REPRODUCTION.
=The Reproductive Instinct Strong.=--The reproductive instinct is very
strong in the human race, as is indicated by the large amount of energy
the woman expends in the bearing of children, and by both sexes in the
care and education of their young. As we know, it is only by the
production of new individuals that the continuance of the race is
assured.
=Problems of Reproduction.=--The problems of reproduction are extremely
broad, involving not only the immediate questions of individual
reproduction, but also those broader and deeper ones which relate to
heredity.
=A New Life, By Chance.=--It is a most astonishing fact that nearly all
persons born into the world are given life as the result of chance
rather than by careful design. "If my parents had only known!" is the
frightful wail of many a wretched life.
=To Create is Divine.=--At no time does man come so near being omnipotent
as when, by the tremendous powers given him, a new life is called into
existence. And yet, whether strong or weak, refreshed or exhausted,
healthy or diseased, sober or intoxicated, sweet or ill-tempered,
yielding or resisting, a new life is begun which may be either of two
extremes. How great are such questions! The human mind seems appalled
when asked to consider them.
=Education on These Subjects Necessary.=--It is not the purpose of this
book to moralize upon these themes, or to say what should and should not
be done; but knowing something of the wretchedness of womankind, and the
fearful slavery she often has to endure, I can only hope, with all my
heart, that the coming generation may be better educated on these most
important topics. It is with a thought or two of this kind in mind that
I append the following brief outline of this subject:--
=Two Sexes Necessary.=--In the higher animals two sexes are necessary for
the reproduction of the race, the male and the female. Each contributes
some particular element toward the beginning of a new life; this is
known as the germ-cell.
=The Germ-Cells.=--The germ-cells of the male are called spermatozoa, and
those of the female, ova. The reproductive process is simply a fusion,
or union of these male and female germ-cells.
=The Male Elements.=--The spermatozoa are exceedingly delicate and minute;
they constitute the greatest part of the semen, or sperm. They are
peculiar shaped bodies, having a head, body, and tail, as illustrated in
the accompanying figure, and they can only be seen by powerful
magnifying glasses. (Fig. 1.)
~FIG. 1. At the left are six spermatozoa, or male-elements, male
germ-cells. At the right is an ovum, egg, female germ-cell. All
highly magnified.~
They have the remarkable property of moving about with considerable
activity, and their number is almost beyond computation.
=Only One Male Element Necessary.=--Although this number is so vast, yet
only a single one is required to endow the female cell, or egg, with
life. It is another illustration of how nature does everything possible
to increase the chances of perpetuating the race, for without such
immense numbers, the chances of the female egg being fertilized would be
much less.
=May Live for Days.=--Although these male elements can live but a few
hours outside of the body, even when especial precautions are taken to
make every thing favorable to their existence, yet they have been known
to maintain their full life in the vaginal canal for more than eight
days after their discharge; another remarkable provision of nature, for
the prolonged existence of these cells increases the probability of the
fertilization of an egg, and thus increases the chances of producing a
new life.
=The Female Element.=--As I have already said, the female germ-cell is
also known as the ovum, or egg. A single ovum is shown in Fig. 1.
If not fertilized by the male elements, the egg passes off into the
outside world; if fertilized, it stops in the cavity of the uterus,
where it forms an attachment. Here it remains until perfectly developed,
when, at the end of nine months, it is brought forth to the outside
world as a perfect infant.
=One Female Element; Many Male Elements.=--The human ovum is often said to
be a miniature of the egg of the common fowl, although there are some
quite marked differences between the two. It is a very interesting fact
to note that there is only one egg given off at a time; while there are
many thousands of the male elements. This is in harmony with the larger
size of the egg, and the fact that while this egg awaits fertilization
it is most carefully protected within the body of the mother.
=Where is Life First Made?=--Where the wonderful union of the male and
female elements takes place is not definitely known, although it is
generally believed that it is upon the surface of the ovary, itself.
If this be true, then it is necessary for the male element to traverse
the whole length of the uterine cavity, out along the course of the
Fallopian tube, and there be deposited on the surface of the ovary.
=The Fertilized Egg.=--When a fertilized or impregnated egg is set free
from the surface of the ovary, it follows the same course that the
unimpregnated egg does until it reaches the uterus. Here some most
remarkable changes immediately take place whereby the egg is held firmly
to the inner wall of the uterine cavity; while the unimpregnated egg, as
I have said, passes down the uterine cavity into the vagina, and thus
out of the body. In other words, the fertilized egg is retained within
the body, while the unfertilized one is cast off.
=One Egg Discharged Each Month.=--An ovum, or egg, is discharged during
each menstrual period. It cannot be seen because of its minute size, a
magnifying glass being necessary to detect it, even under favorable
conditions. At just what time during this period the ovum is cast from
the body is not definitely known, but it is generally thought to be
toward the latter part.
=Time When Fertilization is Most Probable.=--From this it is seen that but
one egg fully develops and ripens ready to be fertilized each month. As
it is the ripened egg which is thrown off at each menstrual period,
therefore it follows that the fertilization of this egg would be most
probable at about the time of menstruation.
=Times When Ova Do Not Ripen.=--As a rule, these ova do not ripen, or
develop, either during pregnancy, or during the nursing of the child,
although there are certain exceptions to this rule; for menstruation
occasionally takes place during lactation and pregnancy, and pregnancy
itself may occur while the mother is nursing her child.