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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40623 ***
+
+                    PRIVATE
+                 Sex Advice to
+                     Women
+
+            By R. B. Armitage, M. D.
+
+           For Young Wives and those
+           who Expect to be Married.
+
+  This book was written so as to give enlightenment
+  to those entering into wedlock so their
+  married life will be one of happiness and
+  pleasure.
+
+            DEFIANCE PUBLISHING CO.
+                110 W. 40th ST.
+                New York, N. Y.
+
+
+                COPYRIGHT, 1917
+
+                 CHICAGO, ILL.
+
+
+
+
+Sex Advice to Women
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+LESSON I--FOREWORD
+
+  Important information which all women should possess, but which
+  few are given the opportunity of acquiring. The necessity of
+  rational instruction on Sex Physiology, Sex Anatomy, and Sex
+  Hygiene. The danger of false information from polluted sources.
+  The conventional taboo against Sex Knowledge, which is inherited
+  by the race from the Middle Ages. The Reign of Prurient Prudery.
+  Ignorance of Sex Science is a frequent cause of immorality, and
+  the real reason of marital inharmony and unhappiness. The
+  special need of Sex Instruction on the part of women. The
+  sex-life of the woman is fuller and more complex than that of
+  the man, hence her special need of sane information on the
+  subject. Nature's handicap on woman      7
+
+
+LESSON II--ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE SEX ORGANISM
+
+  A scientific but plain lesson on the Female Sex Anatomy. The
+  External Sex Organism of Woman fully described and explained.
+  What every woman should know about herself, but which but few
+  intelligently understand. Plain facts cleanly stated in simple
+  terms. The Internal Sex Organism of Woman fully described and
+  explained. The Vagina. The Uterus or Womb. Displacements of the
+  Uterus described. Prolapsus. Antroversion. Anteflexion.
+  Retroversion. Retroflexion. The Fallopian Tubes. The Ovaries.
+  General Summary of the Female Reproductive Organism      13
+
+
+LESSON III--PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FEMALE SEX ORGANISM
+
+  The Ovaries and their functions. Primary and secondary Functions
+  of the Ovaries. The Ova, or human eggs, and their natural
+  history. The Process of Ovulation. Menstruation and its
+  incidents. The phenomena of Puberty. The incidents of the
+  Menopause or Change of Life. The Dangerous Age of Woman. The
+  Life History of the Ovum. The Birth of the Ovum. The Journey of
+  the Ovum. The Process of Fecundation. The Spermatozoa and their
+  offices. The Segmentation-Nucleus. The Division and Sub-division
+  of the Ovum. The Primitive Trace. The Beginning of the life of
+  the embryo      21
+
+
+LESSON IV--GESTATION OR PREGNANCY
+
+  The Period of Pregnancy. How to calculate the Date of Delivery.
+  Development of the Fertilized Ovum. The Embryo. The Fetus. How
+  Nature builds up the child from the simple cell. The yolk-sack
+  or umbilical vesicle. The Allantois. The Placenta and its
+  offices. The Umbillical Cord. Osmosis. The Amnion. Sex in Embryo
+  and Fetus. Position of the Fetus. The Table of the Development
+  of the Unborn Child. Stage of Development of each month
+  described fully. The Physical Signs of Pregnancy. The Disorders
+  of Pregnancy. Practical Suggestions for Pregnant Women.
+  Childbirth and its incidents      33
+
+
+LESSON V--GENERAL ADVICE TO WOMEN ON SEX SUBJECTS
+
+  Much needed, though seldom obtainable, information on important
+  subjects. The Truth about the Sexual Emotions plainly stated.
+  Alcohol and Sexuality. A Startling Statement. A Warning to
+  Women. The Menstrual Period and its Disorders. Simple methods of
+  treatment fully described. Dysmenorrhea. Amenorrhea.
+  Menorrhagia. The Hygiene of Menstruation. Plain Talk on a
+  Delicate Subject. Leucorrhea: what it is, and how it may be
+  treated by simple methods. General Treatment and Special
+  Methods. Uterine Displacements, and simple treatments therefor.
+  Marital Relations and Menstruation. Marital Relations and
+  Pregnancy. Sterility in Woman. Practical Advice to Sterile
+  Women. Miscarriage and Abortion. Sensible Advice to Women      49
+
+
+LESSON VI--THE SCIENCE OF EUGENICS
+
+  The New Science. The Science of Parenthood. Biological Ethics.
+  Race Culture. Scientific Parenthood. Preventive Eugenics.
+  Constructive Eugenics. Race Suicide, real and false.
+  Conservation and Preservation of the Race. Prevention of
+  Criminal Offspring. The Causes of Degeneracy. Prevention of the
+  Transmission of Disease and Insanity in Offspring. Protection
+  for Mothers. Education for Parenthood. Terrible Effects of
+  Ignorance of Eugenic Science. Desired and Prepared-for Children
+  versus "Accidents" and Undesired Children. Not more children,
+  but better ones; not more births, but fewer deaths among
+  children. Survival Values versus Production Values      65
+
+
+LESSON VII--PRENATAL INFLUENCES
+
+  Influencing the Child before birth. Family Characteristics.
+  Transmission of Parental Traits. Influence of Maternal
+  Impression. Heredity in General. Opinion of the Best
+  Authorities. Transmission of Acquired Characteristics. Heredity
+  versus Environment. The Eugenic Rule regarding Heredity. Fitness
+  for Parenthood. Preparation for Parenthood, physical, mental, and
+  spiritual. Maternal Impressions. The Several Theories. Both
+  Sides of the Question. A Highly Important Subject. Proofs and
+  Illustrations of Maternal Impressions. Valuable Information for
+  Prospective Parents. How the Pregnant Mother may influence and
+  shape the physical, mental, and moral character of her unborn
+  child      80
+
+
+LESSON VIII--EUGENICS AND CHARACTER
+
+  Influence of Parental Factors upon the Character of their
+  Offspring. What Parental Conditions produce the Best Quality of
+  Children. The Most Favorable Age for Parenthood. What statistics
+  show. The Vaerting Tables. The Influence of Fathers. The
+  Influence of Mothers. The Havelock Ellis Studies and Reports.
+  The Production of Men of Genius. The Investigations of Marro the
+  Italian Scientist. The Redfield Investigation and Theories. The
+  Influence of Parental Age on Genius. How Ability is Transmitted.
+  Why Delayed Parentage produces Better Offspring than Premature
+  Parentage. Latest Discoveries of Sexual Science concerning an
+  important subject      103
+
+
+LESSON IX--THE DETERMINATION OF SEX
+
+  How the Sex of Offspring is Determined, and how Controlled or
+  Produced at Will. The Biological Viewpoint. The Practical
+  Viewpoint. The Chromosome Theory. Artificial Influencing of Sex
+  in Offspring. Professor Doncaster's Reports. Dawson's Theory.
+  Are there alternate male and female ova? The Effect of Nutrition
+  in Sex-Determination. Schenk's Theory and Methods. Influencing
+  the Ovum. Male and Female Elements. Yung's Experiments in
+  Sex-Determination, and their Startling Results. Changing Sex in
+  Tadpoles at will. How the Bees determine the sex of their larva.
+  Experiments upon Butterflies. Why more Boys than Girls are born
+  after Great Wars. Other Theories of Sex Determination, and the
+  Methods of Application. The Consensus of the best scientific
+  thought on the subject      115
+
+
+LESSON X--WHAT BIRTH CONTROL IS, AND IS NOT
+
+  "Control" not identical with "Prohibition" or "Prevention".
+  Control means "governing, regulating, or managing influences."
+  True Birth Control would not reduce the population of civilized
+  countries, but would increase the same and improve the quality
+  thereof. Not only a normal Birth Rate but also a normal Death
+  Rate. Birth Control not anti-social or immoral, but highly
+  social and highly moral. Misconception due to Ignorance and
+  Prejudice. Unbalanced Idealism and Fanatical Extremists
+  responsible for the mistaken ideas upon the subject of Birth
+  Control. Birth Control Versus Abortion. Higher Phases of Birth
+  Control. The History of Birth Control. The Causes of the present
+  interest in the subject. Nature's tendencies toward Birth
+  Control. How Nature exerts Birth Control in the World. Natural
+  Law and Biological Principles. The High Ideals of true Birth
+  Control      127
+
+
+LESSON XI--THE FETICH OF THE BIRTH RATE
+
+  The Evolution of Public Opinion concerning the Birth Rate. The
+  old ideal of Quantity at the expense of Quality. The Swing of
+  the Pendulum in the Opposite Direction. The Rational Reaction.
+  The Decline in the Birth Rate. The New Ideal. Quality rather
+  than Quantity. Decreased Death Rate accompanies Decreased Birth
+  Rate. Survival Values rather than Production Values. How
+  Increased Death Rate accompanies an Increased Birth Rate. No
+  High Birth Rate without a High Death Rate. The new Birth Control
+  Policy in Europe. The Result in Holland. The Progress of the New
+  Ideals. The Struggle against Ignorance, Prejudice, and
+  Hypocrisy. The Higher Morality. The Rational View. The Policy of
+  Wisdom. Plain Facts on an Important Subject      145
+
+
+LESSON XII--THE ARGUMENT FOR BIRTH CONTROL
+
+  General Argument in Favor of Birth Control. Honesty versus
+  Hypocrisy. Birth Control decreases Abortion. Birth Control
+  produces Better Offspring, under Better Environment. Birth
+  Control produces a lower Death Rate. Birth Control provides
+  Better Conditions for Children. Birth Control promotes Marriage.
+  Birth Control curbs Prostitution. Birth Control promotes Health
+  among Wives. Birth Control tends toward Morality among Married
+  Men. Birth Control makes for Justice to Children. Birth Control,
+  if universally practiced, would work great reforms, and would
+  metamorphose undesirable conditions of modern society. Birth
+  Control is advisable because along the lines of the highest
+  evolution of the race, and opposed to the conditions which have
+  held the race back in the past      158
+
+
+LESSON XIII--THE ARGUMENT AGAINST BIRTH CONTROL
+
+  Popular objections advanced against Birth Control, and the
+  rational answer to each. Is Birth Control opposed to Religion?
+  The relation of Religion to Morality discussed. The Position of
+  the Churches on the subject of Birth Control. No prohibition of
+  Birth Control in the Scriptures. Objections to Birth Control on
+  the part of certain religious bodies seen to be based upon
+  arbitrary ruling rather than upon the true teaching of Religion,
+  or the dictates of Morality. The Silence of most of the Churches
+  on the subject. In the future, Birth Control will be sanctioned
+  and encouraged by the best religious thought. Birth Control is
+  not Immoral; it is essentially Moral and in the best interests
+  of morality in our civilization. Birth Control not injurious to
+  Health, but is in accordance with the Health of the Race. Birth
+  Control not Unnatural, and the reason why this is so      172
+
+
+LESSON XIV--RACE SUICIDE
+
+  The argument that Birth Control favors Race Suicide, and the
+  refutation thereof. Birth Control keeps up the population to a
+  normal stand by reducing the Death Rate. Birth Control
+  eliminates the waste caused by excessive infant mortality. Birth
+  Control does not discourage children in families, but places
+  children upon a better basis. The "old time family" and its cost
+  in child-lives. Wherever the Birth Rate goes down, the Death
+  Rate goes down to even a greater degree. Proofs from Modern
+  History. Tables of Mortality tell the true tale. The Story of
+  Statistics. The eight countries in Europe with the highest Birth
+  Rate have the highest Death Rate and the lowest average culture.
+  Birth Control does not tend to Race Suicide, but toward Race
+  Progress and Race Betterment. The Balance between Quantity and
+  Quality struck rationally by Birth Control. No real danger of
+  Race Suicide in the World      190
+
+
+LESSON XV--BIRTH CONTROL METHODS
+
+  The Three Classes of Birth Control Methods. The Method of
+  Continence, with the argument for and against the same. The
+  opinion of Eminent Authorities. Illustrations from History. The
+  Physiology of Continence. The Methods of Temporary Continence.
+  The Methods of Semi-Continence, with the argument for and
+  against it. Noyes' "Male Continence." "Karezza." "Dianism." The
+  Parkhurst Theory and Method. The Psychology of these methods.
+  Opinions of Eminent Authorities. Tolstoi's views. The Methods of
+  Contraception. Distinction between Contraception and Abortion.
+  Prevention versus Destruction. The Law on the subject of
+  Contraception. Need of education on the subject, followed by
+  change in the laws. Education, not Anarchy. Cautionary Advice. A
+  Sane, Clean, presentation of the Subject      203
+
+
+
+
+Sex Advice to Women
+
+
+
+
+LESSON I
+
+FOREWORD
+
+
+In this book the writer thereof seeks to convey to women--particularly
+to young wives and women expecting to be married--certain important
+facts of knowledge, certain necessary information, which all such women
+should possess, but which few are given the opportunity to acquire.
+
+It would seem to require no argument to convince a rational individual
+that before a woman is capable of intelligent motherhood she should be
+made acquainted with the physiological processes which are involved in
+the sexual functions leading to the state of motherhood; but we are
+confronted by the fact that few young women are given such instruction.
+
+It is a strange thing that while even the ordinary school child is made
+acquainted with the physiological processes concerned with the processes
+of digestion, respiration, circulation, elimination, etc., and while
+such education is highly commended, yet at the same time not only are
+the young of both sexes reared as if there was no such thing as sexual
+functions in existence, but even full-grown adults are left to pick up
+their instruction on sexual subjects from chance sources--often polluted
+sources.
+
+Even those about to enter into the important offices of matrimony and
+parenthood are permitted to assume those duties and responsibilities
+without intelligent and scientific information or knowledge being given
+them. What would we think of expecting a woman to cook, without previous
+experience and without even the most elementary instruction on the
+subject? What would we think of expecting any person to undertake any
+important task or duty without experience or instruction regarding the
+same? And yet we seem content to allow young women to enter into the
+important relationship of marriage, and to undertake the important
+office of motherhood, often in absolute ignorance of the physiological
+processes involved, and the physical laws governing the same.
+
+All this absurd practice and custom results simply from the antiquated
+notion that it is "not nice" to speak or think of the subject of the sex
+functions. The subject has been considered "taboo" by our particular
+section of the human race since the Middle Ages, because the ascetic
+ideals of that dark period of human history brought forward a totally
+false and unnatural conception of sex as fundamentally impure. If the
+results were not so deplorable and often tragic, this condition of
+affairs would be a fit subject for laughter and scornful ridicule. But,
+alas! on the part of the thoughtful observer of this state of things
+there is rather great wonder and amazement accompanied by the feeling of
+deep sorrow.
+
+It cannot be honestly denied that in our present age, and period of
+modern civilization, and particularly among the Anglo-Saxon branch of
+the race, the question of the sex functions is associated with impurity,
+at least so far as the popular mind is concerned. In previous
+civilizations the subject was accorded its proper place, and was
+discussed sanely and thoughtfully, without any sense of shame or
+impurity. The Middle Age ideals of celibacy and asceticism brought about
+the public conception of the human body as a thing impure--something to
+be modified, tortured, subdued and reviled; and a corresponding
+conception of sex as a vile, impure thing above which the pure in heart
+rose entirely and completely, and which those of a lesser spiritual
+ideal were permitted to indulge with a due sense of their degradation
+and weakness. It was considered a most worthy thing to lead an ascetic
+life with its accompaniment of disdain and punishment of the body. It
+was considered most pious and spiritual to forego the ordinary human
+relations of sex, marriage and parenthood. From these distorted
+conceptions naturally evolved the idea that sex, and all connected with
+it, was a subject unclean and impure in itself, and to be avoided in
+thought, conversation and writing. Not only the ordinary sex relations
+of human life were placed under this taboo, but also the phenomena of
+birth and parenthood. Not only did these incidents of life grow to be
+considered impure, but they became that which to many was still worse,
+that is to say, they became to be regarded as "not respectable."
+
+Ignorance regarding the plain elementary facts of sexual physiology is
+undoubtedly the cause not only of much immorality among young people of
+both sexes, but also of many unhappy and inharmonious marriages. The
+intelligent portion of our race is now beginning to realize very keenly
+the fact that the first requisite of sane marital relations and
+intelligent parenthood is a practical and clear knowledge of the
+physiology of sex; education concerning the sexual organism, its laws,
+its functions, its normal and healthy conditions, its anatomy, its
+physiology and hygiene.
+
+The average physician of experience in general or special practice can
+tell tales of almost incredible ignorance on the part of young women who
+have recently entered into the relationship of marriage. In some cases
+the ignorance is more than a mere absence of knowledge--it consists too
+often of false-knowledge, untruthful ideas concerning matters of the
+most serious import. It is sad enough to think how such persons may work
+results harmful to themselves, but it is even sadder still to realize
+that these same ignorant young women must eventually gain their real
+knowledge through sad experience--experience paid for not only by
+themselves but also by their children. It is a hard saying, but a true
+one, that the knowledge of many young wives and mothers is to be gained
+by experience paid for by their (as yet) unborn children.
+
+The writer of the present work is one of the rapidly growing number of
+thinking persons who believe that the time has come to educate the race
+concerning the importance of sane instruction concerning the functions
+of sex. He, and those who think as he does, believe that the time has
+come to "Turn on the Light!" They believe that the importance of the
+subject will be realized by all intelligent persons, once that their
+attention is directed to the subject, and once they have considered it
+apart from the old prejudices and distorted customs. When public opinion
+on this subject is reformed, then will the taboo fall away from the body
+of truth; then will the subject take its place among the "respectable"
+topics which may be considered, discussed, and taught, without loss of
+caste or prestige.
+
+In a few decades, perhaps even much sooner, it will be regarded as quite
+reprehensible to permit young persons to enter into the relationship of
+marriage without a sane, practical knowledge of their own reproductive
+organism and the functions thereof, and of their physiological duties to
+themselves, to their companions in marriage, and to their children born
+or to be born. We may even see the practical application of the somewhat
+startling prophecy of Newell Dwight Hillis, D. D., who said: "The State
+that makes a man study two years before a license as druggist is given;
+that makes a young lawyer or doctor study three years before being
+permitted to practice; ought to ask the young man or young woman to pass
+an equally rigid examination before license is given to found an
+American home, and set up an American family."
+
+While the information above alluded to should be given alike to the
+young husband and the young wife, it cannot be doubted that the latter
+is the one of the pair who is most in need of this kind of instruction.
+While both the young man and the young woman require this instruction,
+the need is the greater in the case of the young woman, by the very
+nature of the case. The sex functions and processes play a much more
+important part in the life of the woman than in that of the man, the
+protests of some of the modern feminists to the contrary notwithstanding.
+The careful student of the sex life of men and women frankly confesses
+that in both the physical and the psychical realm the sex offices make a
+greater demand upon the time and attention of the woman than of the man.
+
+The love-life of the woman is far fuller and more absorbing than is that
+of the man. Unhappiness concerning her love-life renders the remainder
+of the life of the average woman of comparatively little account; while,
+with a happy love-life she will put up cheerfully with the absence of
+many other things which are usually regarded as necessities for
+happiness. As a writer has said: "Essentially, a woman is made for
+love--not exclusively, but essentially; and a woman who has had no love
+in her life has been a failure."
+
+The same rule operates on the physical plane. As the same writer has
+said: "Physically, the woman is also much more cognizant of her sex and
+much more hampered by the manifestation of her sex nature than man is."
+The manifestation of the incidents of menstruation is a constant
+reminder to the woman that she is a creature of sex. The phenomenon of
+pregnancy is, likewise, something from which the man is free. And,
+finally, the menopause, or "change of life," with its incidents greatly
+influencing the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the woman,
+is Nature's final word to the woman that she is the active pole of
+sex-life. As the above-quoted writer has said: "Altogether it cannot be
+denied that woman is much more a slave of her sex-nature than man is of
+his. Nature has handicapped woman much more heavily than she has man."
+
+And so, in this book, the young woman--the young wife--is directly
+addressed, her companion and mate being referred to only indirectly.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON II
+
+ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE SEX ORGANISM
+
+
+Every woman should be given plain, practical, sane, sensible instruction
+concerning the sex organism of woman, its functions, its laws, its use,
+and its abuse. This important feature of the physical organism plays an
+all powerful part in the life of every woman, and particularly in the
+life of the married woman. It is nature's mechanism for the reproduction
+of the race. Every child that is born into the world is conceived,
+gestated, and finally delivered as a result of the functioning of this
+organism. Therefore, such instruction and knowledge is vitally
+necessary, not only for the intelligent performance of the duties of
+parenthood, but also for the best interests of race-preservation,
+race-culture, and the physical well-being and health of the individual
+woman.
+
+And yet, custom and ancient prejudice have drawn the veil over this most
+important subject, so that it is difficult for the average woman to find
+practical, clean information concerning her own anatomy and
+physiological functions concerned with her sex-life. To many it has
+appeared that the particular organs and parts of the body concerned with
+the reproductive functions of the woman are base, unclean, and impure,
+and that any woman discussing them, or seeking information regarding
+them, must be immoral or at least not "respectable." Anatomical charts
+and physiological treatises on the subject are tabooed outside of the
+doctor's office. Women are considered immodest if they seek to acquaint
+themselves with the facts of life concerning one of their most important
+classes of physical functions. It is considered "not nice" for a young
+woman to know anything about her physical being in those phases which
+play the most important part in her life. Can there be anything more
+ridiculous and insane? This is a matter which excites the most intense
+surprise, disgust, and despair in the average person possessing a
+scientific tendency. But the dawn is breaking, and a better day is ahead
+of the race concerning these things.
