced or diseased. And the
artificial modes of exercise to remedy these evils, now so successful
in the Movement Cure, are to a large extent in imitation of these
domestic muscular movements demanded in the nursery and in other
household labors. The tending of infants, the bending, twisting, and
stooping constantly practiced in these domestic labors are exactly
what are demanded to preserve in health and activity the muscles most
important to womanly development and vigor; while the interchanging
employment of the needle and other sedentary domestic pursuits, when in
proper proportion, equally tend to healthful results. Very different
are the influences on woman's health as she stands six and eight hours
behind the counter or in shops and mills in one continuous and unvaried
toil, or sits day after day over the needle without intervening
healthful exercises. Not less are the evils to the daughters of wealth
and ease, whose brain and nerves are never relieved and strengthened
by the exercises of domestic life. Still more lamentable is the common
practice of those who, when sending daughters to the public schools,
free them from domestic labor, that they may give their whole time
to study and school duties. If instead of this, these pupils were
required to engage in domestic labor two hours each day and this amount
of time was deducted from school duties, not only health but higher
intellectual development would be secured.
If a time should come when the aims of the Woman Suffrage party are
attained, and women are trained for the pulpit, the bar, the political
arena, and other professions drawing woman from domestic life, still
more disastrous influences will show the great mistake of taking woman
from her true sphere and giving her the work designed for man. If, on
the contrary, women are trained to both the science and the practice of
their true profession in all its varied departments, and with the honor
and emolument that now are given exclusively to the professions of men,
every woman will be in demand for the services of the family and the
school, and will regard the employments of men as less important and
less inviting than her own sacred ministries.
It is often said that it is mothers who must give the domestic training
to daughters, and that school duties should be confined to literature
and science. This might have been true in former days, when daughters
and mothers performed most of the family labor, and when the style of
living was simple and economical. But with the present style of houses
and expenditures, demanding two, three or more servants, it is utterly
impossible for a mother and housekeeper to add to her multiplied cares
the scientific domestic training of her daughters; nor can anything
of this kind be successfully connected with large boarding schools.
The demand for _scientific_ domestic training is greatly increased by
improved modern conveniences.
The one item of selecting and superintending the management of stoves
and furnaces, demands much scientific study and practical instruction,
and there is no one point where family health and economy suffer more
than for want of them. The inhaling of poisonous gases, the sudden
changes of temperature, and the want of proper ventilation probably are
doing more to destroy the constitution and health of families than any
other cause, and owing greatly to the want of needed science and skill
in housekeepers.
In various other departments, the increase of civilization and
its elegancies and conveniences have greatly increased the need of
scientific training for mothers and housekeepers, who, never having
been thus instructed themselves, are not qualified to train their
daughters.
As to the virtue of economy, in our nation among the more wealthy
classes, it seems to have become one of "the lost arts." The art and
skill of domestic economy can no more be acquired without instruction
and training, than any of the mechanical trades. As eldest daughter
of a poor minister, and the pupil of a most ingenious mother and a
vigorously economical aunt, I know that by proper training, a young
lady can dress with taste and propriety at one half the expense
required by one untrained; and that a housekeeper without such a
preparation needs double the means of one who is properly instructed.
Not that there are not women as well as men, who have natural gifts
that enable them to excel in handicraft and skill without any training,
so as to equal those properly instructed. But these are exceptional
cases.
To illustrate the fact that the more civilization increases the
enjoyments and refinements of the family state, the more it multiplies
the responsibilities and cares of a mother and housekeeper, I will
reproduce a specimen of such conversations as I have repeatedly had
with familiar friends. The lady introduced, is a mother of five young
children all attending some primary, or some higher schools, and in
reply to her remark that she had no time for solid or systematic
reading, I enquired,
"How many servants have you?"
"Three; a cook, a chambermaid, and a boy for errands and care of yard
and garden."
"Now suppose," said I, "that you give me an outline of your ordinary
daily routine, that I may appreciate your difficulties; for I think
few understand how much is demanded of mother and housekeeper in these
days. At what hour do you rise?"
"Usually about seven; and then beside dressing myself, I must see that
the little ones are washed and dressed properly, as all the servants
are busy. Their hair must be combed and braided, their teeth and nails
in order, and their clothing be all whole and clean for school, which
often demands an extra stitch, or some change that I must regulate.
This takes till near breakfast hour, when I go down to see that all is
right on the table and in the kitchen. When I have a good cook, and
second girl, I have not much to do; but the frequent changes oblige me
often to be training, or overseeing one or the other. Then at table, I
serve the tea and coffee, and also take care of the two youngest, to
supply proper food, and see that they behave properly."
"Cannot your husband take some of this care."
"Oh, no; he is so hurried in business and so anxious to get off as soon
as possible.
