is confinement to one special method, and a neglect of enforcing
obedience to _all_ the laws of health. For in not even one such
institution have I ever known proper arrangements for securing pure air
both night and day; while in some the diet is at war with healthful
digestion. To these evils add the ignorance of the patients in
over-doing, and the want of skill, or care of the physician, and the
result has been more mischief than benefit in many cases. For there is
as much need of science and care in the physician in the use of these
natural agents as in the more common methods.
Recently some of the most efficacious methods employed in Water Cure
Establishments have received the sanction and approval of the highest
medical practitioners in Europe.
For in the _Medical Record_, the leading periodical of N. York
physicians, I find a paper read before the New York Academy of
Medicine, in October, 1868, by Dr. Neftel, in which he states that the
most distinguished writers and practitioners in Europe now employ cold
water for reducing fevers, just as for twenty years or more has been
practiced in Water Cures.
In this paper he says: "My first acquaintance with the use of water
in diseases, was during the Crimean war, when a murderous epidemic of
typhus fever prevailed, _resisting every known method of treatment_.
Following the instincts of patients and watching the effects of cold
water, I commenced treating with cold sponging and effusions and the
result surpassed my hopes, and was _far better than that obtained by
any other method_. I myself was attacked by the disease and was saved
from death only by my own mode of treatment. But still my treatment
was purely empyrical and symptomatic. Soon after, this method was
confirmed in the large hospitals of Russia, with excellent results."
"The principal rule observed is never to allow the temperature
(ascertained by a thermometer placed under the shoulder) to rise
higher than 103 Fahrenheit. The mildest degree of cooling is attained
by sponging the whole body with cold water or by keeping the patient
continually in a wet sheet. A wet cloth is laid on the head, and if not
asleep, every quarter of an hour the patient is offered a little cold
water to drink, and every three hours nourishing fluid food. The room
is to be kept well ventilated and stimulants avoided."
Dr. Neftel adds, "the effect of this treatment is so wonderful that
those familiar with typhoid patients will not recognize them. By
keeping the temperature below 103.1 Fahrenheit the exacerbations are
avoided and the fever kept in a continuous remission. The patients are
never unconscious, never delirious, the tongue always remains moist and
clean, the bronchial catarrh is very slight, and so is the diarrhœa, if
any at all. There is no tympanites, no hemorrhage, no complication, and
we have reason to believe the intestinal ulcerations do not occur at
all. Under this treatment the course of typhoid fever is very mild and
short, the convalescence very rapid, and the mortality none whatever.
A great number of patients treated by myself on this method, have
recovered without exception. In this city I had a patient whose morning
temperature once reached 106.34° Fahrenheit—_a case absolutely fatal
under every other treatment_—and she is now recovering."
"The thermometer indicates with the greatest exactness, the condition
of the animal heat, the presence of fever, its degree, intensity and
danger. It also traces the laws of the course of different types
of disease, indicates transitions from one stage to another, the
ameliorations and aggravations, and the return of the normal condition.
It enables us to form a correct diagnosis and prognosis, and gives us
positive therapeutical indications." In conversation I enquired if all
kinds of fevers should be subdued by this method, and was assured that
this was the safest and surest mode for all.
A scientific and very successful practitioner who managed a Water Cure
Establishment, and was largely employed in the town around, stated that
after a year or two of instruction in the use of cold water, he lost
all his outside patients, as the mothers and housekeepers had learned
to treat by his methods, and no longer needed his attention except in
rare cases.
I have stated that it was at the Swedish Movement Cure, under charge of
Dr. Geo. H. Taylor, that the cause of my long invalidism and its remedy
were ascertained. In addition to this personal benefit, I have learned
the cause and the proper remedy of a class of female diseases which
have baffled the most skillful practitioners and introduced methods in
many ways so unfortunate, that my whole sex will eventually recognize
as a great benefactor, the physician who has rendered them needless,
and introduced others at once philosophical, modest, and efficacious.
Dr. Taylor's discoveries and methods are presented in his work on the
Diseases of Women, published by George Maclean, 47 John Street, N. Y.
This work has the approval of the leading physicians of Philadelphia
and New York, and other distinguished practitioners whose specialty has
been in this department. If this work should find its way into every
school and family, it probably would do more for the health of women
and of the next generation than any other similar measure that can be
urged.
The information I have gained in the modes narrated, has increased my
conviction of the importance of giving to every woman a _scientific_
training for her profession as _healthkeeper_ of the family state.
