TO PREVENT CONVULSIONS AT CHILDBIRTH.
=Work of the Kidneys Most Important.=--The kidneys are constantly engaged
in removing from the body certain poisonous substances which are held in
solution in the urine. If they should fail to do this work, or if no
urine should be secreted for even a few hours, most serious consequences
would follow.
=Cause of Convulsions.=--When these poisons are retained in the system to
a sufficient degree they cause convulsions and unconsciousness, and are
frequently fatal. The convulsions which some women have at childbirth
are caused by this imperfect action of the kidneys.
=To Tell If Danger Is Present.=--An examination of the urine at any time
will tell whether the kidneys are acting well or not, and thus it is
possible to determine whether there is danger of having these
convulsions during confinement. Therefore I urge upon all pregnant women
the necessity of having their urine examined once or twice during the
course of pregnancy, and certainly during the eighth or ninth month.
=Albumen in the Urine.=--Imperfect action of the kidneys is shown by the
appearance of albumen in the urine. Any competent physician can easily
determine whether this albumen is in the urine or not, and if present he
can take such prompt measures as to remedy the evil before any serious
danger occurs. Of course I know that hundreds of thousands of women pass
safely through childbirth and have no unfavorable symptom at all; yet I
also know that now and then a most valuable life is lost when it might
just as well have been spared as not, if these simple suggestions had
been carried out.
It is the teaching of all the best medical authorities in the world that
this precaution should be taken by every expectant mother.
=Symptoms of Kidney Trouble.=--When the kidneys are not performing their
work properly, the mother may know it, herself. If she finds her feet
and ankles swelling at night, if she has a puffy look under the eyes,
and especially if the amount of urine passed in twenty-four hours is not
so great as formerly, then there is probably albumen in the urine. In
this case she should stop eating meat of all kinds, and live largely
upon milk, keeping the bowels in laxative condition by using Lydia E.
Pinkham's Liver Pills, and bathing the skin well once or twice a day.
She should also begin at once the use of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound, resting assured that this will remove the congestion in the
kidneys, and will cause a more free secretion of the urine.
=Self-abuse (Masturbation).=--This is a cause of many of the diseases of
women, also men. Small girls learn the practice from larger ones, and
through ignorance continue it often to maturity without knowing that it
is bringing upon them a physical and moral injury.
_If mothers instructed their daughters on this subject there would be
fewer broken lives._
SYMPTOMS.--The main symptoms are wakefulness, restless nights, headache,
indolence, melancholy, indisposition to study, forgetfulness,
despondency, weakness in the back and private organs, no confidence in
one's own abilities, a desire for seclusion from society; whites,
hysterics, and inability to look any one in the face. Sometimes the
muscles are relaxed, limbs tremble, the skin is sallow and dry, with
pain in the womb.
=REMARKS. Write to Mrs. Pinkham in perfect confidence, and she will tell
you exactly what to do. Delay is dangerous in this matter.=