"Then we have prayers, and I must collect all the family, and see that
all the children behave properly. Then I make a memorandum of errands
or purchases for my husband to execute. Then I must see that all the
children are prepared for school, their books all collected, their hair
dressed, and shoes in order, and all their little wants supplied.
"Then I go to the kitchen and make arrangements with the cook for the
day, giving written orders for the grocer and butcher. Then I arrange
the work for the second girl for the day. I go over all the rooms and
chambers myself, and always find in my drawers and closets something
that needs care or labor, that I must do myself, or arrange for others
to do. Oh, the making, the mending, the altering, the washing, and the
care of clothing for young children which our present fashions require!
And yet I always hang back and do as little as possible without being
odd, or making the children fear lest all their companions should outdo
them.
"By noon I am so tired and nervous I can not do anything more than
sit down quietly and look over the morning paper. Then comes the noon
lunch, when I again have all the table serving and care of children.
After lunch, I send out the children to play, and then comes the family
sewing and mending, the shopping—to buy dresses, bonnets, shoes,
gloves, trimmings, and all the numerous et ceteras of the wardrobe for
husband, children, and self. The mantua-maker must come some days, and
then what worry and work! Then the sempstress comes other times; then
company calls that I must entertain; and then comes the children's
music practice, and their hard lessons in arithmetic or geometry, where
I must help or oversee.
"Then comes the dinner at 5 or 6, when company often is added, and I
must see that all is in order, and the children well behaved, and the
table served aright. For an hour or two after dinner comes a little
time to talk with my husband and children; but again I am called on to
help in the lessons of the older children, or to aid them when sewing
or drawing. Then I must go to prepare the little ones for bed, as both
servants are busy after dinner.
"All this is what I do when I have no visitors, and when there is no
baby. But when there is a nurse and a baby, and visitors staying in
the family to entertain, I am sure I do not know how I get through
all. I only know that most of my married life I have suffered constant
weariness, and a pain in head or back, and that all put together make
life such a burden that often I should willingly lay it down were it
not for my dear husband and children.
"And all these beautiful things around me, and my lovely home, seem
to double my cares because I have so much to keep in order. For all
these rich and delicate things are soon ruined if left in the hands of
servants, and the more we get, the more we have to watch and work to
save from injury or waste."
"If we lived in such a convenient little cottage as you have put in
your American Woman's Home, and had a highly educated governess,
and then all of us united to do the family work, except washing and
ironing, how much easier and happier life would be!"[140:A]
[140:A] This book is enlarged and has questions for a text
book for schools. Its title is "_Principles of Domestic
Science_," and it is published by J. B. Ford, Park Place, New
York. The second part entitled _The House Keeper & Health
Keeper_ is in press and will be published in the fall by the
Harpers.
But at present my thoughts and efforts are most engaged to accomplish
that department of a Women's University which relates to the
preservation and restoration of health. When often asked what is the
reason that our women are so delicate and unhealthy, and that our
young girls so often suffer what in former days was rare and then only
in connexion with maternity, my reply often is, that it is because
parents and teachers are doing every thing they can do to produce such
mischiefs.
Sleeping in unventilated chambers; living in schoolrooms and parlors
heated to excess and charged with poisonous gases; exposed to sudden
variations of temperature from mismanagement; eating unhealthful food
at irregular hours and to a dangerous excess; supplied with unhealthful
confectionery to eat at any hour; indulged in exciting amusements
with late hours for sleep; the brain stimulated by a multitude of
school duties and studies unrelieved by muscular exercises; the dress
contrived to impede vital functions, compressing the most yielding
parts so as to force the upper organs on to the lower, generating the
most cruel displacements and mental and bodily diseases; over-heating
the parts most injured by such treatment, and exposing the parts most
important to keep warm; compressing feet and ankles so as to impede
circulation, with high heels throwing all the muscles out of natural
play so as to increase all the dangerous tendencies to internal
displacement; these are only one portion of the many contrivances
adopted or allowed by parents and teachers to destroy the health of
women and young girls.
The public press is now circulating such charges against the most
cultivated Protestant women of our country as, if true, will verify
the assertion that in one important respect, "Protestantism is a
failure." For maternity in its normal aspect, involves what scripture
represents as the extremity of physical suffering. If to this is added
the protracted tortures of mind and body consequent on such outrages
on nature as are narrated above, it is not the graduates of boarding
schools, and High Schools and Colleges who are to be the mothers and
educators of this nation, but those rather who are protected from these
sins and sufferings by humble means, daily toil, and a vigilant and
politic priesthood.
All through my early days, no such charges against womanhood were
even imagined, for I saw a cheerful, healthful mother each second or
third year of her whole married life with another healthful infant,
and all received by my father as a precious "heritage from the Lord"
and through his long life his "chief joy and crown of rejoicing." And
this, which is now so rare an example, was a common experience, in that
more simple and healthful generation.
