1. To have offspring is not to be regarded as a luxury, but as a
great primary necessity of health and happiness, of which every
fully-developed man and woman should have a fair share, while it
cannot be denied that the ignorance of the necessity of sexual
intercourse to the health and virtue of both man and woman is the most
fundamental error in medical and moral philosophy.
2. In a state of pure nature, where man would have his sexual
instincts under full and natural restraint, there would be little,
if any, licentiousness, and children would be the result of natural
desire, and not the accidents of lust.
3. This is an age of sensuality; unnatural passions cultivated and
indulged. Young people in the course of their engagement often sow
the seed of serious excesses. This habit of embracing, sitting on the
lover's lap, leaning on his breast, long and uninterrupted periods of
secluded companionship, have become so common that it is amazing how
a young lady can safely arrive at the wedding day. While this conduct
may safely terminate with the wedding day, yet it cultivates the
tendency which often results in excessive indulgencies after the
honey-moon is over.
4. SEPARATE BEDS.--Many writers have vigorously championed as a reform
the practice of separate beds for husband and wife. While we would not
recommend such separation, it is no doubt very much better for both
husband and wife, in case the wife is pregnant. Where people are
reasonably temperate, no such ordinary precautions as separate
sleeping places may be necessary. But in case of pregnancy it will
add rest to the mother and add vigor to the unborn child. Sleeping
together, however, is natural and cultivates true affection, and it
is physiologically true that in very cold weather life is prolonged by
husband and wife sleeping together.
5. THE AUTHORITY OF THE WIFE.--Let the wife judge whether she desires
a separate couch or not. She has the superior right to control her own
person. In such diseases as consumption, or other severe or lingering
diseases, separate beds should always be insisted upon.
6. THE TIME FOR INDULGENCE.--The health of the generative functions
depends upon exercise, just the same as any other vital organ.
Intercourse should be absolutely avoided just before or after meals,
or just after mental excitement or physical exercise. No wife should
indulge her husband when he is under the influence of alcoholic
stimulants, for idiocy and other serious maladies are liable to be
visited upon the offspring.
7. RESTRAINT DURING PREGNANCY.--There is no question but what moderate
indulgence during the first few months of pregnancy does not result
in serious harm; but people who excessively satisfy their ill-governed
passions are liable to pay a serious penalty.
8. MISCARRIAGE.--If a woman is liable to abortion or miscarriage,
absolute abstinence is the only remedy. No sexual indulgence during
pregnancy can be safely tolerated.
9. It is better for people not to marry until they are of proper age.
It is a physiological fact that men seldom reach the full maturity
or their virile power before the age of twenty-five, and the female
rarely attains the full vigor of her sexual powers before the age of
twenty.
10. ILLICIT PLEASURES.--The indulgence of illicit pleasures, says
Dr. S. Pancoast, sooner or later is sure to entail the most loathsome
diseases on their votaries. Among these diseases are Gonorrhoea,
Syphilis, Spermatorrhoea (waste of semen by daily and nightly
involuntary emissions), Satyriasis (a species of sexual madness, or
a sexual diabolism, causing men to commit rape and other beastly acts
and outrages, not only on women and children, but men and animals, as
sodomy, pederasty, etc.), Nymphomania (causing women to assail every
man they meet, and supplicate and excite him to gratify their lustful
passions, or who resort to means of sexual pollutions, which is
impossible to describe without shuddering), together with spinal
diseases and many disorders of the most distressing and disgusting
character filling the bones with rottenness, and eating away the
flesh by gangrenous ulcers, until the patient dies, a horrible mass of
putridity and corruption.
11. SENSUALITY.--Sensuality is not love, but an unbridled desire which
kills the soul. Sensuality will drive away the roses in the cheeks of
womanhood, undermine health and produce a brazen countenance that can
be read by all men. The harlot may commit her sins in the dark, but
her countenance reveals her character and her immorality is an open
secret.
12. SEXUAL TEMPERANCE.--All excesses and absurdities of every kind
should be carefully avoided. Many of the female disorders which often
revenge themselves in the cessation of all sexual pleasure are largely
due to the excessive practice of sexual indulgence.
13. FREQUENCY.--Some writers claim that intercourse should never
occur except for the purpose of childbearing but such restraint is
not natural and consequently not conducive to health. There are many
conditions in which the health of the mother and offspring must be
respected. It is now held that it is nearer a crime than a virtue to
prostitute woman to the degradation of breeding animals by compelling
her to bring into life more offspring than can be born healthy, or be
properly cared for and educated.
14. In this work we shall attempt to specify no rule, but simply give
advice as to the health and happiness of both man and wife. A man
should not gratify his own desires at the expense of his wife's
health, comfort or inclination. Many men no doubt harass their wives
and force many burdens upon their slender constitutions. But it is a
great sin and no true husband will demand unreasonable recognition.
The wife when physically able, however, should bear with her husband.
Man is naturally sensitive on this subject, and it takes but little to
alienate his affections and bring discover into the family.
15. The best writers lay down the rule for the government of the
marriage-bed, that sexual indulgence should only occur about once in a
week or ten days, and this of course applies only to those who enjoy
a fair degree of health. But it is a hygienic and physiological fact
that those who indulge only once a month receive a far greater degree
of the intensity of enjoyment than those who indulge their passions
more frequently. Much pleasure is lost by excesses where much might be
gained by temperance giving rest to the organs for the accumulation of
nervous force.
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