+
+The sex organs of the woman are divided into two classes, as follows:
+(1) The external organs; and (2) the internal organs. Let us consider
+each of these classes in turn.
+
+
+THE EXTERNAL SEX ORGANS OF THE WOMAN.
+
+The external sex organs of the woman are as follows: The Mons Veneris;
+the Labia Majora; the Labia Minora; the Clitoris; the Meatus Urinarius;
+and the Vaginal Orifice. The term "the Vulva" is applied to the external
+sex organs of the woman in general, but more particularly to the Labia
+Majora and the Labia Minora (the larger and smaller "lips,"
+respectively). The term "Vulva" is the Latin term meaning "folding
+doors."
+
+THE MONS VENERIS is the fatty eminence or elevation just above the other
+external organs, which forms a mount from which its name (literally,
+"The Mount of Venus") is derived. At puberty it becomes covered with
+hair.
+
+THE LABIA MAJORA are the large "outer lips" or folds of skin which
+enclose the Vaginal Orifice, and which are situated just below the Mons
+Veneris.
+
+THE LABIA MINORA are the small "inner lips" of folds of membrane, which
+are concealed within the Labia Majora, or "outer lips," and are seen
+only when the latter are parted.
+
+THE CLITORIS is a small organ, about an inch in length, situated at the
+upper part of the Labia Minora or "inner lips," and usually being partly
+or wholly covered by the upper borders thereof. At its extremity it has
+a small rounded enlargement which is extremely sensitive and excitable,
+and which is the principal seat of sensation in the woman's sexual
+organism.
+
+THE MEATUS URINARIUS is the orifice of the urethra of the woman, the
+purpose of which is to afford an exit for the urine. It is located about
+an inch below the Clitoris and is just above the Vaginal Orifice. It is
+a common error among uninformed women that the urine passes out through
+the Vagina; but this, of course, is incorrect, as the two canals and
+their respective orifices are entirely separate from each other, though
+situated closely together.
+
+THE VAGINAL ORIFICE is the outer entrance to the Vagina, or Vaginal
+Canal or Channel. This orifice is located just below the Meatus
+Urinarius. In the virgin it is usually partly closed by what is known as
+"THE HYMEN," (vulgarly known as the "maiden head"), although in many
+cases the latter is absent even in the case of young girl infants. It
+was formerly regarded as an infallible sign of virginity, and its
+absence was regarded as a proof that virginity was lacking. But this old
+superstition is passing away, for science has shown that the Hymen is
+often absent even in the case of young children and infants, and, on the
+other hand, is sometimes present after several years of married life,
+and even during pregnancy. Much unhappiness has been caused in some
+cases where the husband has doubted the virginity of his wife because of
+the absence of the Hymen, but consultation with a capable physician
+usually removes this misunderstanding.
+
+The Hymen is a membranous fold, sometimes circular in shape, with an
+opening in the center, though in other cases it extends only across the
+lower part of the orifice. The opening in the center is for the purpose
+of allowing the menstrual blood and the other secretions of Uterus and
+Vagina to flow through. In a few cases this opening is absent, the Hymen
+being what is called "imperforate"; in which case the girl experiences
+difficulty when menstruation begins, and a physician is required to make
+a slit or opening in it. In some girls and women the Hymen is quite
+tough, while in others it is very thin and is easily broken. In the
+latter cases the young girl frequently breaks the membrane during
+vigorous exercise, such as jumping rope, etc. And, as has before been
+said, in some cases infant girls are born without even a trace of the
+Hymen. Under the circumstances, it is seen that the presence or absence
+of the Hymen is far from being an infallible proof of the presence or
+absence of virginity, and the belief in the same is now regarded as
+almost a superstition of the past.
+
+
+THE INTERNAL SEX ORGANS OF THE WOMAN.
+
+The internal sex organs of the woman are as follows: The Vagina; the
+Uterus and its appendages; the Fallopian Tubes; the Ovaries, and their
+ligaments, and the round ligaments.
+
+THE VAGINA is the canal or channel leading from the Vaginal Orifice to
+the Uterus or womb. It is situated in front of the rectum, and behind
+the bladder. In length, it averages from three to five inches; and it
+curves upward and backward, reaching to the lower part of the neck of
+the womb, or Uterus, which part of the neck is enclosed by it. It is a
+strong fibro-muscular structure, lined with mucous membrane; and is not
+smooth inside, but is arranged in inner folds or rings which are capable
+of great extension.
+
+On either side of the Vagina, near the outer orifice, are two small
+glands, about the size of a pea, which secrete a peculiar fluid, and
+which are known as the Glands of Bartholine. The office of the Vagina is
+that of a complementary to the male organ during the copulative process;
+to also sustain the weight of the Uterus; to also afford a passage for
+the infant at the time of its birth; and also to serve as a passage for
+the menstrual fluid.
+
+THE UTERUS, or Womb, is the internal sex organ of the woman which serves
+to hold the fertilized ovum, or egg, from the time of impregnation,
+during the period of pregnancy during which the ovum develops into the
+young child, and until the time of the delivery of the child.
+
+The Uterus is a hollow pear-shaped muscular organ, about three inches in
+length, nearly an inch thick, and about two inches broad across its
+upper part, or FUNDUS; the lower part, or CERVIX, being much narrower.
+The CERVIX, or "neck" of the womb, projects into the Vagina, forming the
+"os uteri," or "mouth of the womb," at that point. The Uterus is
+composed chiefly of a muscular coat, its walls consisting of strong
+muscular fibres which contract independently of the will, as do similar
+muscles in the stomach and bladder. These muscular walls are capable of
+enormous distention during pregnancy. The muscles of the healthy womb
+are capable of a tremendous pressure and resistance, and are capable of
+expelling the child with but slight labor at the time of delivery.
+
+The Uterus is located just behind and slightly above the bladder, and is
+supported by eight ligaments which, in a healthy condition, hold it
+firmly and easily in place. Displacements of the Uterus are due to the
+weakening or relaxing of some or all of these ligaments, generally
+caused by general weakness or else by excessive physical exercise or
+labor. The principal DISPLACEMENTS OF THE UTERUS are as follows:
+Prolapsus, or lowering of the womb in the vagina; Antroversion, or the
+bending forward of the womb; Anteflexion, or the "doubling up" of the
+womb FORWARD on itself; Retroversion, or the bending backward of the
+womb; and Retroflexion, or the "doubling up" of the womb BACKWARD on
+itself. Extreme degrees of the last four mentioned forms of displacement
+often interfere with impregnation.
+
+The internal surface of the Uterus is lined with mucous membrane
+thickly studded with minute hairlike cells which manifest continuous
+motion. This motion, in the lower part of the womb, is in the direction
+of the fundus or upper part of the womb; in the upper part of the womb,
+the motion is in the opposite direction; the purpose of these opposing
+movements being to carry the male elements toward that portion of the
+womb into which the Fallopian Tubes discharge the products of the
+Ovaries, as we shall see presently.
+
+The Uterus is supplied with follicles around its neck which secrete a
+very firm, adhesive mucus substance, which serves as a gate or door
+across the mouth of the womb during the period of pregnancy, and which
+also serves to prevent the accidental displacement of the ovum or egg.
+During and just after menstruation, the Uterus becomes enlarged and more
+vascular. During pregnancy, it largely increases in weight. After
+delivery, it resumes its normal size, but the cavity is larger than
+before conception. In old age, it becomes atrophied and denser in
+structure.
+
+THE FALLOPIAN TUBES are the ducts of the Ovaries, and serve to convey
+the ova, or eggs, from the Ovaries to the cavity in the Uterus. They are
+two in number, one on each side, each tube being about four inches in
+length. They extend from either side of the fundus of the womb, through
+the broad ligaments which hold them and the Ovaries in position until
+they communicate with the Ovaries. They are lined with a membrane
+composed of the same kind of peculiar hair-like cells which are found in
+the lining of the womb, the purpose in this case being to urge forward
+the ova or eggs toward the Uterus.
+
+At the ovarian end of the tubes the latter expand into a fringed,
+trumpet-shaped extremity, the fringe being known as "the fimbria." The
+tubes are only about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, and their
+small caliber makes it easy for them to clog up as the result of slight
+inflammation, or to become clogged up or sealed at their mouths or
+openings, thus causing sterility or inability of the woman to conceive.
+If the tubes are clogged, or sealed up, it of course is impossible for
+the ova or eggs to reach the uterus.
+
+THE OVARIES are the two oval-shaped bodies lying one on either side of
+the Uterus. In them the ova, or eggs, are formed. They are each about
+one and one-half inches long, about one inch wide, and about one-half an
+inch thick. In addition to their attachment to the broad ligament, they
+are held in position by folds or ligaments running to the fundus of the
+Uterus and to the fimbriated extremities of the Fallopian Tubes. The
+Ovaries are covered by a dense, firm coating which encloses a soft
+fibrous tissue, abundantly supplied with blood-vessels, which is called
+the stroma. Imbedded in the mesh-like tissue of the stroma are found
+numerous small, round, transparent vesicles, in various stages of
+development, known as the Graafian follicles, which are lined with a
+layer of peculiar granular cells. These Graafian follicles are the
+receptacles or sacs which contain the ova, or eggs, which constitute the
+female reproductive germ. Each vesicle contains a single ovum or egg.
+
+
+Summary.
+
+From the foregoing, it is seen that we may enumerate the sex organs of
+the woman as follows, proceeding from the external to the internal
+organism: First, the Mons Veneris, or prominent eminence above the more
+important external sex organs; then the Labia Majora, or large outer
+"lips" or folds, which are plainly discernable to the ordinary view;
+then the Labia Minora, or smaller inner "lips" or folds, and the
+Clitoris or small sensitive organ, and the Meatus Urinarius or urinary
+orifice, all of which are discernable only when the folds of the Labia
+Majora are parted or opened. Then, proceeding upward and backward from
+the Vaginal Orifice, we find the Vagina, or channel or canal leading to
+the Uterus or Womb; then we find the Uterus or Womb at the upper end of
+the canal or channel of the Vagina. Then extending from either side of
+the Uterus or Womb we find those two important sets of organs known as
+the Fallopian Tubes, and the Ovaries, respectively. The Ovaries
+discharge their ova, or eggs, into the Fallopian Tubes, from whence they
+are conveyed to the Uterus or Womb, with which the tubes are connected
+and into which they open at its upper and large end.
+
+THE PELVIS is that bony arch in the cavity of which are contained the
+internal sex organs of the woman. The Pelvis is a bony basin which holds
+and supports the pelvic organs, and is composed of three important
+parts, as follows: (1) The Sacrum, consisting of five sections of the
+vertebral column, or spine, fused together so as to constitute the solid
+part of the lower spine and the back of the Pelvis; (2) the two
+Hip-Bones, one on each side of the Pelvis; (3) the Pubic Arch, or the
+front part of the Pelvis, formed by the junction of the two Hip-Bones in
+front. Attached to the Hip-Bones are the thighs, and also the large
+Gluteal Muscles which constitute the buttocks, or "seat."
+
+The Pelvis of the woman is quite different from that of the man. It is
+shallower and wider, and lighter in structure than that of the male, and
+the margins of the Hip-Bones are more widely separated, thus making the
+hips of the woman far more prominent than those of the man. Also, the
+Sacrum is shorter than that of the man, and the Pubic Arch wider and
+more rounded than his. This difference in the bony structure is made
+necessary by the demand for larger space in the female Pelvis required
+for the purposes of childbirth. These differences are not so perceptible
+in childhood, but become marked and pronounced at puberty.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON III
+
+PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FEMALE SEX ORGANISM
+
+
+In the preceding lesson you have been shown "just what" each one of the
+sex organs of the woman IS. In the present lesson you will be shown
+"just what" each of these organs DOES--what its functions and offices
+are. The preceding lesson dealt with the ANATOMY of these organs; the
+present lesson will deal with the PHYSIOLOGY thereof.
+
+Beginning with the Ovaries, the fundamental and basic sex organs of the
+woman, you will have explained to you the wonderful processes performed
+by each of these organs in turn.
+
+THE OVARIES. The Ovaries in the woman are akin to the testicles in the
+man. Without the Ovaries there would be no ova or eggs, and without the
+ova there would be possible no reproductive purposes, and therefore no
+office for the sex organs at all, for reproduction is the fundamental
+office, function, and purpose of the entire sexual organism.
+
+In our consideration of the office, purposes, and functions of the
+Ovaries, however, we must not overlook a certain secondary phase of such
+functioning. While it is true that the primary purpose of both the
+testicles of the male, and the Ovaries of the female, is that of
+providing SEED from which the offspring of the individual may be
+produced, it is likewise true that there exists a secondary purpose
+which may be called the "individual" purpose as contrasted with the
+"racial" and primary one.
+
+This secondary or "individual" purpose of the Ovaries is that of
+manufacturing certain secretions which are absorbed by the blood of the
+woman, and which play an important part in her physical and mental
+well-being and activities. These secretions begin before puberty in the
+woman, and continue after her menopause; whereas the manufacture of the
+ova begins only at puberty, and ceases with the menopause, keeping pace
+with the manifestation of menstruation in its beginning and its ending.
+
+Nature provides these chemical secretions from the Ovaries for the
+purpose of giving the woman her characteristic physical form and
+contour, her form, her breasts, her long hair, her broad pelvis, her
+soft voice, and other secondary sex characteristics; and also of
+providing for the normal development of the other sex organs. As a proof
+of this statement, science shows us that if a woman's ovaries are
+completely removed there is usually a consequent atrophy or "drying up"
+of the Uterus and the Vagina, and often even of the Vulva. Moreover, the
+presence of this internal secretion manifests in arousing and
+maintaining in the woman her normal sexual desire, and her normal
+pleasure in the company of her mate; it being noted that if the ovaries
+are removed, particularly in early life, the woman is apt to lose all
+sexual desire and normal womanly feeling toward the other sex. And,
+finally, these secretions make for general physical and mental health
+and well-being in the woman, and contribute to her vivacity, energy,
+and activity in all directions. As writers on the subject have well
+pointed out, this is the reason that capable surgeons usually try to
+leave at least a portion of the Ovaries when performing an operation for
+the removal of those organs on account of diseased condition.
+
+THE OVUM. The Ovum, or human egg, is a small spherical body, measuring
+from one two-hundred-and-fortieth to one one-hundred-and-twentieth of an
+inch in diameter. It has a colorless transparent envelope, the latter
+enclosing the yolk which consists of granules or globules of various
+sizes embedded in a viscid fluid. In the center of the yolk is found a
+very small vesicular body consisting of a tenuous transparent membrane,
+which is known as "the germinal vesicle;" this, in turn, contains a very
+tiny granular structure, opaque, of yellow color, known as "the germinal
+spot."
+
+When the time is reached in which the ovum or egg is to be discharged,
+the Graafian follicle becomes enlarged by reason of the accumulation of
+the fluids in its interior, and exerts such a steady and increasing
+pressure from within, outward, that the surrounding tissue yields to it,
+and it finally protrudes from the Ovary, from whence it is then expelled
+with a gush, owing to the elasticity and reaction of the neighboring
+tissues.
+
+Following this rupture there occurs an abundant hemorrhage from the
+vesicles of the follicle, the cavity being filled with blood, which then
+coagulates and is retained in the Graafian follicle. The formation and
+development of the Graafian follicle begins at puberty and continues
+until the menopause or "change of life" of the woman. Many follicles are
+produced, but many do not produce ova, and so gradually atrophy. The
+ripening and discharge of the eggs produce a peculiar condition of
+congestion of the entire female sexual organism, including the Fallopian
+Tubes, the Uterus, the Vagina, and even of the Vulva, which results in a
+condition of Sexual Excitement. Among the lower animals the female will
+allow the male to approach her for copulation only at this period, this
+being the time when the egg is ready for fertilization.
+
+When the female infant is born, her Ovaries contain the germs of about
+100,000 ova. The greater portion of these, however, disappear, until at
+the time of her puberty the number of germs of ova contains only about
+30,000 ova. This number is far more than the woman will ever need, and
+is Nature's provision against diseased portions of the Ovaries,
+accidents, etc. Only one ovum ripens and matures each month from puberty
+until menopause, so that the woman really requires only about 300 to 350
+ova on the average. This liberality on the part of Nature, however, does
+not begin to approach her lavishness in the case of seed of the male,
+for in his case while only one spermatozoon is required to fertilize an
+ovum (and in fact only one is permitted to do so), we find that in each
+normal act of ejaculation of semen by the male over 250,000 spermatozoa
+are projected.
+
+The ripening and discharge of the egg from the Ovaries, and the
+consequent congestion above referred to, accompanied by what is called
+Menstruation, occurs regularly each lunar month (28 days). What is
+called Ovulation consists of the monthly maturing and expulsion of the
+ripe ovum or egg, while Menstruation (as we shall see later on) consists
+of the monthly discharge of blood and mucus from the inner surface of
+the Uterus; the two processes occur in connection with each other, yet
+neither can be considered as the cause of the other.
+
+MENSTRUATION. It may be well to call your attention at this point to the
+process known as Menstruation, or "the monthly flow," or "the courses"
+of women. Menstruation is the monthly flow of bloody fluid which occurs
+in all healthy (non-pregnant) women from puberty to the menopause or
+"change of life."
+
+By "PUBERTY" is meant the age at which a woman begins her period of
+possible child-bearing experience. In temperate climates the average age
+of puberty is about fourteen years, while in tropical countries it is
+often a year or so earlier, and in arctic countries a year or so later.
+The time, however, depends materially upon the temperament, race,
+hygiene, and general environment of the individual girl. At this period
+the girl gradually changes into the young woman. Her figure changes, her
+bust develops, her hips broaden, and her mental and emotional nature
+undergoes a change. Also the menstrual flow begins to manifest at this
+time; at first scanty and irregular, but gradually changing into the
+characteristic flow each month.
+
+At the period of puberty, the girl undergoes marked emotional changes.
+She becomes very "emotional" as a rule, and quite "sensitive." She
+becomes filled with strange, unaccountable longings, ideas, and
+"notions." She usually manifests a great emotional interest in her girl
+friends, and often manifests marked jealousy in connection with these
+friendships. The girl is apt to indulge in day-dreaming at this period,
+and becomes quite romantic and "flighty." She devours love stories, and
+delights in imagining herself as the heroine of similar adventures. The
+period from the beginning of puberty to that of the attainment of full
+sexual maturity is known as the period of "adolescence," and generally
+extends to about the age of eighteen in the case of girls.
+
+By the MENOPAUSE is meant that period of the woman's "change of life,"
+the average time of which is about the age of forty-five years, although
+this varies greatly in different individuals. As a rule, it is held that
+the period of the woman's child-bearing possibility extends over an
+average period of thirty years. At the Menopause the woman's
+reproductive activity declines and finally ends. The Ovaries diminish in
+size, the Graafian follicles cease to form and develop; the Fallopian
+Tubes atrophy; and there occur other physical, mental, and emotional
+changes in the woman. While the age of forty-five is held to be the
+average age at which the Menopause occurs in women, still it is not at
+all uncommon to find women who menstruate regularly up to the age of
+fifty, or fifty-two, or even fifty-five, while a large number of women
+menstruate regularly at the age of forty-eight.
+
+Some women undergo little or no physical or emotional disturbance at the
+time of the Menopause. In such cases their periods become more or less
+irregular, with extending intervals between periods; the flow becomes
+more and more scanty; then several periods are skipped altogether; and
+finally the periods cease entirely. Other women, however, experience
+more or less physical disturbance during the years of the "change." They
+sometimes experience loss of appetite, or a capricious appetite,
+headaches, loss of weight, or else a sudden taking on of fatty tissue.
+They often become quite irritable and "notiony," and often become
+quarrelsome and pugnacious, and in some cases manifest unreasonable
+jealousy. But, in the opinion of many of the best authorities, much of
+this trouble comes from the mental expectancy of them by the woman,
+resulting from the notion that a woman must have these things happen to
+her. The power of the mind over the body is now well known, and we have
+here another instance of its effect. The remedy is obvious.
+
+Another matter which disturbs the woman at this time, in many cases, is
+the common belief that after "the change" she will lose all of her sex
+attractiveness, and her sexual feelings, etc. This is a grave error, for
+the experience of all observing physicians is that no such results
+follow this period of the woman's life. Many women become even more
+attractive to the other sex after this time, by reason of acquiring a
+certain maturity and "ripeness" which proves very attractive to many
+men--often to young men as well as older ones. Moreover, the sexual
+desires do not cease with the cessation of the reproductive functions.
+On the contrary, it often happens that such emotions and desires are
+increased in the woman at, and after, this time of her life. So true is
+this that this period has been called "The Dangerous Age" for women,
+and the experience of many a woman of forty-five to fifty will
+corroborate this statement. The woman at this time should beware of
+contracting unwise love affairs and entanglements, and of yielding to
+impulses toward men other than her mate. A word to the wise should be
+sufficient in this case.