My opportunities for noticing the decline of health in women of this
generation, and forming opinions on medical subjects, have been
extensive, as for over forty years I have been taxing the science
and sagacity of medical men in all parts of the nation, residing in
many health establishments, reading medical works, and consulting all
classes of medical practitioners. In this course I have secured perfect
health and also learned many lessons that I hope will enable me to aid
others in gaining the same blessing.
And the most important of these lessons is, that most diseases are
consequences of violating the laws of health, (which are as really
the laws of God as any in the Bible), and that the surest and
safest remedies are found in conforming to these laws. This will be
illustrated by a short account of my experiences while so long a
wandering invalid.
During this period, as results have proved, I had no organic or
functional disease, except extreme prostration of the overworked brain
and nerves, increased by a punctured nerve, adding to the debility
of the connected sciatic nerve. Thus came inability to walk without
supporters, and little ability for any kind of either mental or
physical exercise.
The treatment to be narrated was in all cases but one, by regularly
educated physicians, most of whom were regarded as among the highest
in talents and skill, often the professors of medical colleges. The
first physician prescribed a heaping teaspoonful of carbonate of iron
three times a day, which was taken with no benefit. Next, a learned
professor, for a slight fever bled twice, and, to allay consequent
nervous excitement, gave camphor till temporary deafness ensued. Next,
another medical professor conjectured that the lameness resulted from
the state of the stomach, and gave small doses of rheubarb three times
a day with no advantage. Then another considered the spine as the
diseased point, and applied irritating ointments. Another prescribed
galvanism, but could give no rule as to time or manner, or expected
effects, but hoped that somehow it might do some good. Several
prescribed local applications to the limb, which in all cases increased
the difficulty.
These all failing, I commenced my rounds to health establishments. The
first was conducted by a sagacious and learned German physician, who
conjectured that the cause of the lameness was the state of the blood,
and used cold water to produce a skin eruption which came without any
good result. But during a year's residence there, I saw most remarkable
cures of many diseases, by treating the skin with alternations of
heat and cold connected with simple food, and outdoor exercise. In
repeated cases I saw thin, pale victims of tubercular consumption, some
apparently in the last stages, changed to rosy, plump and vigorous
women by this treatment. Here I also gained in vigor of mind and body,
though under the most heroic water treatment, but the weak limb was
unrelieved.
Then I resorted to an establishment where the treatment was confined
to simple food, only one or two articles being allowed at one meal.
To this was added short gymnastic exercises, alternating with short
periods of rest. Here I found that by reducing the quantity of food,
and taking only one or two articles at a meal I gained both in flesh
and strength, but the weak limb prevented the required exercises and
was unrelieved.
Then resort was had to an establishment where many women were cured of
internal displacements and consequent evils, but a lady physician by
proper investigation, decided that my lameness resulted from no such
cause. There the physician instructed me in a course of exercises by
which a forward curvature of the spine, caused by debility and use
of supporters, was remedied, and the figure restored to the natural
position, while at the same time the chest, and thus the breathing
capacity, were enlarged so as to demand three inches added to waists
and belts. Other cases I often have met of similar restoration of the
figure, and enlargement of the chest, and compressed lungs, in several
health establishments.
In addition to all these, I have tried Sulphur and Vapor baths,
Russian baths, Chemical baths, Turkish hot air bath, and the Sun bath,
and have seen patients benefited in all. Owing chiefly to my own
knowledge and caution I was not injured myself by any, though I saw
others, who, from ignorance, imprudence, or want of skill and care in
the physician were seriously injured in every one.
I have also met persons who were benefited by the Grape Cure, and the
Lifting Cure. Several friends have been treated by an ignorant tailor
who taught his patients that the centre of the nervous system was the
navel, and that he cured by operations that disentangled the nerves
that were gathered in bunches and knots. His method was to spend an
hour daily with each patient in a continuous pressure and pinching of
all parts of the body, which resulted in some remarkable cures in spite
of his ridiculous theories.
My final and only successful experiment was at the Swedish Movement
Cure, under the care of Dr. Geo. H. Taylor. This method so far
as I have observed, is the most reliable and efficacious remedy
for debilitated nerves, and for the internal displacements and
diseases consequent on the courses by which so many women weaken the
constitution or ruin the health. By this method the weak limb was
first relieved, and after this, by a strict obedience to all the laws
of health, for several years I have enjoyed perfect health. I have
also been every year gaining in strength and in the increased power of
faculties usually diminished by age. And should burnings, and crushings
of railroads, and other casualties be escaped, I have a fair chance for
at least another twenty years of health, and active usefulness.
But this result has been gained not by any one method of medical
treatment, but rather by faithful obedience to the laws of health,
while it is preserved and continued only by the same. For whenever I
failed in any one respect, my enfeebled nervous system, especially the
weaker member, reported the wrong with marvelous precision.