Not that the long course needed for general medical practice should
be attempted, which in the chief European Universities would demand
ten and twelve years of study and training. Instead of this, I
would propose a moderate course in physiology and animal chemistry,
accompanied with instruction in practical scientific methods of
employing water, light, heat, cold, air, exercise, and diet—both to
prevent and to remedy diseases—nor should the application of these
remedies be left entirely to the judgment and skill of women, even
after such training, but be under the guidance of a physician, highly
educated, so as to detect by careful investigation the _causes_ of
disease, and of such another as Dr. Taylor, who has practised in both
the Water and Movement Cures.
I have stated that in one large town a Water Cure physician lost all
his outside practice by instructing mothers and housekeepers how to
use properly the methods of the Water Cure. If to these were added
the practical methods of the Movement Cure, as conducted by Dr. G.
H. Taylor, with the enforcement of _all_ the laws of health in a
given community, it is probable that all the physicians but those
superintending these methods, would lose all their practice.
One of the most judicious and well educated physicians I know,
expressed the opinion that if a number of families in a town would
unite to provide a salary to a good physician (the same as to a
clergyman) who should visit each family to watch over the habits and
health, and see all methods employed to keep them well, that in the
end, it would prove a great piece of economy in money as well as
in health. The sagacious Chinese have learned this, and pay their
physicians so long as they are well, and stop paying when they are ill.
But with us it is for the pecuniary interest of physicians to have
sickness general in a community, and there is need of a profession
whose honor and emolument depend on the _prevention_ of all diseases.
For this profession every woman, and especially every school-teacher
should be carefully trained.
If all the women teachers of this nation could be trained to be
_health-keepers_ under the supervision of the highest class of educated
physicians, and then sent forth to lecture in all our school districts
teaching mothers and housekeepers the laws of health, and the methods
of the Water and Movement Cures, it is probable that health and long
life would be doubled all over the nation.
And here I would urge renewed attention to the state of female health
in our country as exhibited in statistics published in a work of mine
fifteen years ago, and introduced in a chapter placed at the end of
this volume. I have never found any reason to doubt the correctness
of the impression made by these statements at first, nor to suppose
any marked improvement at the present time. For the diminution of
domestic labor by school girls of all ages and classes; the increase
of mental labor in public schools; the increase of cares to mother
and housekeepers in country as well as cities, from increase of
the refinements of civilization; the increased use of stoves and
furnaces without proper arrangements for ventilation; the increase of
unhealthful labor for women in unventilated stores, shops, and mills;
the unhealthful fashions of dress, and the fact that at this day women
receive more delicate constitutions than those given by mothers of a
former generation; all these things indicate an increase rather than a
diminution of the causes that undermine the health of women.
This brings me to the main object of this meeting, which is to enlist
the interest and influence of the ladies present, in devising and
executing plans for the proper education of the daughters of this
city—by methods that shall remedy the evils that have been set forth,
and which shall serve as a model to other cities and towns through our
nation.
In detailing an outline of the plan aimed at, I will first state that
it has already received the approval of ladies of good judgment, and of
practical experience as mothers and housekeepers; and also is approved
by the Trustees of the H. F. Seminary.
I appear at this time as the Secretary and Gen. Agent of the American
Woman's Educational Association. This consists of ladies of high
character and position in various states which meets annually to
receive reports of agents and direct their operations. This Association
has established several institutions at the West, the most important
being the Milwaukee Female College. The method employed was to take
a school already organized as the nucleus, and then offer to the
citizens to secure endowments to support teachers, on condition that
they provided a suitable building and tuition fees to support a
certain number of superior teachers. This was done, and for fifteen
years that institution, in its primary, preparatory, and collegiate
schools has successfully carried out one portion of the plan of the
Association, some teachers being supported by endowments provided by
the Association, and others by tuition fees. The chief agent of the
Association has had the control and supervision of this institution now
numbering nearly 200 pupils from all the Protestant denominations. The
chief difficulty has been the fact that the Association is located at
the East, and its work done at the West.
It is now proposed to carry out the plans of the Association more
completely in an institution at the East, under the immediate charge of
an Executive Committee, resident in the same place as the Institution.
It is proposed to organize the H. F. Seminary like that at Milwaukee,
with Primary, Preparatory, and Collegiate schools all under the care
of the Trustees as at present. These schools to be furnished by the
citizens, with building, library, and apparatus equal to those of the
High School, and a course of study instituted allowing entrance only
at certain periods, and limiting the number of studies each term, as
is done in the College and High School. Also to raise endowments to
support two of the highest class of teachers, so that they can secure
homes and salaries equal to those given to college professors.
This being secured by the citizens, the Association will appoint
their Executive Committee from ladies of this city, one from each
denomination, and others be added, selected by them, also a certain
number of the Trustees of the Seminary to become members. Then the
managers will appoint a collecting agent to raise funds to establish
a University School with diverse departments, in which pupils of the
Seminary and others shall be trained for all the distinctive duties of
women, and all who wish it also be trained for some suitable womanly
employment or profession by which to earn an honorable independence.