+
+To return to the main subject of Menstruation, it may be said that the
+monthly flow, when once established, occurs at intervals of every
+twenty-eight days, on the average, although in some individual cases it
+occurs as often as every twenty-one days, while in others it occurs as
+seldom as once in every six weeks, all without exceeding the bounds of
+normal functioning. Menstruation ceases temporarily during pregnancy, in
+normal cases, and often also ceases during the period of lactation or
+nursing. The menstrual period lasts on an average for four or five days,
+the flow increasing for the first half of the period, and decreasing
+during the last half. At the beginning of the period there is often
+manifested a general congestion of all of the sexual organs of the
+woman, and often of the breasts as well. There is also usually found a
+sense of physical discomfort, from which more or less irritable feeling
+arises. In rare cases there are found severe cramps and pains, and in
+some cases the woman finds it necessary to call in medical aid, or to go
+to bed, or both. In such cases a cure is often worked by improving the
+general health, and by observing common sense hygienic rules.
+
+Menstruation is caused by a hypertrophy of the mucus membrane of inner
+surface of the Uterus, which is followed by a shedding of the
+hypertrophied membrane. This leaves exposed the underlying vessels,
+which bleed. New mucus membrane is formed after the period. The
+menstrual flow consists of a thin, bloody fluid, having peculiar odor,
+in which is combined blood, thin skin, and mucus membrane, and also
+mucus from the Uterus and the Vagina, the blood being light in
+consistency and not clotted.
+
+During the menstrual period the ovum, or egg, is discharged, and enters
+the Uterus, as we shall see presently.
+
+THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE OVUM. The physiology of the remaining sexual
+organs of the woman may perhaps best be studied by considering the story
+of the Life-History of the Ovum, or human egg, for the functions of such
+organs are concerned with such life-history of the egg, and really exist
+merely to create such a history, or rather, to produce the process which
+constitutes the basis of such history.
+
+The ovum, or egg, when discharged from the ovary, is at first surrounded
+by a few cells which serve as nourishment, but which soon disappear. It
+enters the Fallopian Tube and begins its journey toward the Uterus,
+being urged on its way by the constant movement of the lining-cells of
+the interior of the tube, in the direction of the Uterus. Certain
+changes in structure occur. Its passage to the Uterus may be
+interrupted, and the ovum lost and finally cast off. But the ovum that
+is successful finally arrives at the Uterus where it awaits impregnation
+or fertilization by the spermatozoon of the male.
+
+If copulation occurs within a reasonable time after the arrival of the
+ovum, it is impregnated or fertilized. Fecundation results and
+conception ensues, the ovum then remaining attached to the walls of the
+Uterus, and in time develops into the foetus. If, however, the ovum is
+not impregnated, because of absence of copulation or from other causes,
+it gradually loses its vitality, and is finally cast off with the
+several uterine secretions.
+
+It should be explained here that the "spermatozoon" of the male (the
+plural of the term is "spermatozoa") is the male generative "seed." The
+sperum, semen, or seminal fluid of the male is filled with hundreds of
+thousands of spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon is a minute living, moving
+creature, resembling a microscopic tadpole. It has a head, a rod-like
+body, and a thin hair-like tail, the latter being kept in constant
+motion from side to side, by means of which the tiny creature is enabled
+to travel rapidly from one point to another. The human spermatozoon
+measures about one six-hundredth of an inch in length. It is composed of
+protoplasm, the substance of which all living creatures are composed.
+The spermatozoa are believed to be developed from a parent sperm-cell,
+by the process of segmentation or subdivision, which process is common
+to all cell-life. The numerous spermatozoa dwell in a gelatinous
+substance, which, mingling with the other fluidic secretions of the
+glands of the male, constitutes the male seminal fluid, sperm, or semen,
+which is ejaculated by the male during the process of copulation.
+
+Fecundation (i. e. fertilization, impregnation; the process by which the
+male reproductive element is brought in contact with the female ovum or
+egg) is brought about by the blending of the male reproductive element
+(or spermatozoon) with the female reproductive element (or ovum, or
+egg). This blending is of course accomplished by the bringing together
+in mutual contact the two reproductive elements just mentioned. The
+sexual act which results in this "bringing together" of the two elements
+is known as "copulation," or "coition." In copulation or coition the
+seminal fluid of the male, containing an enormous number of spermatozoa,
+is ejaculated from the male intromittent organ into the receptive canal
+or channel of the female (the Vagina), and in this way finally comes
+into actual contact with the female ovum or egg which is awaiting it in
+the Uterus of the female.
+
+The spermatozoa (in the process of copulation) are deposited in the
+Vagina of the female, usually at its upper end, but sometimes in the
+lower portion; and in rare and peculiar cases even at or about the
+Vaginal Orifice or outer vaginal opening. In either case they travel up
+the remaining portion of the Vagina and finally enter the Uterus or
+womb. The spermatozoa possess wonderful vitality and power of
+locomotion. There are cases recorded in which the spermatozoa deposited
+on or about the outer female genitals have managed to travel inward and
+upward until they have finally reached the Uterus, where conception has
+resulted. Such cases, of course, are rare, but they exist, well
+authenticated and accepted by medical science as facts.
+
+It must not be supposed, however, that the impregnation of the ovum
+occurs only in the womb proper. Cases are known in which the spermatozoa
+have traveled along the Fallopian Tubes and impregnated the ovum there;
+and in very rare cases the spermatozoon seems to have penetrated even to
+the Ovary itself, and there impregnated the ovum on the surface of the
+Ovary. Some excellent authorities, in fact, insist that all normal
+impregnation occurs at the end of the Fallopian Tube--the point of its
+entrance into the upper part of the womb, rather than in the body of the
+womb, or at its mouth, as the older authorities taught. But wherever the
+actual contact of spermatozoon and ovum occurs, the blending of the
+elements is performed and fertilization, impregnation, or fecundation is
+accomplished.
+
+As a result of copulation, then, the spermatozoon (or a number of
+spermatozoa) comes in contact with the female ovum or egg. Then one or
+more of them, by means of a furious lashing of the tiny tail, manages to
+penetrate the outer covering of the ovum, and enters the space between
+the outer covering and the real body of the egg. Several spermatozoa may
+effect an entrance into this outer space, BUT ONLY ONE IS PERMITTED TO
+ENTER THE REAL BODY OF THE EGG. [Twins are produced by the impregnation
+of two ova by two spermatozoa, at the same time. The presence of the two
+ova at the same time is unusual]. The moment that the real body of the
+ovum is penetrated by the successful spermatozoon, a tough covering or
+thick membrane forms around the ovum and thus prevents the entrance of
+other spermatozoa. The successful spermatozoon then loses its tail, and
+the remaining head and body become what is known as "the male
+pronucleus."
+
+The authorities are uncertain as to the exact nature of the change which
+occurs when the ovum is penetrated by the spermatozoon. The outward
+manifestations of the change and transformation arising from the
+blending of the male and female elements are of course well known, but
+the "life process" eludes the power of the microscope. When Nature forms
+the thick membranous coating over the impregnated ovum, she draws the
+veil over one of her most important secrets. The first segmentation-nucleus
+having been formed by the blending and forging together of the male and
+female pronuclei, the process of segmentation begins.
+
+Segmentation proceeds as follows: the impregnated egg splits into
+halves, forming two joined cells; then into quarters, forming four
+joined cells; then into sixteenths, then into thirty-seconds,
+sixty-fourths, and so on, until the ovum consists of a combined mass of
+very minute granular-like cells, the whole resembling a mulberry. The
+segmentation of the nucleus precedes and then continues with the
+segmentation of the yolk. After the egg has been divided into a great
+number of these cells, the latter begin a centrifugal action resulting
+in the formation of a complete inner lining of closely packed cells,
+with a central cavity filled with the yolk liquid.
+
+In the meantime, the Uterus has been prepared for the reception of the
+impregnated and transformed ovum. A thick, spongy, juicy, mucus membrane
+forms, into which the changing ovum passes and attaches itself; the
+mucus membrane soon enveloping it and shutting it off from the rest of
+the Uterus. There now appears at one point on the ovum an opaque streak,
+which is called "the primitive trace" of the embryo--the first beginning
+of the young living creature. The "primitive trace" then grows in length
+and breadth. At this point we must leave the history of the ovum, or
+human egg, for the present; its further development will be related in
+the succeeding lesson, the subject of which is "Gestation."
+
+
+
+
+LESSON IV
+
+GESTATION OR PREGNANCY
+
+
+Gestation is "the act of carrying young in the Uterus, from the time of
+conception to that of parturition." Conception occurs at the moment of
+the impregnation of the ovum; parturition is the act of delivery, or
+childbirth. Pregnancy is "the state of being with child." The terms
+"period of gestation," and "period of pregnancy," respectively, are
+employed by medical authorities to designate the time during which the
+mother carries the young within her own body--from the moment of the
+impregnation of the ovum until the moment of the final delivery of the
+child into the outer world.
+
+The term of pregnancy in woman continues for over nine calendar months
+(or ten lunar months)--from about 275 to 280 days, though in exceptional
+cases it may be terminated in seven calendar months, or on the other
+hand may continue for ten calendar months. The usual method is to figure
+280 days from the FIRST DAY of the LAST MENSTRUATION. A simple method of
+calculating the probable date of delivery is as follows: COUNT BACK
+THREE MONTHS, AND THEN ADD SEVEN DAYS, AND YOU WILL HAVE THE DATE OF
+PROBABLE DELIVERY. Example: A woman's FIRST DAY OF LAST MENSTRUATION is
+March 28. Counting back three months gives us December 28; and adding
+seven days to this gives us January 4, as the date of probable delivery.
+There will always be a possible margin of a few days before or after the
+ascertained probable date--but the delivery will very closely
+approximate said date. Ignore the shortage of days of February in this
+calculation, the same being covered by the general margin allowed.
+
+DEVELOPMENT OF THE IMPREGNATED OVUM. In the preceding lesson we
+terminated our consideration of the impregnated ovum at the point at
+which, after the process of segmentation, the "primitive trace" had
+appeared. This primitive trace appears as an opaque streak, or straight
+line, formed of an aggregation of cells of a distinctive quality. This
+delicate "trace" or "streak" is the first indication of the form of the
+coming child. It is the basis, pattern, or mould, in or around which the
+spinal column is to be formed, and around which the entire young body is
+to be developed by the wonderful and intricate processes of dividing and
+reduplication, and the folding and combination of cells. From one end of
+this "trace" develops the head; from the other end develops the lower
+end of the spine. At a later stage there appear tiny "buds" in the
+positions at which the arms and legs should be; these gradually develop,
+and their ends split into tiny fingers and toes, and finally are
+transformed into perfect little arms and legs, miniatures of those of
+the adult human being.
+
+The term "the embryo" is employed to designate the developing young
+creature in the earlier stages of its development, particularly before
+the end of the third month of its existence. After the end of the third
+month the embryo is called "the fetus." In the short space of 280 days
+the young creature evolves and develops from a single simple cell into a
+complex organism--a perfect miniature human being. Nature works a
+wonderful miracle here, and yet so common is it that we take it all as a
+matter of course, and lose sight of the miracle. From the most simple
+forms are formed in the developing creature the most complex organs and
+parts. The heart is formed from a tiny straight line of cells, by
+enlargement and partition. The stomach and intestines, likewise, develop
+from a tiny straight line of cells arranged as a tiny tube--the stomach
+is formed by dilation of one part of the tube, while the large
+intestine experiences a similar though lesser distention and a greater
+growth in length; the smaller intestines being formed by growth in
+length and circumference. The other organs evolve from similar simple
+beginnings.
+
+The embryo is nourished during its earlier stages by means of the "yolk
+sack," or "umbilical vesicle," which is outside the body of the embryo,
+being joined to it by means of the umbilical duct. This yolk sack
+(originally formed by a "drawing together" in the ovum, which thus
+separates itself into two portions or areas) is an important feature of
+the life of the embryo, as it nourishes and sustains it in its earlier
+stages. Blood vessels form in this yolk sack, and after a time its fluid
+is absorbed, and after the third month the sack gradually disappears.
+
+After the passing away of the yolk sack, the embryo is nourished and
+sustained by the "allantois," another peculiar sack which is formed.
+This sack readily becomes filled with blood-vessels, and serves to
+nourish the embryo by sustenance obtained from the body of the mother
+through the walls of the Uterus, a direct communication with the
+blood-vessels of the mother thus being secured. The blood in the embryo,
+and that in the mother, come into close contact, thus allowing the
+embryo to be nourished by the blood of the mother. After a time, in
+turn, the allantois diminishes and dwindles away, its offices being
+taken up and performed by the "placenta" or "afterbirth."
+
+THE PLACENTA OR AFTERBIRTH. The Placenta, or afterbirth, is a round,
+flat substance or organ, contained within the Uterus, by which
+communication and connection is established and maintained between the
+fetus and the mother, by means of the umbillical cord. It is a flat,
+circular mass, about seven inches in diameter, and weighing about
+sixteen ounces. It is attached to the sides of the Uterus of the mother
+during the period of gestation, and is expelled from the body of the
+mother, as "the afterbirth," after the birth of the child.
+
+Let us pause a moment, and reconsider the several steps in Nature's plan
+for nourishing the embryo and fetus. In the first place, as we have
+seen, there is the yolk sack or umbillical vesicle, filled with a fluid
+which nourishes the embryo. This gradually disappears in time, and is
+replaced by the "allantois" which by connection with the walls of the
+Uterus is enabled to nourish the fetus from and by the blood of the
+mother. For a short time, however, the embryo is nourished by both the
+yolk sack and the allantois. Then the allantois assumes the entire task,
+and the yolk sack passes away. Then, later, the placenta replaces the
+allantois, and the latter passes away as did its predecessor. The
+placenta works along the same general lines as the allantois, but is a
+far more complex way and with a much higher degree of efficiency, as we
+shall see presently.
+
+The placenta is connected with the body of the fetus by what is known as
+"the umbillical cord." The "umbillicus" or "navel" in the human being
+marks the place at which the umbillical cord entered the body of the
+fetus, from which it was severed after the birth of the child. The
+purpose of the umbillical cord is to contain and support the umbillical
+arteries and veins through which the fetus obtains nourishment from the
+placental substance, and through which the return blood flows. The rich
+red arterial blood is carried from the placenta to the fetus, and is
+then distributed over the body of the fetus, nourishing and building it
+up; the dark venous blood, laden with the waste products of the body of
+the fetus, is carried back to the placenta, there to be repurified and
+rendered again rich and nourishing.
+
+The story of the circulation of the blood of the fetus is most
+interesting. Although the fetal blood is derived from that of the
+mother, as we have said, yet the maternal blood does not pass directly
+from the circulatory system of the mother into that of the fetus; nor
+does the blood of the fetus return directly into the circulatory system
+of the mother. In fact, the fetal blood never comes in direct contact
+with that of the mother, or vice versa. The fetus has an independent
+circulatory system of its own, and yet, at the same time, from the
+moment of the placental connection until the moment of childbirth, all
+its nourishment is derived from its mother.
+
+The secret of the above paradoxical statement is made apparent when we
+understand the meaning of the scientific term "osmosis." Osmosis is "the
+passage of a fluid through a membrane"; it is a chemical process, caused
+by the chemical affinity between two liquids or gases separated one from
+the other by a porous diaphragm or substance. In the process of osmosis
+in the case before us, the fetal blood takes up nourishing substances
+and oxygen from the blood of the mother, and passes on to the latter the
+waste products of the fetal system, by means of passing these substances
+through the thin porous membranes which separate the two independent
+systems of blood vessels, i. e., the system of the fetus, and that of
+the mother. Before birth, in fact, the fetus has its blood nourished and
+oxygenated by means of the food partaken of by its mother, and the
+oxygen taken in by the mother in her breathing. After its birth, the
+infant eats and breathes for itself, and thus nourishes its blood supply
+directly, instead of receiving it indirectly from the mother.
+
+The Placenta begins to be formed about the third month of gestation, and
+continues to develop steadily from that time. At the time of the
+delivery of the child the Placenta covers nearly or quite one-third of
+the inner space of the distended Uterus of the mother. The total
+"afterbirth" consists of the Placenta, the umbillical cord, and the
+remaining membranes of the ovum, all of which are expelled after the
+birth of the child.
+
+THE AMNION. An important appendage contained in the Uterus in connection
+with the developing fetus is that known as "The Amnion." This is an
+inner sack which forms within the womb, and which serves to enclose the
+fetus, and also to sheath the umbillical cord. The Amnion encloses the
+embryo very snugly during the early stages of its development, but it
+gradually becomes distended with a pale watery fluid, known as "the
+amniotic fluid," the purpose of which is to "float" the fetus and to
+give it mechanical support on all sides. This fluid is composed of water
+carrying in solution small quantities of albumin, urea, and salt.
+
+SEX IN THE EMBRYO AND FETUS. It is impossible to determine the sex of
+the embryo during its early stages. During the fourth week the first
+traces of the sexual glands appear, but not until the fifth week can the
+sex be determined even by the microscope. If the embryo is to become a
+male, certain ducts are transformed into convoluted tubules, and each is
+attached to the testes which have been formed from the genital nucleus.
+If the embryo is to become a female, the ducts join to form the uterus
+and vagina, other portions being transformed into the fallopian tubes
+and connecting with the ovaries which have been formed otherwise. The
+outer genitals appear in the early stages of the embryo, but there is no
+apparent distinction between the sexes, the external organs being the
+same in all cases, and consisting of a small tubular organ with a small
+lateral fold of skin on either side. Later, in the male, a groove
+appears on the under side of this primitive organ, thus forming the
+urethra, the scrotum being formed from the folded skin at the side. In
+the female, the primitive organ ceases to develop as in the male, and
+thus becomes proportionately smaller, and evolves into the clitoris of
+the female; the two lateral folds, on each side, being transformed into
+the labia majora, or "outer lips" of the female external genitals.
+
+POSITION OF THE FETUS. During the period of gestation the fetus lies
+"curled up" in the bag of the amnion. The head is usually relaxed and
+inclined forward, the chin resting on the breast; the feet are bent up
+in front of the legs, the legs bent up on the thighs, the knees
+separated from each other, but the heels almost touching on the back of
+the thighs; the arms bent forward and the hands placed between them as
+though to receive the chin between them. The folded-up fetus forms an
+oval, the longest diameter of which is about eleven inches at its
+greatest stage of growth. Nature here shows a wonderful ability to pack
+the fetus into as little space as possible, and in such a position as to
+protect it from injury, and to discommode the mother as little as
+possible.
+
+The following interesting statement made by Helen Idleson, M. D., in a
+European medical journal several years ago, gives a very clear idea,
+expressed in popular terms, of the appearance and characteristics of the
+embryo or fetus in the various stages of its development:
+
+"The growth of the embryo after fecundation is very rapid. On the TENTH
+DAY it has the appearance of a semi-transparent grayish flake. On the
+TWELFTH DAY it is nearly the size of a pea, filled with fluid, in the
+middle of which is an opaque spot, presenting the first appearance of an
+embryo, which may be clearly seen as an oblong or curved body, and is
+plainly visible to the naked eye on the fourteenth day. The TWENTY-FIRST
+DAY the embryo resembles an ant or a lettuce seed. Many of its parts now
+begin to show themselves, especially the cartilaginous beginnings of the
+spinal column, the heart, etc. The THIRTIETH DAY the embryo is as large
+as a horse-fly, and resembles a worm, bent together. There are as yet no
+limbs, and the head is larger than the rest of the body. When stretched
+out it is nearly half an inch long. Toward the fifth week the heart
+increases greatly in proportion to the remainder of the body, and the
+rudimentary eyes are indicated by two black spots toward the sides, and
+the heart exhibits its external form, bearing a close resemblance to
+that in an adult. In the SEVENTH WEEK, bone begins to form in the lower
+jaw and clavicle. Narrow streaks on each side of the vertebral column
+show the beginning of the ribs. The heart is perfecting its form, the
+brain enlarging, and the eyes and ears growing more perfect, and the
+limbs sprouting from the body. The lungs are mere sacks, and the trachea
+is a delicate thread, but the liver is very large. In the seventh week
+are formed the renal capsules and kidneys.
+
+"At TWO MONTHS, the forearm and hand can be distinguished, but not the
+arm; the hand is larger than the forearm, but it is not supplied with
+fingers. The distinction of sex is yet difficult. The eyes are
+prominent. The nose forms an obtuse eminence. The nostrils are rounded
+and separated. The mouth is gaping, and the epidermis can be
+distinguished from the true skin. The embryo is from one-half to two
+inches long, the head forming more than one-third of the whole. At the
+end of THREE MONTHS, the eyelids are distinct but shut; the lips are
+drawn together; the forehead and nose are clearly traceable, and the
+organs of generation prominent. The heart beats with force; the larger
+vessels carry red blood; the fingers and toes are well defined, and the
+muscles begin to be developed.