What has been gained is continued only by a faithful and diligent
course, securing pure air by night and day; regular and abundant sleep
in the hours of darkness, and no mental or physical labor except by
day; a daily towel bath in cool water in the sun or by a fire, except
in hot weather; living in light and well ventilated rooms, and often
sitting in the sun; abstinence from stimulating drinks of all kinds; a
simple diet of properly cooked food in a moderate quantity, and only at
regular hours; daily outdoor exercise by walking, riding, and use of
the muscles of the arms and trunk; clothing that never compresses any
part and always protects from chills; abstinence from over excitement
of all kinds; the cultivation of a cheerful and quiet spirit; healthful
amusements; benevolent activity never to exceed the strength; and all
this prayerfully pursued as a religious duty owed to God, to my fellow
men, and to myself.
Another lesson illustrated by my experience, is the advance of medical
science in detecting the _causes_ of diseases so as to apply remedies
intelligently. My case was simply prostration of the nervous system
by mental care and labor, increased by a punctured nerve. And yet my
medical advisers, most of them distinguished in their profession,
treated me, one, for diseased stomach, another for diseased spine,
another for diseased blood, and most of them applied stimulants to the
weak part, always thus increasing the weakness. That was nearly forty
years ago. Since then nervous diseases are better understood, while
animal chemistry, the microscope, and the thermometer have furnished
new means for intelligent search for _causes_ of disease.
And yet our most learned physicians complain of the deficient education
given to medical students, and their negligent practice in comparison
with European methods. I have before me the Richmond and Louisville
Medical Journal of 1869, which claims to be the largest medical monthly
in this nation. In it I find a letter from Dr. W. O. Baldwin, late
President of the National Congress of physicians, asking from Dr. Wm.
Neftel, of New York, late physician of the Russian Imperial Guard, an
account of the course of medical study in Europe, and remarking that
Dr. Neftel "beautifully illustrates by his example and by his valuable
contributions to science, the wisdom of the system in which he was
educated."
In reply, Dr. Neftel states that the first requisition in Europe for
medical license, is a course of general study equal to that demanded
in our colleges, and in addition, a thorough knowledge of physics.
Next follows four summer and four winter sessions in the medical
department. The first two years are devoted to anatomy, histology,
physiology, chemistry, pathological anatomy, general and special
pathology and therapeutics, the principles of operative surgery and
obstetrics, working at the same time in the chemical, physiological
and pathological laboratories. In the last sessions only the student
attends the different clinics—medical, surgical, obstetrical,
opthalmological, dermatological, and psychological. Then, under a
professor some special branch of medical science is pursued.
Dr. Neftel states as one cause of the advance of medical science in
Germany and Russia, is the institution of free teachers or _privat
docents_. These are students distinguished by original genius or great
research, who in connexion with the faculty, become teachers, and
have full access to laboratories, museums, and libraries. Many young
physicians of talents thus rise to high positions, and from this class
have risen the greatest men of science. Thus it is, also, that the
German Universities secure the best professors who devote their lives
to science and instruction, with most admirable results.
Another advantage to medical science in Germany, is the close connexion
of the medical departments in the Universities with the other faculties
of philosophy, law, and theology. In consequence of this, we find the
greatest chemists and natural philosophers to be medical men, and a
number of physiologists are great mathematicians.
Dr. Neftel, after completing this course, was connected with medical
departments in the Universities of London, Paris, and Germany for four
years. After this the adoption of republican opinions prevented his
return to Russia, and led him to this country.
It is by frequent intercourse with Dr. Neftel, and by observing his
methods of detecting the _causes_ of disease, that I have been
deeply impressed with the imperfect modes pursued by inexperienced
practitioners, and even by some who stand high in the profession.
For example, I took a friend to him who had been examined by several
physicians of high standing. One of them decided that the disease was
of the heart, another that it was of the liver, and a third that it was
of the kidneys. But by the microscope and by chemical tests, it was
proved that neither of these organs were diseased, and that all the
symptoms were caused by miasmatic fungi in the blood.
In the case of another lady I witnessed investigations to detect the
_cause_ of the frequent re-appearance of carbuncles, which had not been
sought for by other medical advisers; they only prescribing modes of
hastening and diminishing the crisis. To look at the tongue, feel the
pulse, and hear a statement of the symptoms, is the common method, and
then prescriptions are given of powerful chemical agents, which, if not
suited to the case are injurious.
Thus it comes to pass that the most learned and careful physicians are
demanding an increase of medical educational advantages in our country.
Thus also it has come to pass that health establishments abound, in
which the natural agencies of water, light, pure air, exercise, and
simple diet are the chief medical agents employed. And in most cases
the patients are those who have vainly tried the regular medical
treatment.