The first organized departments of the University would be the Normal
and Health departments. Two highly educated ladies would become the
Principals, and Dr. Neftel, and Dr. Taylor have engaged to act as
superintending physicians. The Association will aim to provide land and
buildings for these departments, and support the two lady principals
so that they can receive into their families two classes. During the
months of July and August, when most teachers have vacations, the class
will consist of enfeebled and exhausted teachers to be restored and
trained to teach our system of Calisthenics, and to administer the
methods of the Water Cure, and Movement Cure, and also to lecture on
the laws of health in the communities to which they will return.
At all other periods of the year, these families will consist of young
girls of delicate constitutions or poor health, to be trained to health
and vigor, and at the same time to pursue a moderate course of study in
the Seminary classes. These lady principals will also take charge of
the Seminary classes in Domestic Science, Physiology, Animal Chemistry,
Botany, and Calisthenics under direction of the Principals of the
Seminary. On this plan two teachers will be supported by endowments
provided by the citizens, and two by endowments provided by the
Association.
The Trustees of the Seminary will control all funds given for the
Primary, Preparatory, and Collegiate schools, and the Executive
Committee of the Association will control the funds given for the
University department. As to the probability of raising endowments,
the former agent of the Association testifies that he was cordially
welcomed to the pulpits of almost every Protestant denomination and
sometimes took larger collections than were given for any other objects.
There is one reason for endowing the H. F. Seminary, little
understood. Three female institutions are soon to go into operation in
Massachusetts, one endowed with a million and a half, another with half
a million, a third very largely provided. These will offer advantages
and salaries commanding the best teachers, and the public High Schools
will do the same. Thus the boarding and other pay schools not endowed,
will soon lose their best teachers and take up only with a humbler
class. This, and the multiplication of studies and classes, will make
boarding and day schools for the wealthy class, unless endowed, very
inferior to the public High schools and endowed institutions.
Many female colleges have attempted a regular course of study demanding
few classes for each term, and that all pupils enter at regular
periods. But not one that I know of, has raised endowments to support
teachers. Not even Vassar, though provided with over half a million,
has a single endowment to support a teacher. All has been spent
in expensive grounds, buildings, and furniture to draw pupils from
parental watch and care.
If this half million had been devoted to providing endowments for this
Seminary, some ten or twelve of the highest class of women teachers
might have permanent positions and incomes.
In reference to the patronage to be expected for the health department,
Dr. Dio Lewis gained very large patronage by taking charge of young
girls in delicate health who thronged from every part of the nation.
I will close by giving a specimen of the applications constantly made
to me from all quarters for teachers out of health. I think if it
were notified in the public prints that help could be given to such
applications, they would count more by thousands than by hundreds.
So much and so often have I been pained to turn away from such
piteous appeals, that nothing but the hope of some day meeting such a
sympathizing and influential body of friends and followers of Christ,
has sustained me.
"Dear Miss Beecher:
"Having read of your plans for aiding teachers in regaining
health, I address you in behalf of a dear and only child. I
myself was a teacher, and by intense interest and labor lost my
health. My marriage afterwards was unfortunate, and ever since
the birth of this child I have had to struggle alone and with
poor health to support her and myself by my needle.
"My child is fond of study, is a graduate of one of the best
public schools, and afterward attended an excellent Grammar
school in N. York city. The principal told me she was the
brightest in her class, and had a depth and clearness of mind
unusual in her age. She was much beloved in her classes,
especially by her teachers.
"But her studies were too severe, and for a long time she has
not been able to study or do much except practice on the piano,
for which she had the best of teachers, and would like to teach
it when her head gets stronger. I have consulted one of the
best physicians, and he says she may recover in time, that too
much study is the cause of her trouble, and that she must not
study at all.
"Dear Miss Beecher, you cannot imagine how great is my interest
in your plans, and how I long to place my daughter under your
care. I thought the anxieties of a mother would prove some
claim on your kindness, and that you would excuse me for
applying to you for advice and help. If my child could go into
some christian home near the sea-side and do light work to pay
for her board, she would be willing to do so; and perhaps could
teach one or two scholars in music. The poor child now feels
distressed and discouraged, and I know not what to do. She is a
Christian believer and a member of the church, and I hope our
Heavenly Father will show us some way of help and comfort in
this our low estate."
AN ADDRESS TO THE CHRISTIAN WOMEN OF AMERICA.
MY DEAR AND HONORED COUNTRYWOMEN:
When I wrote the first address in this volume, I had a very imperfect
idea of the scope and magnitude of the questions which the women of
this nation, who aim to be followers of Jesus Christ, will soon be
called to investigate and to decide—questions which are the very
foundation principles of both morals and religion—questions which every
woman must settle for herself aided by common sense, the Bible, and the
Divine aid obtained by prayer.