+
+"At the FOURTH MONTH, the embryo takes the name of 'fetus.' The body is
+six to eight inches in length. The skin has a rosy color, and the
+muscles produce a sensible motion. A fetus born at this time might live
+several hours. At FIVE MONTHS the length of the body is from eight to
+ten inches. At SIX MONTHS, the length is twelve and one-half inches. The
+hair appears on the head, the eyes closed, the eyelids somewhat thicker,
+and their margins, as well as their eyebrows, are studded with very
+delicate hairs. At SEVEN MONTHS, every part has been increased in volume
+and perfection; the bony system is nearly complete; length, twelve to
+fourteen inches. If born at this period, the fetus is able to breathe,
+cry and nurse, and may live if properly cared for.
+
+"At EIGHT MONTHS, the fetus seems to grow rather in length than in
+thickness; it is only sixteen to eighteen inches long, and yet weighs
+from four to five pounds. The skin is very red, and covered with down
+and a considerable quantity of sebaceous matter. The lower jaw, which at
+first was very short, is now as long as the upper one. Finally, at term,
+NINE MONTHS, the fetus is about nineteen to twenty-three inches long,
+and weighs from six to eight pounds. The red blood circulates in the
+capillaries, and the skin performs the functions of perspiration; the
+nails are fully developed."
+
+Another writer says: "There is a superstition that a child born at eight
+months is not as liable to live as if born at seven months; indeed, many
+suppose that an eight months' child never survives. Facts do not prove
+this idea to be correct. Personally, I have known several eight months'
+babies to live and do well, and I believe that their chance of life is
+much greater than if born at seven months."
+
+Children born in the seventh month of gestation are capable of living,
+though great care is required to rear them for the first few months
+after birth. The "incubators" now so common in large cities have greatly
+increased the chances of the "seven months' child," and, for that
+matter, of those born even earlier. There are a number of cases of
+record where children have been born after six months of gestation, and
+a few even before the six months, but these cases are rare and unusual,
+and such children usually die soon after birth.
+
+The following table, given by a good authority, shows the average length
+and weight of the human embryo and fetus:
+
+      Age.         Length in inches.      Weight.
+
+    2 weeks               0.1            Not given
+    3 weeks               0.2            3 grains
+    4 weeks               0.3            Not given
+    5 weeks               0.5            Not given
+    6 weeks               0.7            Not given
+    7 weeks               0.9            Not given
+    8 weeks               1.5            4 drachms
+    3 months              3.0            2 ounces
+    4 months              6.0            5 ounces
+    5 months              9.0            10 ounces
+    6 months             12.0            1 pound
+    7 months             15.0            3 pounds
+    8 months             17.0            5 pounds
+    9 months             20.0            6 to 9 pounds
+
+Professor Clark holds that if at birth the infant weighs less than 5
+pounds, it rarely thrives, though the records show that many infants
+weighing much less than this have lived and thrived. In very rare cases,
+infants have been known to weigh no more than one pound at birth, and to
+have still survived and thrived. And, on the other hand, many cases are
+known where infants were born, and thrived, who weighed more than twice
+the average weight. So, at the last, it is difficult to lay down hard
+and fast rules in the case.
+
+DELIVERY. At the termination of the period of gestation, the child is
+born into the world, and, instead of depending upon the blood of the
+mother for nourishment and oxygen, it begins to ingest its own food, to
+eliminate its own waste matter through the regular channels of the body,
+and to use its own lungs for the purpose of obtaining oxygen for its
+blood and to burn up the waste products in the lungs.
+
+The process of bringing a child into the world is called "parturition."
+The fetus is expelled from the body of the mother by the contraction of
+the muscles of and around the Uterus, and also by the contraction of the
+abdominal walls. In the early stages of labor, the uterine muscles are
+brought into play; but when the fetus enters into the vaginal passage
+the abdominal muscles manifest their energy. The uterine and abdominal
+muscular movements are purely involuntary, although the mother may aid
+in the delivery by voluntary muscular movements. The involuntary
+muscular movements are due to the reflex action originating, probably,
+in a part of the spinal cord.
+
+The uterine contractions are rhythmical, and have been compared to the
+contraction of the muscles of the heart. Each "labor pain" begins with a
+minimum of contraction, the activity increasing until a maximum is
+reached, when it gradually decreases, only to be followed a little later
+by a new contraction. When the fetus is finally expelled from the Uterus
+(followed later by the placenta or "afterbirth") that organ begins a
+gradual contraction to its normal size, shape, and condition, the
+restorative process usually lasting over several weeks.
+
+THE PHYSICAL SIGNS OF PREGNANCY. The physical signs of pregnancy in the
+case of women of normal health are as follows:
+
+(1) CESSATION OF THE MENSES, OR MENSTRUATION. While it is true that a
+non-pregnant woman may occasionally pass over a menstrual period, yet as
+a general rule the complete cessation of a period by a married woman,
+particularly when the woman has previously been regular in this respect,
+may be considered a probable indication of pregnancy; and when the
+second period has been passed the probability merges almost into a
+certainty. An examination by a competent physician will set all doubts
+at rest.
+
+(2) ENLARGEMENT OF THE BREASTS. This indication usually manifests itself
+in about six or eight weeks after conception. This enlargement is
+usually preceded by a sensation of tingling and throbbing. The
+enlargement is manifested in the form of a rather hard and knotty
+increase, differing from the ordinary fatty increase; the lobules,
+arranged regularly around the nipple, are plainly distinguishable
+beneath the skin by means of the touch of the fingers.
+
+(3) DARKENING OF THE AREOLAR TISSUE SURROUNDING THE NIPPLE. In the
+unimpregnated condition this tissue is of a pinkish shade; but after
+impregnation the shade grows darker and the circle increases in size.
+However, when the woman bears several children in somewhat rapid
+succession, this dark color may become permanent and accordingly ceases
+to be an indication.
+
+(4) ENLARGEMENT OF THE ABDOMEN. This indication manifests itself about
+the second month, at which time the Uterus begins to elevate the
+intestines by rising up from the pelvis. In the fourth month the Uterus
+has risen so far out of the pelvis that it assumes the form and
+appearance of a hard round tumor. The entire abdomen then begins to
+enlarge. The Uterus causes an enlargement in the region of the navel at
+the sixth month, and the region of the diaphragm at the ninth month.
+
+(5) QUICKENING, OR "SIGNS OF LIFE." This indication manifests first from
+the fourth month to the fifth--at about the exact half of the entire
+period of gestation. At this time, and afterward, the movements of the
+embryo are plainly discernable to the mother.
+
+THE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY. There are a number of physical disorders
+usually accompanying pregnancy, some of which are trifling, but some of
+which require the advice of a competent physician. The best plan is for
+the woman to consult a physician shortly after she discovers herself to
+be pregnant, and thereafter to visit him occasionally for advice during
+the period of gestation. The too common plan of postponing the call upon
+the physician until the eighth or ninth month is not a wise one, for in
+many cases the advice of a competent physician at an earlier stage of
+the pregnancy will obviate serious complications. The call upon the
+physician should usually be made not later than the third or fourth
+month, and positively not delayed longer than the fifth month. The
+physician should make an examination to ascertain whether the child is
+in the normal position in the Uterus, and should also examine the urine
+each month to ascertain whether the kidneys are functioning normally.
+
+What is called "morning sickness" is one of the most common of the
+disorders of pregnancy. It is marked by nausea or vomiting, or both,
+early in the morning, usually shortly after arising. Some women have at
+least faint symptoms of this disorder from the very beginning of
+conception, but usually it does not manifest until the third, fourth, or
+fifth week of pregnancy. It usually ceases at the end of the third or
+fourth month. Except in very severe cases, in which the physician should
+be consulted, the disorder is not serious, and requires but a little
+common-sense treatment, and rational habits of living. An authority
+says: "Eat of some fruit that best agrees with palate or stomach; drink
+hot water; eat nothing until a real hunger demands food. Where nausea
+occurs after eating, a tart apple or orange is good." Another authority
+says: "Let women suffering from morning sickness try acid fruit--apples,
+oranges, or even lemons, if their sourness is not unpleasant. If a
+single orange or apple after each meal does not suffice, let them try
+two; let them eat ten if that number is necessary to conquer the
+distress. The principle is a correct one, and the relief certain. Let
+fruit be eaten at all hours of the day--before meals and after, on
+going to bed at night and at getting up in the morning. If berries are
+in season, let them be eaten in the natural state--that is, without
+sugar. If the sickness still continues, omit a meal now and then, and
+substitute fruit in its stead. By persistence in this course, not only
+will nausea be conquered, but an easy confinement guaranteed."
+
+The pregnant woman often develops a capricious appetite. This disorder
+may manifest in one or more of several forms, as for instance: the woman
+may lose her appetite, and take but little food; or she may develop an
+abnormally large appetite, and eat much more than is necessary; or she
+may take a dislike to certain kinds of food--many women have an aversion
+toward meat during pregnancy; or she may have a "craving" for certain
+articles of food, sometimes for kinds of food not liked at other times,
+such as sour pickles, sour cabbage, etc. A little common sense, and the
+presence of attractive articles of fruits, etc., will do much to relieve
+these troubles; in extreme cases the physician's advice will help.
+
+The pregnant woman should have her teeth put in good order as soon as
+possible, as troubles with teeth sometimes manifest themselves during
+pregnancy, and give much trouble and annoyance. Difficulty in urination,
+constipation, piles, irritation or itching of the genital organs,
+varicose veins, liver spots, and similar disorders, which are sometimes
+manifest during pregnancy, in some form or degree, should receive the
+attention and care of a competent physician.
+
+The following general advice from a competent authority is worthy of
+being followed: "If everything is satisfactory, if there is no severe
+vomiting, kidney trouble, etc., the usual mixed diet may continue. The
+only changes I would make are the following: Drink plenty of hot water
+during the entire time of pregnancy: a glass or two in the morning, two
+or three glasses in the afternoon, the same at night. From six to twelve
+glasses may be consumed. Also plenty of milk, buttermilk and fermented
+milk. Plenty of fruit and vegetables. Meat only once a day. For the
+tendency to constipation, whole wheat bread, rye bread, bread baked of
+bran, or bran with cream. As to exercise, either extreme must be
+avoided. Some women think that as soon as they become pregnant, they
+must not move a muscle; they are to be put in a glass case, and kept
+there until the date of delivery. Other women, on the other hand, of the
+ultra-modern type, indulge in strenuous exercise, and go out on long
+fatiguing walks up to the last day. Either extreme is injurious. The
+right way is moderate exercise, and short, non-fatiguing walks. Bathing
+may be kept up to the day of the delivery. But warm baths, particularly
+during the last two or three months, are preferable to cold baths."
+
+CHILDBIRTH. The first indication of approaching delivery of the child is
+that of the descent of the child into the pelvis of the mother, from its
+former position up near the diaphragm. When this occurs, the mother
+usually experiences a feeling of relief, and a greater ease in breathing
+because of the relaxation of the former pressure on the diaphragm.
+Sometimes this occurs several days preceding delivery, while in other
+cases it occurs only a few hours before delivery. There usually occurs
+about the same time a slight discharge of mucus tinged with blood. The
+latter is called "the show," and is caused by the unsealing of the mouth
+of the womb, and indicates that the Uterus is preparing to discharge its
+contents.
+
+Labor, in childbirth, consists of three stages. In the first stage, the
+Uterus alone contracts, and the mouth of the womb dilates; in the second
+stage, the abdominal muscles assist the Uterus in expelling the child;
+in the third stage, the Placenta (afterbirth) and membranes are
+expelled.
+
+After the delivery of the child, and after the pulsation in the
+umbillical cord has ceased (usually from ten to thirty minutes after
+delivery), the umbillical cord is severed and tied by the physician. In
+natural labor, the expulsion of the afterbirth occurs from within a few
+minutes to an hour after the delivery of the child. Nature is sometimes
+slow in expelling the afterbirth, but caution should be exercised in the
+matter of using force to assist Nature in this matter, for injury to the
+Uterus has often resulted from malpractice in such a case. The
+afterbirth is not firmly attached to the womb, but is like the peel of
+an orange which Nature sloughs off in due time.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON V
+
+GENERAL ADVICE TO WOMEN ON SEX SUBJECTS
+
+
+In this lesson the writer seeks to direct the attention of his women
+readers to certain subjects upon which the average woman is not well
+informed, and upon which she usually requires sound, sane, clean, frank
+information. In many cases women hesitate to ask even their family
+physicians for such information, and, although there is no rational
+reason for it, they even shrink from consulting better informed and
+capable women concerning these subjects.
+
+SEXUAL FEELING. Owing to erroneous teachings, and irrational prejudices
+arising from ancient distorted and perverted ideals of sex, many women
+have grown to maturity under the erroneous belief that it is a sign of
+immorality, or at least low ideals and depraved nature, for a woman to
+experience sexual emotions or feelings, wishes or desires. So true is
+this that even many married women seek to withhold from their husbands
+the knowledge that any sexual feeling is experienced by the wife.
+
+Such a belief is of course absurd. It is as natural for a woman to
+experience normal sexual feeling as it is for her to experience any
+other feeling aroused by natural instincts and organism. Without such
+instinct and the feelings arising therefrom, there would be no mating or
+marriage, and no perpetuation of the race. The woman experiencing such
+feelings should not allow herself to imagine that she is depraved or
+perverted, or immoral in thought and feeling. Incredible as it may
+appear to a normal, healthy-minded man, it is true that thousands of
+young women have lost self-respect, and have lapsed into a morbid state
+of mind, because of the occasional manifestation of their normal sexual
+feeling.
+
+This does not, of course, mean that the woman must necessarily manifest
+into action the feeling experienced by her. On the contrary, she must
+acquire self-mastery and self-control, just as she must in other phases
+of her life. It may help some women of this kind to realize that the sex
+feeling and impulses, arising unbidden (and often unwelcomed) from the
+depths of their subconscious mentality, are essentially CREATIVE
+impulses. If the woman be unmarried, or if married and placed under
+conditions in which the marital relation with the husband is impossible
+or undesirable, then she can TRANSMUTE this creative energy in some form
+of creative work--in work which leads to the creation, manufacture,
+building-up, or composing something. There is a hint here which will
+prove a great blessing to the woman who will understand and apply the
+principle suggested--for many other women have found it so.
+
+As for the married woman, there is no reason whatsoever why she should
+seek to withhold from her husband the knowledge that she is possessed of
+normal, natural, healthy sexual feeling. In fact, the withholding of
+such information, and the concealment and deception arising therefrom,
+has often done much to bring marital inharmony between husband and wife.
+If there is any deception to be practiced in the marital association of
+husband and wife, it should rather be in the opposite direction, i. e.,
+in the direction of pretending the emotional feeling when it exists only
+partially or is absent. The last matter, however, is one for the
+exercise of the judgment and conviction of each individual woman; but
+the first mentioned admonition is one which should be observed, as it is
+based on honesty, truth, and good judgment as well.
+
+ALCOHOL AND SEXUALITY. It needs no extended argument to convince the
+average person that an individual will do things when under the
+influence of drink that he or she would not do when perfectly sober. It
+is an old saying that "When the wine is in, the wits are out." But there
+is a deeper connection and relation between alcoholic drink and sexual
+indiscretions than is usually realized by the average person. Besides
+the commonly known weakening of will-power and self-control arising from
+the influence of strong drink, there are certain influences concerning
+the sexual nature and arising from the presence of alcohol in the
+system, which are not known to most persons. So true is this that the
+writer has thought it well to utter a few words of warning to his women
+readers concerning these things.
+
+In the first place, there is an exhilarating effect arising from certain
+kinds of liquor, wines, and other forms of alcoholic drinks, which
+manifests directly in an excitement of the sexual centers and organism.
+In many cases a strong sexual excitement, absent at other times, is
+aroused, and the person is carried away with the force of passion
+unknown under other circumstances. Added to this the weakened will-power
+arising from too much drink, and we have an explanation of many cases of
+"mistakes" of women. It would appear that women are even more
+susceptible than are men to unusual sexual excitement arising from
+alcoholic drinks; and that, therefore, they should be especially
+cautious in the indulgence in such drinks, particularly when in the
+company of strange men, or men careless in regard to sexual morality and
+respect for women in their company.
+
+But there is still a deeper reason, based upon the latest discoveries in
+psychology, why caution in this respect should be observed by women. We
+allude to the discovery that alcohol first affects the mental and
+emotional tendencies of more recent racial acquirement, acting so as to
+paralyze and inhibit the activities thereof, and to thus release the
+activity of the more primitive emotions and motive activities. Thus, the
+woman under the influence of alcohol finds that the more recent racial
+traits, such as sexual control, restraint, sexual morality, conventional
+observations, etc., are practically temporarily paralyzed in
+inhibitual--or to use the current slang phrase, are "put out of
+commission" for the time being; and, at the same time, the old
+elemental, savage, barbaric, "cave man" instincts, habits, and methods
+of action, are brought to the surface, and proceed to manifest their
+activity if opportunity be granted for the same--and the opportunity is
+usually granted. This being seen to be true, it is seen that the woman
+so under the influence of liquor is, for the time being, little more
+than a "cave woman," or barbarian, with all the lax sex morality of the
+latter, and with all the tendencies to manifest into activity the
+primitive impulses arising in her nature and demanding expression. Added
+to this the weakening of will-power always accompanying the alcoholic
+influence, it is seen that the woman under the influence of strong drink
+is an easy prey to designing men, and a willing victim to her own lower
+passions.
+
+An authority of sex subjects says: "That Bacchus, the god of wine, is
+the strongest ally of Venus, the goddess of love, using the term Love in
+its physical sense, as the French use the word 'amour,' has been well
+known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, as it is well known today to
+every saloon-keeper and every keeper of a disreputable house. And all
+measures to combat venereal diseases and to prevent girls from making a
+false step will only be partially successful if we do not at the same
+time carry on a strong educational campaign against alcoholic
+indulgence. * * * Of what use are warnings to a girl, when under the
+influence of a heavy dinner and a bottle of champagne, to which she is
+unaccustomed, her passion is aroused to a degree she has never
+experienced before, her will is paralyzed and she yields, though deep
+down in her consciousness something tells her she shouldn't? She yields,
+becomes pregnant, and is in the deepest agony for several months, and
+has a wound which will probably never heal for the rest of her life. Of
+what use have all the lectures, books, and maternal injunctions been to
+her? * * * I believe that the sex instinct can be stimulated
+artificially beyond the natural needs, and among the artificial
+stimulants of the sex instinct alcohol occupies the first place. And
+bear in mind that alcohol produces even a stronger effect upon women, in
+exciting the sexual passion, than it does on men. Women are more easily
+upset by stimulants and narcotics, and that is the reason why it is more
+dangerous for women to drink than it is for men. It is impossible to
+give statistics and exact or even approximate figures. But there is no
+question in my mind, in the mind of any careful investigator, that if
+alcoholic beverages could be eliminated, the number of cases of venereal
+infection would be diminished by about one-half. And what is true of
+venereal disease is also true of the seduction of young girls. Alcohol
+is the most efficient weapon that either the refined Don Juan or the
+vulgar pimp has in his possession."
+
+Our advice to the woman who is asked to drink liquor when in the company
+of a man outside of her immediate family circle is emphatically this:
+DON'T DO IT!
+
+THE MENSTRUAL PERIOD. As strange as it may appear to those women who
+have had the advantage of intelligent maternal advice, it is a fact
+known to all physicians that many mothers permit their young daughters
+to enter into the stage of puberty, with the accompanying menstrual
+flow, without having first instructed the daughter as to the meaning and
+character of this phenomenon of her nature, and without having given
+her advice concerning the proper care of herself during this period.
+
+Physicians constantly experience cases in which the young girl to whom
+the first menstrual flow having come, without previous knowledge on her
+part, has supposed it to be the result of a wound, or of a diseased
+condition, and has attempted to stop the flow by the application of cold
+water. Even where a partial knowledge has been attained by the girl, she
+is found to lack the knowledge of the proper hygienic care of herself
+during the period. The mothers in such cases are criminally negligent,
+and have alluded a false modesty or prudery to interfere with a natural
+and necessary maternal duty.
+
+The approach of the first menstruation is often accompanied by unusual
+physical, mental and emotional changes in the young girl. Her nervous
+system is affected, and she is apt to become irritable or morbid, or
+even somewhat "flighty." Her appetite may become irregular, and there is
+often present a craving for indigestible food. A physical languor is
+often experienced, and there may be pains in the back and legs,
+chilliness and headaches, and a general upsetting of the usual physical
+condition, accompanied by a manifestation of peevishness and
+irritability. These unpleasant symptoms usually disappear when the
+periodical menstrual flow is permanently established. In fact, they are
+frequently superseded by the awakened energy and heightened spirits of
+healthy, normal adolescence.
+
+The time of the beginning of the menstrual period varies according to
+climate, race, condition of health, and temperament. In the tropical
+countries, menstruation begins from the tenth to the fourteenth year; in
+temperate countries, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth; in cold
+countries, from the fifteenth to the twentieth year. The Italian,
+Hebrew, Spanish, or French girl is apt to menstruate earlier than the
+English, German, or Swedish girl. The Negro girl menstruates early, as a
+rule. The full-blooded girl usually menstruates earlier than the anemic
+one.
+
+Normally, menstruation should proceed naturally and without pain or
+suffering. When pain or suffering is experienced in connection with
+menstruation, it is simply because of some lack of health in the general
+system; and when such general health is restored, the trouble ceases.
+Painful menstruation is called "dysmenorrhea," and arises from several
+causes, principal among which are the following: Errors in diet, errors
+in dress, undue exposure, constipation, lack of proper exercise, or to a
+contracted or congested condition of the Uterus or the Fallopian Tubes.
+The pain, however, cannot be considered as a feature of normal
+menstruation, for the latter is no more painful than a normal movement
+of the bowels--the painful condition results from abnormal conditions,
+the removal of these conditions resulting in the cure of the complaint.
+
+DYSMENORRHEA should be treated by the discarding of all unhygienic
+clothing, tight shoes, etc., and their replacement by rational clothing;
+the dietary should be carefully scanned, and improper articles replaced
+by nourishing elements of food--discard the pastries, pickles,
+confections, and stimulants, and substitute sensible articles of diet;
+if constipation is present, remove it by eating articles of food which
+promote free movements of the bowels, and drink more water each day;
+take a proper amount of exercise--housework is as good a form of
+exercise as any; many authorities advocate the free drinking of water
+prior to and during the menstrual period--some going so far as to say
+that WHERE THERE IS PAINFUL MENSTRUATION THERE IS ALWAYS A LACK OF A
+PROPER AMOUNT OF WATER TAKEN INTO THE SYSTEM. In some cases
+Dysmenorrhea is due to disorders of the general nervous system, and
+treatment therefore should be sought at the hands of a capable
+physician.
+
+AMENORRHEA, another disorder arising in connection with the menstrual
+process, consists of the retention or suppression of the menses, or of
+"scanty" menses, or occasional "skipping" of the periods. This condition
+is apt to be manifest in cases of extreme obesity or "fatness;" the
+nervous system being burdened with superfluous flesh, its menstrual
+rhythm is often affected. Suppression of the menses also sometimes
+results from exposure and disturbing mental emotions. The most approved
+treatment is that of remedying the abnormal general physical condition,
+proper diet, and the use of hot drinks, hot sitz baths, and hot enemas
+about the time of the beginning of the normal period.
+
+MENORRHAGIA, another menstrual-period disorder, consists of very profuse
+flowing--it is, in fact, a mild form of hemorrhage. It usually arises
+from general debility, shocks, too violent exercise or labor, and also
+in many cases from undue and too frequent sexual intercourse. Sometimes
+the excessive flow occurs during the regular menstrual period, while in
+other cases it may manifest itself out of season--sometimes as often as
+two or three times a month. The duration of the normal period of
+menstrual flow, however, varies greatly among different women; the
+normal period may be said to last from two to six days, so what might be
+an excessive flow for one woman would be only normal for
+another--temperament plays a large part in determining the quantity of
+the menses.
+
+Some of the accompanying symptoms of Menorrhagia, or profuse flow, are
+lassitude, shortness of breath, faintness, dizziness, headache,
+irritability and nervousness, and often also leucorrhea between periods.
+The general treatment consists in measures calculated to bring the
+general health of the woman back to the normal. The building up of the
+general system, by means of nourishing food, proper exercise, etc., will
+almost always result in curing this disorder.
+
+A well-known authority has well said: "The hygiene of menstruation can
+be expressed in two words: CLEANLINESS AND REST."
+
+So far as Rest is concerned, the woman need not be urged to take it at
+this period--that is, if she is able to do so. Care should be taken not
+to exercise unduly at this time, and under the head of exercise may be
+included dancing, horseback riding, and automobiling, as well as the
+more common forms of athletic work.
+
+It would seem that common sense and the general desire for cleanliness
+and daintiness would cause all women to observe the plain hygienic laws
+of Cleanliness at the time of the menstrual period. And, indeed, it is
+probable that such would be the case were it not for the fact that some
+ancient superstitions still exert their power over the mind of many
+women, in regard to the use of water during the menstrual period. While
+it is true that cold baths, or cold-water bathing, are not advisable for
+the average woman during the menstrual period (although some especially
+robust women bathe and swim as usual during this period), this
+prohibition does not apply to the use of WARM water during the period.
+Lukewarm baths are permissible at this time; and the woman should wash
+the external genital parts with warm water, with soap if desired, every
+morning and evening of the period. A vaginal douche of lukewarm water is
+an excellent adjunct to the bathing of the parts.
+
+It is astonishing to meet with the superstitious prejudice existing in
+the minds of some women concerning the use of the vaginal douche; these
+good creatures seem to think that it is either unnatural and unhealthy,
+or else is something "not respectable," and fit only for the use of
+immoral women. These women should get in touch with modern hygienic
+methods, and learn to use the douche at least during their menstrual
+periods. At this time, if the plain rules of cleanliness are not
+observed, there often occurs a decomposition of the blood which has
+gathered in or about the genitals, and an offensive odor is manifested.
+Some women, while feeling distressed about this odor, are afraid to use
+lukewarm water in washing themselves, owing to some old unexplored
+superstition handed down from the great-grandmother's time.
+
+The napkins should be changed at least every morning and evening.
+Unclean napkins may lead to infection, and it is probable that many
+cases of leucorrhea have their origin in lack of cleanliness concerning
+the napkins, cloths, or rags, used during menstruation. It may seem
+almost incredible to the average woman reader, but physicians know of
+cases (usually among the poorer and more ignorant foreign classes) in
+which the girl is instructed by her mother, grandmother, or aunts, that
+she must wear the original cloth or rag during the entire period, as she
+will "catch cold" by a change to a clean, fresh cloth while the flow
+continued. Imagine the result of such a practice! This last is an
+extreme instance, of course, but it will serve to show the absurd and
+harmful notions prevalent concerning this important natural function,
+and its incidents.
+
+LEUCORRHEA. A very common disorder among women is that known as
+Leucorrhea, or "the whites." It consists of a discharge from the Vagina,
+or the Uterus through the Vagina. It is, in fact, of a catarrhal nature,
+and results from an over-secretion of the mucus fluids which, in proper
+quantity, keep the mucus membrane of the said organs in good condition.
+The discharge manifests in various shades and degrees of consistency.
+From the character of the discharge, physicians are able to determine
+whether it comes from the Vagina or the Uterus. The discharge from the
+Vagina usually is a light creamy fluid; that from the neck of the Uterus
+is a sticky, thick fluid flowing rather freely; that from the lining of
+the Uterus is alkaline, and generally precedes and follows menstruation;
+and that accompanying ulceration of the womb is semi-purulent and
+offensive in odor.
+
+Leucorrhea has many causes, among which may be mentioned the following:
+getting chilled feet or body, particularly during the menstrual period;
+over exertion and overwork standing on one's feet; chills following
+dancing in overheated rooms; excessive worry or emotional strain, etc.
+It is a quite common complaint, and some assert that fully twenty-five
+per cent (perhaps more) of all women suffer from it to at least some
+extent.
+
+The general treatment of Leucorrhea consists of the building up of the
+entire system by the proper hygienic methods. Constipation should be
+removed, and the system is built up by the proper articles of food,
+exercise, etc. The use of the proper douches are also advised by the
+best practitioners. Physicians also treat inflamed areas by local
+treatments consisting of painting the Vagina or neck of the Uterus with
+certain medicinal solutions. Certain suppositories and douches are also
+employed in some cases. It is always better to consult a good physician
+in these cases, particularly where the trouble is aggravated or of long
+standing.
+
+A popular writer on the subject gives the following prescription for a
+vaginal injection: White Fluid Hydrastics, 2 ounces; Borax, 1/2 ounce;
+Distilled Witch Hazel Extract, 1 pint. Use of this preparation ONE
+OUNCE, DILUTED IN A PINT OF LUKEWARM WATER, as a vaginal injection,
+taken twice each day.
+
+A well-known authority gives the following advice concerning treatment
+of Leucorrhea: "One of the simplest things is an alum tampon. You take a
+piece of absorbent cotton, about the size of a fist, spread it out, put
+about a tablespoonful of powdered alum on it, fold it up, tie a string
+around the center, insert it in the vagina as far as it will go, and
+leave it in twenty-four hours. Then pull it gently by the string and
+syringe yourself with a quart or two of warm water. Such a tampon may be
+inserted every other day or every third day, and I have known where this
+simple treatment alone produced a cure. In some cases, however, douches
+work better, and the two best things for douching are: tincture of
+iodine and lactic acid. Buy, say, four ounces of tincture of iodine, and
+use two teaspoonsful in two quarts of hot water in a douche bag. This
+injection should be used twice a day, morning and night. Of the lactic
+acid you buy, say, a pint, and use two tablespoonsful to two quarts of
+water. The lactic acid has the advantage over the tincture of iodine
+that it is colorless, while the iodine is dark and stains whatever it
+comes in contact with. Sometimes I order the use of the tincture of
+iodine and the lactic acid alternately: for one douche the tincture of
+iodine, for the next the lactic acid, and so on. When the condition
+improves, it is sufficient to use one teaspoonful of the tincture of
+iodine and one tablespoonful of the lactic acid to two quarts of water.
+These injections are quite efficient and have the advantage of being
+perfectly harmless. One point about the injections: they should be taken
+not in the standing or squatting position (in which position the fluid
+comes right out), but while laying down, over a douche pan. The douche
+bag should be only about a foot above the bed, so that the irrigating
+fluid may come out slowly; the patient, after each injection taken in
+the daytime, should remain at least half an hour in bed (in the
+nighttime she stays all night in bed.) This gives the injection a better
+chance to come in contact with all the parts of the vagina, and a
+portion of it comes in contact with the cervix, where it exerts a
+healing effect. Avoid the use of patent medicines."
+
+UTERINE DISPLACEMENT. The woman suffering from Uterine Displacement
+should, of course, consult a competent physician and be governed by his
+advice. The following suggestions, however, will be found to be of
+service in many cases:
+
+In the case of PROLAPSUS, or falling of the womb, many women have found
+great relief, and in many cases permanent improvement, by taking
+occasional rests in bed for an hour or so, with the feet and lower part
+of the legs raised at least eight inches above the level of the head. In
+this plan, the Uterus is replaced by gravitation. Some authorities
+advise practicing waist-breathing while lying in this position, thus
+exercising the abdominal muscles. Dr. Taylor says: "Increase the
+pump-like action of the chest, and it will be found that the displaced
+viscera will return to their normal position." Some have also found
+relief from the use of alum-water vaginal injections once or twice each
+day. The alum-water is prepared by dissolving one heaping teaspoonful of
+powdered alum in a pint of lukewarm water. This last treatment often
+strengthens the vaginal muscles whose yielding has at least partially
+been the cause of the falling womb.
+
+In cases of RETROVERSION, in which the Uterus is turned or bent
+backward, the "knee and chest" position will often aid in causing the
+organ to regain its normal position. In this position the woman kneels,
+and rests her chest upon the bed, thus causing the hips to be elevated.
+
+In cases of ANTROVERSION, in which the Uterus is turned or bent forward,
+relief is often obtained by the woman resting upon the back, using a
+pillow to elevate her hips.
+
+INTERCOURSE DURING MENSTRUATION. It would seem that the natural esthetic
+repulsion to the exercise of the marital relations during the menstrual
+period should be sufficient to deter men and women from indulgence at
+this time; but many seem to have overcome this instinctive repulsion,
+and to these a stronger reason must be given--and the reason is at hand.
+The reasons in question are as follows: first, that congestion of the
+Uterus and Ovaries sometimes results from this unnatural practice;
+second, that the man may possibly contract an inflammation of the
+urethra by infection from the degenerated membrane, tissue, blood, etc.,
+of the menstrual flow; and third, that such practices may result in the
+aggravation of discharges from the woman, such as leucorrhea, etc.
+
+INTERCOURSE DURING PREGNANCY. The best authorities advise total
+abstinence from sexual intercourse during the period of pregnancy; but
+in view of the fact that such abstinence is very difficult for most men,
+and that few will persist in it, it is thought well to point out the
+fact that at least an extreme moderation is desirable in such cases. A
+leading authority says on this point: "During the first four months of
+pregnancy, no change need be made in the usual sex relations; their
+intensity should be moderated, their frequency need not. During the
+fifth, sixth, and seventh months, intercourse should be indulged in at
+rarer intervals--once in two or three weeks--the act should be performed
+without any violence or intensity. During the eighth and ninth months
+relations had best be given up altogether. And this abstinence should
+last until about six weeks after the birth of the child. During this
+period the uterus undergoes what we call involution; that is, it goes
+back to the size and shape it had before pregnancy, and it is best not
+to disturb this process by sexual excitement, which causes engorgement
+and congestion."
+
+STERILITY IN WOMEN. Sterility, or barrenness, i. e., the inability to
+bear children, is frequently met with among married people. It is
+usually blamed upon the woman, whereas in at least one-half of the cases
+the fault is with the man.
+
+The causes of sterility in women are usually one or more of the
+following: Inflammation of the Fallopian Tubes, which may have been
+caused by gonorrhea or ordinary inflammation--in some rare cases
+childbirth has been known to set up an inflammation in this region,
+which has prevented the woman from future childbearing--the inflammation
+causes the tubes to clog up or become closed, so that no more ova can
+pass through them from the ovaries to the womb; in some cases, also,
+severe cases of leucorrhea have caused sterility, as the discharge is
+sometimes fatal to the life of the spermatozoa and destroys them; in
+other cases misplacement of the womb causes sterility; also severe
+inflammation of the neck or mouth of the womb operates in the same way,
+in some cases. In cases of sterility, the woman should have an
+examination made by a competent physician, and it often will be found
+that the cure of the disorders above noted will work a cure of the
+sterility.
+
+But, in all cases of sterility, it will be found that the husband should
+be examined as well as the wife--in fact, many authorities insist that
+the husband should be examined first. Venereal diseases frequently
+produce sterility in the man, although he is loath to admit this and is
+apt to place the blame entirely upon the woman.
+
+MISCARRIAGE AND ABORTIONS. The terms "miscarriage," and "abortion,"
+respectively, mean the expulsion of the fetus from the womb before its
+natural time of delivery. In common usage, the term "miscarriage" is
+usually employed to indicate instances in which the premature delivery
+has occurred without any voluntary act on the part of the woman, or
+other persons acting with her permission; the term "abortion" being
+reserved for instances in which the miscarriage has been voluntarily
+produced.
+
+When the fetus dies within the womb of the mother, it is usually
+expelled spontaneously within a few days or even a few hours. Some women
+suffer from certain weakness which result in habitual miscarriage; such
+women seem unable to carry the child for the full natural term, and lose
+it at some time during the period of gestation. Like results often arise
+from certain diseases, principal among which is syphilis. In some cases
+the physician produces what is known as "therapeutic abortion," for the
+purpose of saving the life of the woman--this is sanctioned by medical
+custom and by law. Other forms of abortion, performed for the purpose of
+preventing the progress of the gestation, and designed for the
+destruction of the embryo or fetus, are known as "criminal abortion,"
+and are punishable by several legal penalties.
+
+Abortions are frequently followed by severe illness, invalidism, or even
+death for the woman. Many women have had their entire lives ruined by
+this evil practice. It is one of the curses of modern civilization, and
+one which must be removed by means of rational instruction and education
+along the lines of sexual science if the race is to be prevented from
+deterioration. The subject will be further considered in the subsequent
+lessons in this book.
+
+The best advice to those who have contemplated the performance of
+abortion is simply this: Don't; DON'T; DON'T!
+
+
+
+
+LESSON VI
+
+THE SCIENCE OF EUGENICS
+
+
+No one who keeps in even only fair touch with the affairs of the world
+of today can have failed to notice the frequent mention of the term
+"Eugenics" in the newspapers, magazine, and books of the hour. And yet,
+many persons seem to be in doubt as to the meaning and use of the term;
+some thinking that it refers to some new "ism" or "ology," or perhaps to
+some new and strange doctrine concerning the relations of the sexes. In
+view of this fact, the writer has thought it well to give the readers of
+this book a brief, though somewhat comprehensive, view of the general
+subject of Eugenics.
+
+Eugenics, sometimes known as the Science of Parenthood, has well been
+styled "the New Science," for it has forced itself into public notice
+within the past ten or fifteen years, whereas before that time it was
+practically unknown to the general public. At the present time some of
+the world's greatest thinkers have spoken or written on the subject, and
+many regard it as one of the most vital branches of human research,
+endeavor, and study, for the future of the race is involved in the
+solution of its problems. In its general phase of race-betterment,
+Eugenics is receiving the attention of statesmen, sociologists and
+patriots; in its particular phases, the earnest attention, interest and
+study of men and women who wish offspring of the best quality
+obtainable.
+
+The spirit of Eugenics may be expressed in the words of Dr. G. Stanley
+Hall, president of Clark University, who has said: "Our duty of all
+duties is to transmit the sacred torch of life undiminished, and, if
+possible, a little brightened, to our children. This is the chief end
+of men and women. All posterity slumbers in our bodies, as we did in our
+ancestors. The basis of the new biological ethics of today, and of the
+future, is that everything is right that makes for the welfare of the
+yet unborn, and all is wrong that injures them, and to do so is the
+unpardonable sin--the only one nature knows."
+
+That phase of Eugenics which has brought the new science more
+prominently before the public mind, and which has enrolled on its roster
+the names of some of the world's most eminent scientists, sociologists,
+and writers--the phase of race-betterment from the standpoint of
+sociology--has led many to believe that Eugenics is confined to that
+phase, and is but a movement toward "the successful breeding of the
+human race" on a universal scale. To many, such a movement while deemed
+commendable and desirable nevertheless lacks the appeal of the heart and
+affections--it seems to be of the head alone. But when such persons are
+brought to their realization that Eugenics is also a movement to promote
+the bearing of children--to enable each mated couple to bring forth
+perfect offspring--then the heart is enlisted as a co-worker with the
+head.
+
+The sociological phase of Eugenics--the phase of Race Culture in
+general--is being vigorously advanced by societies and organizations in
+various parts of the world, the parent organization being the Eugenics
+Education Society, of London, England. Dr. C. W. Saleeby, one of those
+prominent in the work of the said Society, has the following to say
+concerning the work of that organization:
+
+"The Eugenics Education Society exists to uphold the ideal of Parenthood
+as the highest and most responsible of human powers; to proclaim that
+the racial instinct is therefore supremely sacred, and its exercise
+through marriage, for the service of the future, the loftiest of all
+privileges. It stands for a transfigured sentiment of parenthood which
+regards with solicitude not child and grandchild only, but the
+generations to come hereafter--fathers of the future creating and
+providing for the remote children. That which too many schools of
+thought and practice have derided or defiled, it seeks to elevate and
+ennoble. Parenthood on the part of the diseased, the insane, the
+alcoholic--where these conditions promise to be transmitted--must be
+denounced as a crime against the future. In these directions the Society
+stands for active legislation, and for the formation of that public
+opinion which legislation, if it is to be effective, must express.
+Parenthood on the part of the worthy must be buttressed, guided, and
+extolled. The Society stands for the education of the young regarding
+the responsibility and holiness of the racial function of parenthood."
+
+The Eugenists hold that in the near future our children, looking back
+upon the present and the past state of indifference and neglect
+concerning the important subject of bearing and rearing of children,
+will experience the same horror that we now feel when we look back upon
+the indifference to the horrors of human slavery, imprisonment for debt,
+cruelty toward prisoners, treatment of the insane, executions for
+trivial offences, etc., on the part of our ancestors. Our descendants
+will deem it almost inconceivable that we, their ancestors, could have
+been so blind and criminally negligent.
+
+But, as leading Eugenists have pointed out, the new science does not
+confine its attention to the subject of preventive measures, important
+as they are--it also directs its attention to the constructive phase of
+the subject, i. e., the production of better children. While Eugenics
+strives to prevent the unfit from flooding the race with unfit progeny,
+it at the same time strives to educate the race so that the fit may
+bear and rear better offsprings. It is not sufficient merely to
+eliminate the unfit--we must also improve, and still further render fit,
+the fit members of the race. The fit must not be allowed to remain
+merely the fit--we must evolve a fitter--and ever move onward toward the
+realization of the ideal of the fittest. We must not only strive to
+eliminate the beast in the race of men--we must also aid the race to
+unfold in the direction of the super-man.
+
+The Eugenists know that much of the talk concerning Race Suicide is not
+only futile and uncalled for, but is also in a sense misleading and
+actually dangerous. The real danger of Race Suicide comes not from the
+decreasing birth-rate, but from the excessive, ignorant, and
+unscientific bearing and rearing of children by unfit parents. It is not
+so much a matter of HOW MANY children are born, as of HOW they are born,
+what kind of children they are, and how they are reared physically,
+mentally and morally, and how many survive. It is not so much that the
+lower death-rate be avoided, says the Eugenist, as it is that the higher
+death-rate be overcome. The intelligent stockbreeder grasps this
+scientific law of the Eugenists when he endeavors to produce the best
+young, and then to take care of them that they survive and reach a
+healthy maturity. To the Eugenist, it is not so much a question of
+"more," but of "better"--not so much a question of quantity as of
+quality--not so much a question of production, but of conservation and
+preservation.