To us Jesus Christ appears as the only one born into this world who
lived to maturity, then died and then returned to life again; first to
prove that death does not end our existence, and next to teach what
awaits us in the invisible world to which we all are hastening.
Let those who have mused in lonely sorrow by the grave of the dearest
friends and asked with infinite longings—where are they? is this the
end? are we too to lie down in utter annihilation?—say how we could
have these questions answered so as to best secure a comforting belief?
Should we not say let our well-known, well-beloved friends, come forth
from the tomb and live with us again—walk, talk, eat, sleep, and act,
as in past times—and this for days and weeks and not alone with us,
but with many others who had known them through life? Can we imagine
anything to ask more satisfactory than this, to prove that death does
not end our existence?
Suppose that Abraham Lincoln, after his body had lain in state for
three days, had risen from his coffin and for thirty days had been
surrounded by his family, his cabinet, his personal friends, and by as
many as three hundred persons who knew him well; can we conceive of
anything more satisfactory to prove that death does not destroy the
soul? And would not his honest teachings of what is to be experienced
after death, be sought as the most reliable evidence possible of what
awaits us all when we pass to the invisible world?
This is exactly what the believers in the Christian religion claim was
done for us when Jesus Christ came and dwelt on earth for thirty-three
years, then was slain by enemies determined to prevent his predicted
resurrection, and then arose from the dead, bringing life and
immortality to light. And why did this good Being come and dwell on
earth, then die, and then arise from the dead? It was to teach us not
only that an immortal existence stretches before us after death, but
that the happiness of that immortality depends on _the character which
is formed by education here_.
What then is the character which we are to seek in order to attain
immortal blessedness? The first sermon of our Lord has this very topic
as its burden:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,"—those who feel the need of knowledge,
guidance, and help.
"Blessed are the meek,"—those that receive rebuke and instruction
without anger.
"Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness,"—those
that long to know what is the right way, and to walk in it.
"Blessed are the _happiness makers_,"[173:A]—those who make happiness
the right way, as taught by the Master—"for they are the children of
God,"—having His nature as the child has the father's nature, and they
are to dwell with Him forever.
[173:A] This is a more exact translation than "Blessed are the
peace-makers."
It is such who are to "rejoice and be exceeding glad" even when
persecuted, hated, and reviled, for right words and actions. It is such
who are to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
And what is this kingdom? It is one made up of the righteous, those
who long to know what is right and to do it, who hunger and thirst
after righteousness, and so are forever to be satisfied. And then the
Master teaches that His kingdom is not of this world, but exactly the
opposite. For the children of this world do not feel poor in spirit,
but rather seek to be called Rabbi, and to teach others. They do not
wish to be told of their ignorance, mistakes and sins, and are angry
when it is done. They do not hunger and thirst to find the lowly way of
righteousness, but rather the way of riches, honor, and power.
They do not seek to become true "happiness makers" as taught by the
words and example of the Master, taking a humble place, going about
and doing good, and working for others more than for self. Instead of
this they work and plan for self, first, and then for those belonging
to self, and care little for the world that the Master came to save.
They seek to be at the top and to have all below look up to them.
Now the family state is instituted to educate our race to the Christian
character,—to train the young to be followers of Christ. Woman is its
chief minister, and the work to be done is the most difficult of all,
requiring not only intellectual power but a moral training nowhere else
so attainable as in the humble, laborious, daily duties of the family
state.
Woman's great mission is to train immature, weak, and ignorant
creatures, to obey the laws of God; the physical, the intellectual, the
social, and the moral—first in the family, then in the school, then
in the neighborhood, then in the nation, then in the world—that great
family of God whom the Master came to teach and to save. And His most
comprehensive rule is, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart," and "this is the love of God that ye keep His commandments."
And next, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." These two the
Master teaches are the chief end of man and includes all taught by
Moses and the prophets. This then is woman's work, to train the young
in the family and the school _to obey God's laws_ as learned partly
by experience, partly by human teaching and example, and partly by
revelations from God.
But the most solemn duty of the Christian woman is the _motives_ she
is to employ in training to this obedience. The motives used by the
worldly educator are the gain or loss of earthly pleasures, honors, and
comforts. But the truly Christian woman feels and presents as the grand
motive, the dangers of the future life from which our Lord came to save
us, and these so dreadful that all we most value in this life are to be
made secondary and subordinate, while the chief concern is, not mainly
to save self, but rather to save ourselves by laboring to save others
from ignorance of God's laws and to secure the obedience indispensable
to future eternal safety.