+
+Dr. Saleeby refers to the death-rate of London, which is but 16 to the
+1000, as compared to that of Bombay, which is 79 to the 1000. He adds:
+"It is asserted that in many large Indian cities the infant mortality
+approaches one-half of all the children born. What it amounts to in such
+cities as Canton and Pekin we can only surmise with horror. * * * *
+Unless it be supposed by bishops and others, then, that a peculiar value
+attaches to the production of a baby shortly to be buried, the
+suggestion evidently is the same as that to which every humanitarian and
+social and patriotic impulse guides us, namely, the reduction of the
+death-rate, and especially of infant mortality. * * * * Hence the
+Eugenists and the Episcopal Bench may join hands so far as the reduction
+of the death-rate is concerned, and the only persons with whom a
+practical quarrel remains are those who applaud the mother who boasts
+that she has buried twelve."
+
+The Eugenists urge that if the principles applied to plant-life by that
+master of his science, Luther Burbank, were applied to the production
+and rearing of young human life, in a few generations we should have a
+race so far advanced beyond the present average as to be almost god-like
+by comparison. But this means a far different thing from the ideal of
+merely "more children"--it requires the manifestation of the ideal of
+"better children," well born, carefully reared, well nourished, and
+scientifically educated. And this rearing, nourishing, and education
+must not be confined to the physical part of the child's nature--it must
+proceed along the three-fold line of physical, mental, and moral
+culture.
+
+The Eugenists have been actively concerned with the question of the
+prevention of the transmission of undesirable qualities to offspring.
+They have held that while crime is more frequently rather the result of
+evil environment than of criminal heredity, nevertheless there is a
+large class of children who are "born criminals"--that is, born with
+such a decided tendency toward criminal acts that the slightest
+influence of environment may, and often does, serve to kindle into a
+blaze the undesirable and criminal characteristics.
+
+Dr. Saleeby says of this: "In the face of the work of Lombroso and his
+school, exaggerated though some of their conclusions may be, we cannot
+dispute the existence of born criminals and the criminal type. There are
+undoubtedly many such persons in modern society. There is an abundance
+of crime which no education, practiced or imaginable, would eliminate.
+Present day psychology and medicine and, for the matter of that,
+ordinary common-sense, can readily distinguish cases at both
+extremes--the mattoid or semi-insane criminal at one end, and the decent
+citizen who yields to exceptional temptation at the other end."
+
+The Eugenists quote as an instance of the above contention the
+celebrated case of Max Jukes, a notorious criminal and drunkard, who as
+the records show us was the ancestor of a foul brood of descendants
+which cost the State of New York over a million dollars in seventy-five
+years. Among these descendants were 200 thieves and murderers; 285
+subject to idiocy, blindness or deafness; 90 prostitutes; and 300
+children born prematurely. It is possible that a portion of this evil
+result was caused not alone by bad heredity but, at least in part, by
+the suggestion of the environment, and the influence of example of the
+parents; but even so, the primal cause was that Max Jukes, the
+notoriously unfit ancestor, was allowed to propagate this evil brood,
+destined to be born and reared under the most adverse conditions and
+environment.
+
+The Eugenists also place great importance upon the prevention of insane
+persons becoming parents. To those who consider that this is but an
+exceptional and rare occurrence, the Eugenists reply that a large
+percentage of insane patients in asylums have a family history showing
+insanity in one or both parents; that reports show that there are
+thousands of feeble-minded women in every large city allowed to (yes,
+often actually compelled to) bear children to their husbands or male
+companions.
+
+Ribot says: "Every work on insanity is a plea for heredity." Maudsley
+says: "More than one-fourth and less than one-half of all insanity is
+heredity." Riddell says: "Of the great causes of insanity, alcoholism is
+perhaps the greatest, while morbid heredity ranks next. Insanity is
+largely the result of degeneracy. Most persons who become mentally
+deranged are the offspring of neurotic, drunken, insane or feeble-minded
+parents." While it by no means follows that one must manifest traits of
+insanity or mental disturbance simply because one of his parents
+suffered from a like trouble--and we believe that many a one has
+frightened himself into those conditions by pure auto-suggestion
+inspired by a one-sided belief in heredity--still it is unquestionably
+true that a fair mind must concede that wisdom and a proper sense of
+right and justice would require that parents of unsound mental
+tendencies should not be permitted to bring into the world children who
+might inherit a tendency toward a like, or worse, condition.
+
+The Eugenists also have called the attention of the thinking public to
+the danger of deaf-and-dumb persons transmitting their condition to
+their offspring. Of this Dr. Saleeby says: "The condition known as
+deaf-mutism is congenital or due to innate defect in about one-half of
+all the cases in Great Britain." Dr. Love says: "In every institution,
+examples may be found of deaf-mute children who have had one or two deaf
+parents or grandparents, and of two or more deaf-mute children belonging
+to one family." A case is noted in England where a deaf-and-dumb man
+having been killed by an accident, his relatives could not identify the
+body, as the wife and sister were blind, deaf-and-dumb, and the four
+children were deaf-and-dumb. The man and his wife were both
+deaf-and-dumb when they were married, the wife being also blind.
+
+Perhaps no subject has aroused the active Eugenists to a greater pitch
+of indignation than the ascertained results of the effect upon offspring
+of parents addicted to the over-indulgence in alcohol. It is known by
+the records that a large number of cases of feeble-mindedness and actual
+insanity are due to inebriety of parents, and often of grandparents, or
+ancestors for several generations. Epilepsy, idiocy, and criminality are
+also traceable in many cases to drunkenness of parents. Dr. Saleeby,
+moved by indignation by the ascertained results of the investigations of
+the Eugenists, has said: "Parenthood must be forbidden to the
+dipsomaniac, the chronic inebriate, or the drunkard, whether male or
+female."
+
+Professor Grenier, writing on the subject of alcoholic degeneration, has
+said: "Alcohol is one of the most active agents in the degeneracy of the
+race. The indelible effects produced by heredity are not to be remedied.
+Alcoholic descendants are often inferior beings, a notable proportion
+coming under the categories of idiots, imbeciles, and the debilitated.
+The morbid influence of parents is maximum when conception has taken
+place at the time of drunkenness of one or both parties. Those with
+hereditary alcoholism show a tendency to excess; half of them become
+alcoholics; a large number of cases of neurosis have their principal
+cause in alcoholic antecedents. The larger portion of the sons of
+alcoholics have convulsions in early infancy. Epilepsy is almost
+characteristic of the alcoholism of parents, when it is not an index of
+a nervous disposition of the whole family. The alcoholic delirium is
+more frequent in the descendants of alcoholics than in their parents,
+which indicates their intellectual degeneration."
+
+What has been said of alcoholism of course applies to the use of
+narcotics and other drugs. Galton cites a case in which "a man who had
+had two healthy children acquired the cocaine habit, and while suffering
+from the symptoms of chronic poisoning engendered two idiots." And yet
+had anyone publicly instructed the wife of this man regarding the use of
+contraceptives, such person would have been liable to imprisonment!
+
+Another subject engaging the active attention of the Eugenists, and
+which is discussed to considerable extent in the privacy of their
+meetings, but which must be voiced only very carefully in the public
+prints owing to the "murderous silence" which society prefers to
+maintain on the subject, is of the influence of venereal diseases as
+racial poisons transmissible to offspring. Dr. Saleeby has well said:
+"No other disease can rival syphilis in its hideous influence upon
+parenthood and the future. But it is no crime for a man to marry, infect
+his innocent bride and their children; no crime against the laws of our
+lawgivers, but a heinous outrage against nature's decrees. When at last
+our laws are based on nature's laws, criminal marriages of this kind may
+be put an end to."
+
+The above stated facts are not pleasant reading for most persons, and
+many pass over them hurriedly, thereby hoping to escape the mental
+discomfort which the hearing and learning of unpleasant truths so often
+produce. But the subject will not down--it is forcing itself to the
+attention of the thinking members of society today in a manner which
+will admit of no escape. These facts must be faced, and steps must be
+taken by society to protect the race from degeneration and actual Race
+Suicide. And the Science of Eugenics is pointing the way.
+
+Dr. Saleeby says of this phase of Eugenics: "Negative Eugenics will seek
+to define the diseases and defects which are really hereditary; to name
+those the transmission of which is already known to occur, and to raise
+the average of the race by interfering as far as may be with the
+parenthood of persons suffering from these transmissible disorders.
+Only thus can certain of the gravest evils of society, as, for instance,
+feeble-mindedness, insanity, and crime due to inherited degeneracy, be
+suppressed; and if Race-Culture were absolutely incapable of effecting
+anything whatever in the way of increasing the fertility of the
+worthiest classes and individuals, its services in the negative
+direction here briefly outlined would be of incalculable value. To this
+policy we shall most certainly come; but here, as in other cases, I
+trust far more to the influence of an educated public opinion than in
+legislation; though there are certain forms of transmissible disease,
+interfering in no way with the responsibility of the individual, the
+transmission of which should be visited with the utmost rigor of the
+law, and regarded as utterly criminal, no less than sheer murder."
+
+But the Science of Eugenics is concerned not only with telling society
+what "not to do"--it is equally concerned with telling it "what to do."
+It has its Positive as well as its Negative side. After pointing out the
+evils of procreation on the part of the unfit, it then proceeds to tell
+the fit how to best serve the interests of the unborn. Eugenics is not
+satisfied with merely plucking out the foul weeds which have encumbered
+the fair garden of life--it seeks also to furnish to the real flowers
+better soil, and improved conditions, and to give them the benefit of
+the best selection, breeding and conditions, that they may evolve and
+improve into still more glorious products of nature's power.
+
+The Eugenists earnestly advocate laws and public opinion tending to
+protect mothers and expectant mothers. They recognize the supremacy of
+motherhood, and aim to encourage and protect it. They decry the common
+indifference toward this function which is all important in the
+preservation and evolution of the race, and which neglect is well
+expressed in the complaint of Bouchacourt, who said: "The dregs of the
+human species--the blind, the deaf-mute, the degenerate, the imbecile,
+the epileptic--are better protected than are pregnant women."
+
+The Eugenists believe in educating women for motherhood, and in
+protecting them from conditions which interfere with that important
+function of their life. They are not fully agreed upon the methods to be
+pursued in cases of expectant mothers whose lack of proper support
+prevents them from obtaining the proper nourishment, etc., but in a
+general way it may be said that they agree in holding that the expectant
+mother should be looked upon as the honored ward of the State, and
+should be properly provided for from the public funds.
+
+The Eugenists also believe in educating the father, or prospective
+father. They hold that every man should be made acquainted with the
+duties and responsibilities of fatherhood, and should so conduct and
+order his life that the production and rearing of a family should result
+as a consummation of a long cherished ideal. The man should be taught to
+prepare himself, physically, mentally, and morally, for his coming
+responsibility to the race. He should also be taught to respect and
+regard motherhood, and to make it his business to secure and preserve
+the best possible conditions for the mother of his own children, and the
+mothers of other men's children, not as an act of mere sentiment, but as
+a public duty, a patriotic service, a racial obligation.
+
+The Eugenists believe in teaching young men and young women on the
+subject of sexual physiology and psychology. They hold that the race is
+now criminally negligent in such matters, and that young men and women,
+by the thousands, enter into the state of marriage and parenthood with
+no knowledge regarding the sacred functions which they are to bring into
+activity. They believe that the first requisite of scientific
+parenthood is and must be a sane knowledge of the physiology of sex, and
+the psychology of sex. There must be sane education concerning the
+sexual organism, its laws, its functions, its normal and healthy
+condition, its anatomy, physiology and hygiene.
+
+The average physician of several years' experience can tell tales of
+almost incredible ignorance on the part of persons who have recently
+entered into the relationship of marriage. In some cases the ignorance
+is more than a mere absence of knowledge, for it consists of an array of
+false-knowledge, untruthful ideas, of often serious importance. It is
+sad enough to think how the ignorance and false-knowledge may work
+results hurtful to the young couple themselves, but it is even sadder to
+realize that these same ignorant or wrongly-informed young persons must
+gain their real knowledge through sad experience which is to be paid for
+not only by themselves but also by their children. It is a hard saying,
+but true that "the knowledge of the majority of young parents is gained
+by experience paid for by their unborn children."
+
+The Eugenists look forward to the coming of the day when it will be
+regarded as reprehensible to allow young persons to enter into the
+relationship of marriage without a sane, practical knowledge of their
+own reproductive organism and functions, and of their physiological
+duties to themselves, their companions in marriage, and to their
+children born or to be born. We may, in due time, see a practical
+realization of the ideal set forth by Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, who
+said: "The State that makes a man study two years before a license as
+druggist is given; that makes a young lawyer or doctor study three years
+before being permitted to practice, ought to ask the young man or young
+woman to pass an equally rigid examination before license is given to
+found an American home, and set up an American family."
+
+This idea of the scientific preparation for parenthood is a new one for
+many, but the coming generations will recognize its importance to the
+individual and to the race. Many who recognize the influence of
+pre-natal culture in so far as is concerned the physical, mental, and
+moral condition of the mother during pregnancy, have failed to perceive
+that an equally important influence is exerted by the physical, mental
+and moral condition of BOTH PARENTS before the conception of the child.
+These conditions are reflected, often very markedly, in the child, and
+an avoidance of consideration in this respect is often almost criminal
+negligence.
+
+Eugenists deplore the haphazard way in which children are so often
+conceived. More care is often bestowed upon the conditions precedent to
+the conception of the domestic animals than is given by their owners to
+the conditions preceding the conception of their own offspring. Too
+often, while in the case of the domestic animals the utmost care is
+exercised regarding the arrangement for the breeding of valuable stock,
+the human offspring are mere "accidents," conceived without intention,
+forethought, or preparation; and too often is such conception undesired,
+regretted and unwelcome.
+
+This state of affairs is utterly unworthy of civilized man with the
+knowledge of science at his command, and the intellect and will with
+which to carry out the plain dictates of reason and duty. Nature does
+her part unhindered in the case of the lower animals, and man should use
+her principles as a foundation upon which to build a structure which
+reason and intelligence should supply the materials. Instead of this,
+man too often discards Nature's plain rules entirely, and also refuses
+to use his reason, and, instead, allows himself to be ruled by selfish
+inclinations and desires, and ignoble motives.
+
+To those who may ask: "But why should we give all this time, care and
+trouble to the young of the race--what is their claim upon us that
+demands so much of us in return for so little on their part?" the answer
+is plain. We should do this not alone because of the natural feeling of
+love for our own offspring which is innate in all normal human beings,
+but we should also do this because we owe a duty to the race in and
+which we are units--a duty which demands that we supply to the race the
+best material, and only the best, for its preservation, continuance, and
+betterment.
+
+The spirit of the age is pointing out the direction indicated by
+Eugenics and scientific Birth Control. And it is a spirit in which the
+best mental and spiritual powers of man are called into action. A new
+consciousness--the "race consciousness"--is awakening within the best of
+the race, and accompanying it is a new CONSCIENCE--a "race
+conscience"--is manifesting within us, and is giving the individual a
+sense of right and wrong toward future generations, just as his
+earlier-awakened social conscience has opened his eyes to his duties
+toward his neighbors.
+
+Man is beginning to feel that all men are his brothers, and that the
+future generations of men are in a sense his children. The new ideal of
+"Let us build posterity worthily" has begun to supplant the old narrow
+idea humorously expressed in the famous bull of Sir Boyce Roche, who
+said, "Why should we do anything for posterity--what has posterity ever
+done for us?"
+
+As Dr. Saleeby has well said: "If the struggle toward individual
+perfection be religious, so assuredly is the struggle, less egoistic
+indeed, toward racial perfection. * * * And they that shall be of us
+shall build up the old waste places; for we shall raise up the
+foundations of many generations."
+
+And in all this, also, we find ever present the distinctive note of
+modern thought, viz., "NOT MORE CHILDREN, BUT BETTER ONES; NOT MORE
+BIRTHS, BUT LESS DEATHS AND MORE SURVIVALS; NOT NUMERICAL BIRTH VALUES,
+BUT QUALITATIVE BIRTH VALUES AND NUMERICAL SURVIVAL VALUES."
+
+
+
+
+LESSON VII
+
+PRE-NATAL INFLUENCES
+
+
+The term "Pre-Natal" of course means "before birth," and Pre-Natal
+Influences are those influences exerted upon the child before its birth
+into the world. The students of Eugenics are vitally interested in the
+subject of Pre-Natal Influences, as they recognize that therein is to be
+found the secret of much which will work along the line of "better
+offspring," and general race-betterment.
+
+Pre-Natal Influences (as the term is used in the present consideration
+of the subject) may be considered as manifesting in three phases, as
+follows:
+
+(1) The influence of the physical, mental, and moral "family
+characteristics" of the parents, transmitted to the child along the
+lines of heredity.
+
+(2) The influence of the acquired personal characteristics of the
+parents (particularly the acquired characteristics which are especially
+active at and just previous to the time of actual conception),
+transmitted to the child along the lines of heredity.
+
+(3) The influence of "maternal impressions" (after conception, and
+during the period of gestation or pregnancy) transmitted to the child
+physiologically and psychologically.
+
+I shall now ask you to proceed with me to a consideration of the various
+phases of Pre-Natal Influences coming under the above name three general
+classes, and the principal factors involved therein.
+
+
+Heredity in General.
+
+By "heredity" is meant "the tendency which there is in each animal or
+plant, in all essential characters, to resemble its parents"; or "the
+hereditary transmission of physical or psychical characteristics of
+parents to their offspring."
+
+There is a great disagreement among the authorities as to how far the
+principle of heredity really extends, and the real causes of heredity
+are in dispute. In the present consideration we shall, of course, pass
+over the technical phases of the subject, and shall touch only upon the
+general features and principles involved.
+
+Shute, in his work entitled "Organic Evolution," says: "That an
+offspring always inherits from its parents many of their characteristics
+is well known; that it always varies, more or less, from them, is also
+equally well known. Heredity and variation are twin forces that play
+upon every creature, holding it rigidly true to the parental type or
+compelling more or less divergence therefrom, according to the strength
+of the one or other power; so that every creature is the resultant of
+the activities of these two great parallel forces. Variation is
+co-extensive with heredity, and every living creature gives evidence of
+the existence of variations.
+
+"Mental heredity can be illustrated by studying the genealogies of such
+persons as Aristotle, Goethe, Darwin, Coleridge, Milton, etc. Probably
+the Bach family, of Germany, supply one of the best illustrations of the
+inheritance of intellectual character that we know of. The record of
+this family begins in 1550, lasting through eight generations to 1800.
+For about two centuries it gave to the world musicians and singers of
+high rank. The founder was Weit Bach, a baker of Presburg, who sought
+recreation from his routine work in song and music. For nearly two
+hundred years his descendants, who were very numerous in Franconia,
+Thuringia, and Saxony, retained a musical talent, being all church
+singers and organists. When the members of the family had become very
+numerous and widely separated from one another, they decided to meet at
+a stated place once a year. Often more than a hundred persons--men,
+women, and children--bearing the name of Bach were thus brought
+together. This family reunion continued until nearly the middle of the
+eighteenth century. In this family of musicians, twenty-nine became
+eminent.
+
+"Inheritance of moral character is well known. Heredity, in its relation
+to crime and pauperism, has been thoroughly investigated by Mr. Dugdale
+in his most instructive little work entitled "The Jukes." In this work
+the descendants of one vicious and neglected girl are traced through a
+large number of generations. It reveals that a large proportion of the
+descendants of this woman became licentious, for, in the course of six
+generations, fifty-two percent of the children were illegitimate. It
+shows also that there were seven times more paupers among the women than
+among the average women of the state, and nine times more paupers among
+the male descendants than among the average men of the state. The
+inheritance of physical peculiarities is so obvious as to need no
+illustration. Among the ancients the Romans stereotyped its truth by the
+use of such expressions as 'the labiones' or thick-lipped; 'the
+nasones,' or big-nosed; 'the capitones,' or big-headed, and 'the
+buccones,' or swollen-cheeked, etc. In more recent times we read of the
+Austrian lip and the Bourbon nose."
+
+But in all considerations of the subject of heredity, one must always
+remember that the inheritance of physical, mental, and moral
+characteristics is not alone from the immediate parents, but rather from
+many ancestors further removed in order and time. Back of each person
+there is a long line of paternal and maternal ancestors, extending back
+to the beginning of the race. And in that line there are influences for
+good and evil, awaiting favorable environment for awakening into new
+life unless restrained by the will of the individual.
+
+As Shute says: "There will come a time when the fertilized ovum will
+have a highly complex nucleus composed of many different ancestral
+groups of hereditary units. One often hears the expression that a child
+is a chip of the old block; but this is only a very partial truth, for
+the child is pre-eminently a composite chip of many old blocks." And
+Luther Burbank has well said: "Heredity means much; but what is
+heredity? Not some hideous ancestral spectre, forever crossing the path
+of a human being. Heredity is simply the sum of all the environments of
+all past generations on the responsive ever-moving life-forces."
+
+
+Transmission of Acquired Characteristics.
+
+One of the great disputes of biology is that concerning the question of
+whether or not parents may transmit to their offspring their personal
+"acquired characteristics" as well as those inherited from their line of
+ancestors. One side of the controversy points to the observed cases of
+children and grandchildren resembling each other, physically, mentally,
+and morally, in acquired characteristics; but the other side explains
+these facts as due to environment rather than to heredity.
+
+The best authorities seem to favor a middle-view, holding that acquired
+characteristics may be and are transmitted as "tendencies" in the
+offspring. Thus as each succeeding generation manifests the acquired
+tendency, it adds a cumulative force to the family heredity. At the same
+time they hold that "environment" is needed to "draw out" the inherited
+"tendency." For instance, a child born with evil tendencies, and placed
+in an evil environment, will most likely manifest evil conduct. The same
+child, if placed in a good environment, will not have the evil
+tendencies "drawn out" by the environment, and will probably not
+manifest evil conduct. The same rule applies to the child drawn with
+good "tendencies." In short, it is held that heredity and environment
+tend to balance each other--the "something within" is called out (or not
+called out) by the "something without." The life of the individual is
+held to be a continuous action and reaction between heredity and
+environment, and both of these elements must be taken into consideration
+when we think of the subject.
+
+Shute says: "As influencing a man's life and character, which is the
+strongest factor, heredity or environment?" In our opinion, as the
+result of long study and reading, where we have an average man of a
+sound mind in a sound body, there environment will be the strongest
+factor whether for good or evil--that is, in men in general, who have no
+organic defect, such as insanity or idiocy, and allied affections, the
+stronger force is environment; but in those having such defect, heredity
+is the controlling power, and we may add, the destroying power.
+
+
+The Eugenic Rule Regarding Heredity.
+
+It is one of the cardinal principles of Eugenics that those with a bad
+family history should not become parents. By this it is not meant that
+the manifestation of undesirable tendencies, physical, mental, and
+moral, on the part of certain individuals of a family necessarily
+constitutes a "bad family history." On the contrary, many of the best
+families have, from time to time, individuals who manifest undesirable
+tendencies, and who are in general out of harmony with the general
+family standard. It is an old axiom that "there is a black sheep in
+every flock"; and the flock must be measured by its general standard,
+and not by its exceptional black sheep.
+
+A "bad family history" is one in which the family has clearly manifested
+certain undesirable physical, mental, and moral traits in a marked
+degree, and in a sufficient number of instances to establish a standard.
+Some families have a "bad family history" for inebriety; others
+for epilepsy; others for licentiousness; others for dishonesty--the
+history extending over several generations, and including a marked
+number of individuals in each generation. Individuals of such a family
+should refrain from bearing children; and if children be born to such
+the greatest care should be exercised by the parents in the matter of
+surrounding the child with the environment least calculated to "draw
+out" the undesirable characteristic. The child has a right to be well
+born, and to be protected from being brought into the world subjected to
+the handicap of a "bad family history." If individuals cannot endow
+their children with a good family history, they should refrain from
+bearing children--such is the Eugenic advice on the subject.
+
+The same rule applies to the question of "acquired characteristics" of
+the parents--especially those acquired characteristics which are
+especially active at or just before the time of the contemplated
+conception. Though the family history of both husband and wife be ever
+so good, it is held that if one or both of the parents have acquired
+undesirable and transmissible characteristics, physical, mental, or
+moral, then the question of bringing children into the world should be
+carefully considered, and conscientiously decided, after competent
+authorities have been consulted concerning the case. The prospective
+child should always be given the benefit of the doubt in such cases. To
+bring children into the world merely to gratify personal pleasure or
+pride, regardless of the welfare of the child, is something utterly
+unworthy of an intelligent and moral human being.
+
+
+Fitness for Parenthood.
+
+In determining the "fitness" for parenthood, on the part of husband and
+wife, the mental, physical, and moral qualities should all be taken
+into consideration. Weak or abnormal mentality; chronic immorality or
+perverted moral sense; or diseased or abnormal physical
+conditions--these should always be regarded as bars to parenthood. To
+violate this principle is to deliberately violate the fundamental laws
+of Nature, as well as those principles which are accepted as
+representing the best thought and customs of the race. A mental, moral,
+or physical "pervert" or "defective" is manifestly an "unfit,"
+considered as a prospective parent. Parenthood on the part of such
+individuals is not only a crime against society, but always a base
+injustice perpetrated upon the offspring.
+
+A very interesting phase of the general subject now before us for
+consideration is that which touches upon the effect of those particular
+acquired characteristics which are especially active at the time, or
+just before the time of conception. The best authorities hold that the
+influences manifest and active in the prospective father and mother
+during the period immediately preceding conception will have a marked
+effect upon the character of the child. The following quotations from
+authorities on the subject will serve to illustrate this idea.
+
+Riddell says: "The transient physical, mental and moral conditions of
+the parents, prior to the initial of life, at the time of inception, do
+affect offspring." Dr. Cowan says: "Through the rightly directed wills
+of the mother and father, preceding and during ante-natal life, the
+child's form of body, character of mind, and purity of soul are formed
+and established. That in its plastic shape, during ante-natal life, like
+clay in the hand of the potter, it can be molded into absolutely any
+form of body and soul the parents may knowingly desire." Newton says:
+"Numerous facts indicate that offspring may be affected and their
+tendencies shaped by a great variety of influences, among which moods
+and influences more or less permanent may be included."
+
+Riddell says: "The influence of environmental conditions and pre-natal
+training are ever evident. Colts from dams that have been under regular
+training are faster than those from the same mother foaled before she
+had been trained. The puppies of the trained shepherd dog learn much
+more rapidly than do those from the untrained animal. No sportsman would
+think of paying a high price for a puppy, the mother of which was stupid
+and untrained. The same law applies, only with greater effect, to the
+human family." Greer says: "No married couple will desire, design and
+love a babe into existence without the first requisite--good physical
+health." Grant Allen says: "To prepare ourselves for the duties of
+maternity and paternity by making ourselves as vigorous and healthful as
+we can be, is a duty we owe to children unborn." Holbrook says: "It is
+essential, therefore, that if children are to be well-born, the parents
+should be careful that at the moment of procreation they are fitted for
+the performance of so serious an act." Another authority says:
+"Generation should be preceded by regeneration."
+
+Cowan says: "In the conception of a new life, the mass of mankind
+observes no law unless it be the law of chance. Out of the licentious or
+incontinent actions of a husband's nature, conception after a time is
+discovered to take place. No preparation of body, mind, or soul is made
+by either parent. Not more than one child in perhaps ten thousand is
+brought into the world with the consent and loving desire of its
+parents. The other nine thousand, nine hundred, and ninety nine children
+are endowed with the accumulated sins of the parents. Is it any wonder
+that there is so much sin, sickness, drunkenness, suffering,
+licentiousness, murder, suicide, and premature death, and so little of
+purity, chastity, success, goodness, happiness and long life in the
+world?"
+
+
+Preparation for Parenthood.
+
+The ancient Greeks attached great importance to the mental, moral and
+physical condition of the parents at the moment of conception, and for a
+period preceding the same. The Investigations of modern scientists have
+tended to corroborate the facts upon which the ancient theories were
+based. Modern science teaches that the life-cells of each parent are
+impressed with the condition of the respective parents, and retain this
+impression until they meet and finally coalesce and combine, the
+combined cell then receiving the result of the original impressions.
+
+The best authorities on the subject claim that a reasonable time of
+self-restraint and continence should be observed by the prospective
+parents before the conception of the child. This contention is borne out
+by the experience of the breeders of fine horses and cattle, who have
+discovered that the best offspring are produced when the animals have
+been restrained from sexual intercourse for a reasonable time; this
+precaution being particularly observed in the case of the male parent
+animal. Writers on the subject cite a number of instances to prove that
+this law maintains in human as well is in animal life. It is claimed
+that Sir Isaac Newton was conceived after a period of over a year of
+total sexual abstinence on the part of his parents. Many other
+celebrated men are said to have been conceived after an absence from
+home on the part of the father, or a temporary absence from home on the
+part of the mother. Many physicians are able to cite many similar cases
+observed in the course of their own experience.
+
+The prospective parents should endeavor to bring themselves up to a high
+degree of physical health and well-being. The blood of the mother should
+be enriched by proper nutrition, and the organs of the body should be
+brought to a state of normal functioning along the lines of digestion,
+assimilation, and elimination.
+
+The minds of both parents should be exercised by reading the right kind
+of books, and by paying attention to natural objects of interest. A
+little change of scene will tend to awaken the powers of observation and
+attention. Riddell says: "If the prospective parents will habitually
+exercise the reasoning faculties and inventive powers, usually the
+offspring will have a fair degree of inventive talent and originality,
+even where these qualities are originally deficient in the parents. When
+there is a considerable natural talent or where there are latent
+inventive powers, constant training on the part of the parents will
+usually give the offspring exceptional powers in this direction."
+
+The prospective parents should also develop and exercise their moral
+faculties in the period preceding conception. This course will tend to
+reproduce the same quality in the child. The reverse of this, alas, is
+also true. A case is cited of a man who procreated a child while
+plotting a nefarious crime; and the child in after life manifested a
+tendency toward theft, roguery and rascality, even at a very early age.
+The lack of moral fibre so often noticed in the sons of rich men who
+have attained their success through questionable methods is perhaps as
+much attributable to these pre-conceptual influences as to the
+"spoiling" environment of the child after birth.
+
+In the period of physical, mental, and moral preparation for parenthood
+the leading thought of both parents should be: "DO WE WISH OUR CHILD TO
+BE LIKE THIS?" This thought, if carried as an ideal, will act both in
+the direction of self-restraint and self-development.
+
+The actual time of the conception of the new life should be carefully
+chosen, so that it may occur under the best circumstances and
+conditions. The suggestions embodied in the preceding paragraphs should
+have been carefully observed; and the time chosen should be one in which
+a peaceful and happy state of mind is possessed by both parents. The
+ovum of the woman is believed to have its greatest vitality about the
+time of the close of each menstrual period, and many good authorities
+hold that this is not only the natural period for sexual intercourse,
+but is also the exact period in which the life-forces in the ovum are
+strongest; and that, consequently, the child conceived at this period is
+likely to be stronger and more vigorous than the one conceived at a
+later time between the menstrual periods.
+
+Dr. Stall says: "Medical authorities attach great importance to the
+mental condition at the moment of conjunction and conception. It is
+quite universally believed that this is a moment of unparalleled
+importance to the welfare of the future being. It is an awful crime to
+beget life carelessly, and when in improper and unworthy mental states.
+Some people seem to think that the matter of begetting a child, like the
+matter of selecting a wife, should be left wholly to blind chance.
+Neither of these two important events can be too much safeguarded by
+wise and thoughtful consideration. If conception is permitted to take
+place when either one or both of the parents are in bad health; if the
+wife is an unwilling mother, and the embryo is developed by her while
+her whole nature rebels against the admission into the family of a child
+who is not wanted, the children begotten and born under such
+circumstances can never be other than sickly, nervous and fretful during
+their entire childhood, and cross and uncompanionable throughout their
+whole lives.
+
+"Much of the differences which exist between children of the same
+parents may be easily attributed to the different bodily and mental
+conditions of the parents at the period of conjunction, the changed
+physical, intellectual and emotional states of the parents at the
+different periods of conception producing the corresponding differences
+in their offspring. The results of purposed and prepared parenthood are
+so great and so desirable that a husband and wife should consider these
+matters carefully, making preparations, and approach the period when
+they would beget offspring and bring immortal beings into the world with
+the greatest thoughtfulness, consideration, and also with prayer."
+
+Dr. Hufeland says: "In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance that
+the moment of conception should be confined to a period when the
+sensation of collected powers, ardent passion, and a mind cheerful and
+free from care, invite to it on both sides." Riddell says: "The law of
+initial impressions is well established. It has been understood and
+applied by stock-raisers for centuries. Experiments prove that the
+qualities most highly excited in animals prior to their union are most
+fully transmitted. The speed of horses and the acquired characters of
+the dog have been improved by the applications of the law. History and
+classic literature contain many references that recognize its
+importance, like Shakespeare's 'Come on, ye cowards; ye were got in
+fear.' Ancient laws forbade union while parents were intoxicated,
+because such unions resulted in the production of drunkards and
+monstrosities. The asylums for the feeble-minded contain hundreds of
+unfortunate ones that are the product of such unions. The law of initial
+impressions, like the other laws of heredity, is traced most easily
+where morbid conditions are transmitted; but fortunately it is quite as
+potential in the production of desirable qualities. Unusual excitement
+to the social, intellectual or religious powers on the parents just
+prior to the inception of the new life frequently produce in the child
+corresponding tendencies."
+
+Dr. Stockham says: "Many a drunkard owes his lifelong appetite for
+alcohol to the fact that the inception of his life could be traced to a
+night of dissipation on the part of his father." Fleming says: "Not only
+do drunkards transmit to their descendants tendency toward insanity and
+crime, but even habitually sober parents who at the moment of conception
+are in a temporary state of drunkenness beget children who are epileptic
+or paralytic, idiotic or insane, very often microcephalic, or with
+remarkable weakness of mind, which is transformed at the first favorable
+occasion into insanity."
+
+The time of conception should undoubtedly be chosen to correspond to a
+time in which the sex-powers of both parents are at their maximum. This
+is arrived at by a reasonable period of previous continence and
+abstinence from sexual relations between the married couple, and by an
+observance of the natural law which renders the woman most strong
+sexually at the close of the menstrual period. The husband, as well as
+the wife, is most strong sexually at this period, as under normal
+conditions his sex-power is most actively called forth by that of the
+woman at this period. At this period the wave of sex-power is at its
+height, and this is the best time for the beginning of the new life. As
+Riddell says: "Strong, vigorous, chaste sexuality at the time of
+conception is of supreme importance; it is indispensable to good
+results. No number of other conditions or factors can be so favorable as
+to justify the creation of a new life when the vitality of either parent
+is low. Parents transmit their physical constitution, intellect and
+morals only to the extent of the sex-power at the time of inception."
+
+It is needless to say that there should exist between the prospective
+parents a strong bond of affection and attraction. By an irony of
+civilized life, the term "love child" is applied only to the offspring
+of unmarried lovers--men and women whose affection or passion have run
+away with their judgment, and who have "loved not wisely, but too well."
+Some of the world's greatest men and women have been "love children" of
+this kind; and in such cases it is probably true that their physical and
+mental strength has been the result of the ardent feeling animating the
+parents at the moment of conception. Such children seldom result from
+the "tired bed" or worn-out passion, love killed by sexual excesses,
+indifference on the part of one of the participants of the union, "duty"
+intercourse without affection or passion, or forced sexual relations.
+Every child should be a "love child" in the true sense of the term. The
+term should be one of respect, not of reproach. There should be no
+children but "love children." The fruit of the perfect mating and
+marriage should be the perfect "love child"--and it would always be so
+if husbands and wives would but observe the laws of the normal, natural,
+sex-life.
+
+And, last of all--and perhaps more important than all--is the fact that
+at the moment of conception the minds and hearts of both of the
+prospective parents should be united in a strong love and desire for the
+hoped-for child. At that moment their best natures should blend into
+each other, and their love for each other fuse into a new love--the love
+of the child of the union. Under such circumstances, in such act the
+Cosmic Forces flow unhindered through the beings of the parents, and the
+new life is begun under the approving smile of Nature.
+
+
+Maternal Impressions.
+
+One of the oldest and most firmly-rooted beliefs of the race is that
+which holds that the pregnant mother may, and often does, consciously or
+unconsciously, impress upon her unborn child certain mental, moral, or
+physical traits. The majority of persons accept this idea as
+self-evident, and are able to cite cases within their own personal
+experience which go to prove the correctness of the popular belief. But
+certain modern authorities have sought to tear down this belief, and to
+discredit the general idea. Let us briefly consider both sides of this
+question.
+
+On the side of the generally accepted belief, Riddell says: "The more I
+study the influence of maternal impressions upon the life, mentality and
+character of men, the more I am led to believe that the education and
+moral training that a child receives before it sees the light of day are
+the most influential, and, therefore, the most important part of its
+education." Newton says: "A mother may, during the period of gestation,
+exercise some influence, by her own voluntary mental and physical
+action, either unwittingly or purposely, in determining the traits and
+tendencies of her offspring. This is now a common belief among
+intelligent people. Every observant teacher could doubtless bear witness
+to the same general facts, and it would be easy to fill a volume with
+testimonials from various sources illustrative and confirmatory of the
+law under discussion. Such facts establish beyond question the
+conviction that the mother has it largely in her power to confer on her
+child such a tendency of mind and conformation of brain as shall not
+only facilitate the acquisition of knowledge in any specific direction,
+but make it certain that such knowledge will be sought and acquired."
+
+Dr. Fordyce Baker says: "The weight of authority must be conceded to be
+in favor of the idea that maternal impressions may effect the growth,
+form and character of a forming child." Dr. Rokitansky says: "The
+question whether mental emotions do influence the development of the
+child must be answered 'Yes!'" Dr. Brittain says: "The singular effects
+produced on the unborn child by the sudden mental emotions of the mother
+are remarkable examples of a kind of electrotyping on the sensitive
+surface of living forms. It is doubtless true that the mind's action in
+such cases may increase or diminish the molecular deposits in the
+several portions of the system. The precise place which each separate
+particle assumes may be determined by the influence of thought or
+feeling. If, for example, there exists in the mother any unusual
+tendency of the vital forces to the brain at the critical period, there
+will be a similar cerebral development and activity in the offspring."
+
+Newton says: "The human embryo is formed and developed in all its parts,
+even to the minutest detail, by and through the action of the vital,
+mental, and spiritual forces of the mother, which forces act in and
+through the corresponding portions of her own organism. And while this
+process may go on unconsciously, or without the mother's voluntary
+participation or direction, yet she may consciously and purposely so
+direct her activities as, with a good degree of certainty, to accomplish
+specifically desired ends in determining the traits and qualities of her
+offspring." Professor Bayer says: "The influence of the mind of a
+prospective mother upon her child, before its birth, is of tremendous
+importance to its active existence as a member of society, from the fact
+that it lies in the mother's power to shape its mentality, that it may
+be a power for good or for evil."
+
+The views of that school of thought which is opposed to this old and
+generally accepted idea of material impressions, are ably presented by
+Dr. Saleeby, as follows: "Consider the case. The baby is at this time
+already a baby, though rather small and uncanny, floating in a fluid of
+its own manufacture. Its sole connection with the mother is by means of
+its umbilical cord--that is to say, blood-vessels, arterial and venous.
+There is no nervous connection whatever; absolutely nothing but the
+blood-stream, carried along a system of tubes. This blood is the child's
+blood, which it sends forth from itself along the umbillical cord to a
+special organ, the placenta or afterbirth, half made by itself and half
+made by the mother, in which the child's blood travels in thin vessels
+so close to the mother's blood that their contents can be interchanged.
+Yet the two streams never mix. The child's blood, having disposed of its
+carbonic acid and waste products to the mother's blood, and having
+received therefrom oxygen and food, returns so laden to the child. Pray
+how is the mother's reading of history to make the child a historian? We
+see now how the learning of geometry on the part of the mother before
+its birth will not set her baby upon that royal road to geometry of
+which Euclid rightly denied the existence--any more than after its
+birth. Such a thing does not happen--UNLESS WE ARE TO CALL IN
+TELEPATHY."
+
+All this argument may seem quite convincing--at first. But when we begin
+to consider the matter carefully, we begin to perceive the weak places
+in the argument as above presented. In the first place, it is known that
+emotions powerfully affect the condition, quality, and "life" of the
+blood. We know that cheerful emotions impart certain uplifting qualities
+to the blood, while depressing emotions correspondingly react upon it.
+Fear, worry, fright, jealousy, etc., are actual poisons to the blood,
+and have brought on diseased conditions to the persons manifesting these
+emotions. Moreover, it is known that impaired quality of the blood
+reacts upon the brain. Is it so unreasonable, then, to hold that
+emotional states in the mother may react upon the mental and physical
+condition of the unborn child, through the blood? Does not something
+similar occur in the case of the babe, after its birth, when it is
+affected by the conditions of its mother's milk brought on by her
+depressing emotions, fright, etc.? This would seem to explain at least
+the matter of emotional reactions between mother and unborn babe.
+
+But the case is not closed with the presentation of the evidence of
+physiology, important though that may be. There is an entirely different
+field of science to be drawn upon before the case is closed. The
+orthodox physiologist makes the mistake of supposing that all mental
+impulses and transmission of psychic energy require the service of
+nerves as channels of transmission. While such channels are usually
+required, we have good reasons for believing that there are exceptions
+to the rule. There have been found tiny creatures, possessing life and
+energy, performing the functions of nourishment, elimination, and even
+of reproduction--and yet without a nervous system. In one well-known
+instance, that of the moneron, we find not only an absence of a nervous
+system but also the lack of organs of any kind--and yet the creature
+lives, acts, moves, eats, thinks, and reproduces itself.
+
+Then, again, consider the moving cells of the blood, unconnected with
+the brain, unattached to the nervous system, and yet rushing to the work
+of repairing a wound, or of repelling an intruding germ, in obedience to
+a mental command from the controlling subconscious mental regions of the
+living creature. How does the mental impulse reach these cells and
+others of similar nature in the system? If we were not so sure of the
+facts, might we not feel inclined to say with Dr. Saleeby, in the above
+quoted sentence: "Such a thing does not happen--unless we are to call in
+telepathy."
+
+Moreover, examining Dr. Saleeby's statement, we see mention made of the
+placenta at being "half made by the embryo, and half made by the
+mother." How does this co-operation and co-ordination of effort and
+subconscious will arise? How does the subconscious mentality of the
+embryo know that the subconscious mentality of the mother is making its
+half of the placenta, or vice versa? Again, how is the subconscious
+mentality of the mother affected by the presence and development of the
+child--how do her mammary glands respond to the growth and development
+of the child? In short, how is the manifest co-operation and
+co-ordination between the "nature" of the mother and the "nature" of the
+child possible, unless there exists some psychical, as well as some
+physical, relation between the two beings.
+
+The person conscientiously considering this subject must include in his
+thought the discoveries of modern psychology concerning what is known as
+the "subconscious mind," which controls the unconscious and instinctive
+functions of the physical body, and also receives impressions and
+suggestions from the surface consciousness of its owner. This factor
+being admitted to our thought on the subject, we may find it possible to
+accept the idea of material impressions from mother to child operating
+from the subconscious mind of the mother to that of the child. In other
+words, that there is a subconscious mental connection, as well as the
+physical connection, between the mother and her unborn child.
+
+Many careful thinkers (and observers) find it just as easy to accept the
+fact of this strange "sympathetic co-ordination" between a mother and
+her unborn child as it is to accept the very frequent "sympathetic
+sickness" of the husband during the pregnancy of his wife--or of the
+"sympathetic labor pains" so often experienced by the husband during the
+confinement of his wife. Both of the latter two cases occur too often to
+permit the phenomenon to be denied off hand by those who would set aside
+all facts not agreeing with their particular personal theories. There is
+no nervous system connecting husband and wife, and of such cases the
+critic like Dr. Saleeby might say: "Such a thing does not
+happen--UNLESS WE CALL IN TELEPATHY!" The fact remains that many things
+actually happen which according to the orthodox physiological theories
+"CANNOT happen." But they DO happen, nevertheless, whether we call it
+"telepathy" or merely label it "certain facts, the exact causes of which
+Science in the present state of its knowledge (or ignorance) cannot
+definitely determine." One irrefutable fact outweighs a ton of mere
+general denials of possibility.
+
+It is recorded that the mother of Charles Kingsley believed in maternal
+impressions, and during her period of pregnancy exercised her
+imagination and emotions in the direction of wishing, and imagining,
+that the coming child should have the same love of Devonshire scenery
+that so delighted her. The result proved her theory, for though Kingsley
+never saw Devonshire until he was a man of thirty years of age, every
+Devonshire scene had a mysterious charm for him throughout his entire
+life. It is said that Robert Burns was so strongly impressed parentally
+by the old Scotch songs and ballads that his mother sung during her
+pregnancy, that his whole nature longed to express itself in like
+measure and substance. He always believed that his poetic spirit was
+kindled by this tendency on the part of his mother during the period
+preceding his birth.
+
+The mother of Napoleon Bonaparte during several months of her pregnancy,
+accompanied her husband during his military campaigns in Corsica, and
+during the entire term she lived in an atmosphere of battles, military
+strategy, and troops. When the boy was very young he manifested an
+unusual interest in war and conquest, and his whole mind had the
+military bent, although his brothers were in no wise remarkable in this
+direction. The artist, Flaxman, stated that his mother had related to
+him how for several months prior to his birth she had spent many hours
+each day studying drawings and engravings, and endeavoring to visualize
+by memory the beautiful figures of the human body drawn by the masters.
+The result was that from early childhood Flaxman manifested an intense
+delight in drawing; and in after life his drawings were regarded as
+masterpieces. He, and his mother, always attributed his talent to the
+parental impressions above mentioned.
+
+"Buffalo Bill" was believed to owe his characteristics to the mental
+states of his mother, the family living in Missouri during the days of
+frontier fights and disturbances, the mother being called upon several
+times to exercise resourceful courage and fortitude. A well-known worker
+along the lines of liberal Christianity is said to have attributed his
+tendencies in that direction to the prayers of his mother, during her
+pregnancy, that the child might be true to the teachings of the Christ,
+and should be a laborer in the cause of human brotherhood. This man,
+relating the fact, said: "I may have been converted before I was born."
+A well-known writer along the lines of moral philosophy is believed by
+friends to owe his talent to the earnest thoughts and hopes of his
+mother during pregnancy--she is said to have pictured the child as a son
+destined to become a great moral philosopher, her mind being so firmly
+fixed on this fact that she felt it was already an assured fact.
+
+The Greeks were wont to surround the pregnant women with beautiful
+statuary, and it is recorded that in many cases the children afterward
+born closely resembled these works of art and beauty. It is claimed that
+many Italian women closely resemble the face shown in Raphael's
+"Madonna," copies of this celebrated picture being quite common in
+Italian households. Frances Willard, the temperance worker, is said to
+have very closely resembled a young woman of whom her mother was very
+fond. Many family resemblances are believed to have arisen in this way,
+rather than by heredity. Zerah Colburn, the mathematical prodigy whose
+feats astounded the scientific world in the early part of the last
+century, is said to have derived his wonderful faculty from maternal
+impressions of this kind; his mother is said to have occupied much of
+her time during her pregnancy in studying arithmetic and working
+problems, the study being quite new to her and proving very interesting.
+
+Cases similar to those above quoted might be duplicated almost
+indefinitely. The story is practically the same in each and every case.
+The principle involved is always that the pregnant mother took a decided
+interest in certain subjects, studies, and work, and that the child when
+born manifested at an early age similar tastes and inclinations. But far
+more important to the average prospective parent is the fact that many
+authorities positively claim that ANY PREGNANT MOTHER MAY CONSCIOUSLY
+AND DELIBERATELY INFLUENCE AND SHAPE THE CHARACTER, PHYSICAL, MENTAL,
+AND MORAL OF HER UNBORN CHILD.
+
+Newton well says, on this subject: "In the cases usually given to the
+public bearing on this topic, the moulding power appears to have been
+exercised merely by accident or chance; that is, without any intelligent
+purpose on the part of mothers to produce the results. Can there be any
+doubt that similar means, if purposely and wisely adopted, and applied
+with the greater care and precision which enlightened intention secure,
+would produce under the same law even more perfect results. Is it not
+altogether probable that an intentional direction of the vital or mental
+forces to any particular portion of the brain will cause a development
+and activity in the corresponding portion of the brain of the offspring?
+There seems to be no reasonable ground on which these propositions can
+be denied. The brain is made up of a congeries of organs which are the
+organs of distinct faculties of the mind or soul. It follows, then, that
+if the mother during gestation maintains a special activity of any one
+brain organ, or group of organs, in her brain, she thereby causes more
+development of the corresponding organ or group in the brain of the
+fetus. She thus determines a tendency in the child to special activity
+of the faculties, of which such organs are the instruments. It is plain,
+furthermore, that if any one organ or faculty may thus be cultivated
+before birth, and its activity enhanced for life, so may any other--and
+so may all. It would seem, then, clearly within the bounds of
+possibility that a mother, by pursuing a systematic and comprehensive
+method, may give a well-rounded and harmoniously developed organism to
+her child--notwithstanding her own defects, which, under the unguided
+operation of hereditary law, are likely to be repeated in her offspring.
+Or it is within her power to impart a leading tendency in any specific
+direction that she may deem desirable, for a life of the highest
+usefulness. IN THIS WAY ANCESTRAL DEFECTS AND UNDESIRABLE HEREDITARY
+TRAITS, OF WHATEVER NATURE OR HOWEVER STRONG, MAY BE OVERCOME, OR IN A
+GOOD DEGREE COUNTERBALANCED BY GIVING GREATER ACTIVITY TO COUNTERACTING
+TENDENCIES; and, in this way, too, it would appear the coveted gifts of
+genius may be conferred. In other words, it would seem to be within the
+mother's power, by the voluntary and intelligent direction of her own
+forces, in orderly and systematic methods, both to mold the physical
+form to lines of beauty, and shape the mental, moral, and spiritual
+features of her child to an extent to which no limit can be assigned."
+
+I think that in the pages of this particular part of the book the
+prospective parent may find hints and general directions toward a
+clearly defined ideal, which is carefully studied, and as carefully put
+into practice will produce results far beyond the dreams of the average
+man and woman. The hope is a magnificent one, and the best testimony is
+in favor of the possibility of its actual realization.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON VIII
+
+EUGENICS AND CHARACTER
+
+
+The rapidly growing interest in Eugenics, and the scientific
+consideration of the world-wide decline in the birth-rate have drawn
+attention to the study of the eugenic factors which determine the
+production of high ability in offspring. Many distinguished
+investigators have conducted long and exhaustive investigations for the
+purpose of ascertaining and summarizing all possible biological data
+concerning the parentage and birth of the most notable persons born in
+European countries, and to a lesser extent in America.
+
+The investigations are now acquiring a fresh importance, because, while
+it is becoming recognized that we are gaining a control over the
+conditions of birth, the production of children has itself gained an
+importance. The world is no longer to be bombarded by an exuberant
+stream of babies, good, bad, and indifferent in quality, with mankind to
+look on calmly at the struggle for existence among them. Whether we like
+it or not, the quantity is steadily diminishing, and the question of
+quality is beginning to assume a supreme significance. The question then
+is being anxiously asked: "What are the conditions which assure the
+finest quality in our children?"
+
+A German scientist, Dr. Vaerting, of Berlin, published just before the
+War a treatise on the subject of the most favorable age in parents for
+the production of offspring of ability. He treated the question in an
+entirely new spirit, not merely as a matter of academic discussion, but
+rather as a practical matter of vital importance to the welfare of
+modern society. He starts by asserting that "our century has been called
+the century of the child," and that for the child all manner of rights
+are now being claimed. But, he wisely adds, there is seldom considered
+the prime right of all the child's rights, i. e., the right of the child
+to the best ability and capacity for efficiency that his parents are
+able to transmit to him. The good doctor adds that this right is the
+root of all children's rights; and that when the mysteries of
+procreation have been so far revealed as to enable this right to be won,
+we shall, at the same time renew the spiritual aspect of the nations.
+
+The writer referred to decided that the most easily ascertainable and
+measurable factor in the production of ability, and efficiency in
+offspring, and a factor of the greatest significance, is the age of the
+parents at the child's birth. He investigated a number of cases of men
+of ability and efficiency, along these lines, and made a careful summary
+of his results. Some of his results are somewhat startling, and may
+possibly require the corroboration of other investigators before they
+can be accepted as authoritative; but they are worthy of being carefully
+considered at the present time, pending such further investigation.
+
+Vaerting found that the fathers who were themselves not notably
+intellectual have a decidedly more prolonged power of procreating
+distinguished children than is possessed by distinguished fathers. The
+former may become the fathers of eminent children from the period of
+sexual maturity up to the age of forty-three or beyond. When, however,
+the father is himself of high intellectual distinction, the records show
+that he was nearly always under thirty, and usually under twenty-five
+years of age at the time of the birth of his distinguished son, although
+the proportion of youthful fathers in the general population is
+relatively small. The eleven youngest fathers on Vaerting's list, from
+twenty-one to twenty-five years of age, were with one exception
+themselves more or less distinguished; while the fifteen oldest, from
+thirty-nine to sixty years of age, were all without exception
+undistinguished.
+
+Among the sons on the latter list are to be found much greater names
+(such as Goethe, Bach, Kant, Bismarck, Wagner, etc.) than are to be
+found among the sons of young and more distinguished fathers, for here
+is only one name (Frederick the Great) of the same caliber. The elderly
+fathers belonged to the large cities, and were mostly married to wives
+very much younger than themselves. Vaerting notes that the most eminent
+men have frequently been the sons of fathers who were not engaged in
+intellectual avocations at all, but earned their living as humble
+craftsmen. He draws the conclusion from these data that strenuous
+intellectual energy is much more unfavorable than hard physical labor to
+the production of marked ability in the offspring. Intellectual workers,
+therefore, he argues, must have their children when young, and we must
+so modify our social ideals and economic conditions as to render this
+possible.
+
+Vaerting, however, holds that the mother need not be equally young; he
+finds some superiority, indeed, provided the father is young, in
+somewhat elderly mothers, and there were no mothers under twenty-three
+on the list. The rarity of genius among the offspring of distinguished
+parents he attributes to the unfortunate tendency to marry too late; and
+he finds that the distinguished men who marry late rarely have any
+children at all. Speaking generally, and apart from the production of
+genius, he holds that women have children too early, before their
+psychic development is completed, while men have children too late, when
+they have already "in the years of their highest psychic generative
+fitness planted their most precious seed in the mud of the street."
+
+The eldest child was found to have by far the best chance of turning
+out distinguished, and in this fact Vaerting finds further proof of his
+argument. The third son has the next best chance, and then the second,
+the comparatively bad position of the second being attributed to the too
+brief interval which often follows the birth of the first child. He also
+notes that of all the professions the clergy come beyond comparison
+first as the parents of distinguished sons (who are, however, rarely of
+the highest degree of eminence), lawyers following, while officers in
+the army and physicians scarcely figure at all. Vaerting is inclined to
+see in this order, especially in the predominance of the clergy, the
+favorable influence of an unexhausted reserve of energy and a habit of
+chastity on intellectual procreativeness.
+
+It should be remembered, however, that Vaerting's cases on his list were
+all those of Germans, and, therefore, the influence of the
+characteristic social customs and conditions of the German people must
+be taken into account in the consideration.
+
+Havelock Ellis in his well known work "Study of British Genius" dealt on
+a still larger scale, and with a somewhat more precise method, with many
+of the same questions as illustrated by British cases. After the
+publication of Vaerting's work, Ellis re-examined his cases, and
+rearranged his data. His results, like those of the German authority,
+showed a special tendency for genius to appear in the eldest child,
+though there was no indication of notably early marriage in the parents.
+He also found a similar predominance of the clergy among the fathers,
+and a similar deficiency of army officers and physicians.
+
+Ellis found that the most frequent age of the father was thirty-two
+years, but that the average age of the father at the distinguished
+child's birth was 36.6 years; and that when the fathers were themselves
+distinguished their age was not, as Vaerting found in Germany, notably
+low at the birth of their distinguished sons, but higher than the
+general average, being 37.5 years. He found fifteen distinguished sons
+of distinguished British fathers, but instead of being nearly always
+under thirty and usually under twenty-five, as Vaerting found it in
+Germany, the British distinguished father has only five times been under
+thirty, and among these only twice under twenty-five. Moreover,
+precisely the most distinguished of the sons (Francis Bacon and William
+Pitt) had the oldest fathers, and the least distinguished sons the
+youngest fathers.
+
+Ellis says of his general conclusions resulting from this investigation:
+"I made some attempts to ascertain whether different kinds of genius
+tend to be produced by fathers who were at different periods of life. I
+refrained from publishing the results as I doubted whether the numbers
+dealt with were sufficiently large to carry any weight. It may, however,
+be worth while to record them, as possibly they are significant. I made
+four classes of men of genius: (1) Men of Religion, (2) Poets, (3)
+Practical Men, (4) Scientific Men and Sceptics. (It must not, of course,
+be supposed that in this last group all the scientific men were
+sceptics, or all the sceptics scientific.) The average age of the
+fathers at the distinguished son's birth was, in the first group, 35
+years; in the second and third group, 37 years; and in the last group,
+40 years. (It may be noted, however, that the youngest father of all the
+history of British genius, aged sixteen, produced Napier, who introduced
+logarithms.)
+
+"It is difficult not to believe that as regards, at all events, the two
+most discrepant groups, the first and last, we come upon a significant
+indication. It is not unreasonable to suppose that in the production of
+men of religion in whose activity emotion is so potent a factor, the
+youthful age of the father should prove favorable; while for the
+production of genius of a more coldly intellectual and analytic type
+more elderly fathers are demanded. If that should prove to be so, it
+would become a source of happiness to religious parents to have their
+children early, while irreligious parents should be advised to delay
+parentage.
+
+"It is scarcely necessary to remark that the age of the mothers is
+probably quite as influential as that of the fathers. Concerning the
+mothers, however, we always have less precise information. My records,
+so far as they go, agree with Vaerting's for German genius, in
+indicating that an elderly mother is more likely to produce a child of
+genius than a very youthful mother. There were only fifteen mothers
+recorded under twenty-five years of age, while thirteen were over
+thirty-nine years; the most important age for mothers was twenty-seven.
+
+"On all these points we certainly need controlling evidence from other
+countries. Thus, before we insist with Vaerting that an elderly mother
+is a factor in the production of genius, we may recall that even in
+Germany the mothers of Goethe and Nietzsche were both eighteen at their
+distinguished son's birth. A rule which permits of such tremendous
+exceptions scarcely seems to bear the strain of emphasis."
+
+The student, however, must always remember that while the study of
+genius and exceptionable talent is highly interesting, and even, as is
+quite probable, not without significance for the general laws of
+heredity, still we must beware of too hastily drawing conclusions from
+it to bear on the practical questions of eugenics. Genius is rare--and,
+in a certain sense, abnormal. Laws meant for application to the general
+population must be based on a study of the general population. Vaerting,
+himself, realized how inadequate it was to confine our study to cases of
+genius.
+
+Another investigator, Marro, an Italian scientist, in his well-known
+book on puberty which was published several years ago, brought forth
+some interesting data showing the result of the age of the parents on
+the moral and intellectual characters of school-children in Northern
+Italy. He found that children with fathers below twenty-six at their
+birth showed the maximum of bad conduct and the minimum of good; they
+also yielded the greatest proportion of children of irregular,
+troublesome, or lazy character, but not of really perverse children--the
+latter being equally distributed among fathers of all ages. The largest
+number of cheerful children belonged to the young fathers, while the
+children tended to become more melancholy with ascending age of the
+fathers. Young fathers produced the largest number of intelligent, as
+well as of troublesome children; but when the very exceptional
+intelligent children were considered separately, they were found to be
+more usually the offspring of elderly fathers.
+
+As regarded the mothers, Marro found that the children of young mothers
+(under twenty-one) are superior, both as regards conduct and
+intelligence, though the more exceptionally intelligent children tended
+to belong to more mature mothers. When the parents were both in the same
+age-groups, the immature and the elderly groups tended to produce more
+children who were unsatisfactory, both as regards conduct and
+intelligence--the intermediate group yielding the most satisfactory
+results of this kind.
+
+Havelock Ellis makes the following plea for further investigations along
+these lines, in the interest of the well-being of the race: "But we have
+need of inquiries made on a more wholesale and systematic scale. They
+are no longer of a merely speculative character. We no longer regard
+children as the 'gifts of God' flung into our helpless hands; we are
+beginning to realize that the responsibility is ours to see that they
+come into the world under the best conditions, and at the moments when
+their parents are best fitted to produce them. Vaerting proposes that it
+should be the business of all school authorities to register the ages of
+the pupils' parents. This is scarcely a provision to which even the most
+susceptible parent could reasonably object, though there is no cause to
+make the declaration compulsory where a 'conscientious' objection
+existed, and in any case the declaration would not be public.
+
+"It would be an advantage--although this might be more difficult to
+obtain--to have the date of the children's marriage, and of the birth of
+previous children, as well as some record of the father's standing in
+his occupation. But even the ages of the parents alone would teach us
+much when correlated with the school position of the pupil in
+intelligence and conduct. It is quite true that there are unavoidable
+fallacies. We are not, as in the case of genius, dealing with people
+whose life-work is complete and open to the whole world's examination.
+
+"The good and clever child is not necessarily the forerunner of the
+first-class man or woman; and many capable and successful men have been
+careless in attendance at lectures, and rebellious to discipline.
+Moreover, the prejudice and limitations of the teachers have to be
+recognized. Yet when we are dealing with millions most of these
+fallacies would be smoothed out. We should be, once for all, in a
+position to determine authoritatively the exact bearing of one of the
+simplest and most vital factors of the betterment of the race. We should
+be in possession of a new clue to guide us in the creation of the man in
+the coming world. Why not begin today?"
+
+Considerable attention on the part of the American thinking public has
+been directed toward the investigations and researches of Casper L.
+Redfield. Mr. Redfield combats the orthodox scientific position that the
+acquired qualities are not transmitted to offspring; and he most
+positively states that such characteristics are transmitted to
+offspring, and are really the causes which have tended toward the
+evolution and progress of the race. But he insists upon this vital
+point, namely, that the parent must already have acquired improved
+quality before he can transmit improvement to the offspring--and that
+before he can have acquired this improved quality, he must have lived
+sufficiently long to have experienced the causes which have developed
+improvement in himself. Consequently, he holds that DELAYED PARENTAGE
+PRODUCES GREAT MEN.
+
+Mr. Redfield several years ago offered a prize of two hundred dollars to
+anyone who could show that a single one of the great men of history was
+the product of a succession of young parents, or was produced by a line
+of ancestry represented by more than three generations to a century. But
+no one ever claimed the prize money. According to Mr. Redfield's
+doctrine, race improvement is and will be accomplished as the result of
+effort, physical and mental, upon the part of prospective parents,
+particularly if the period of effort is sustained over a considerable
+number of years previous to reproduction.
+
+The following quotations from Mr. Redfield's writing will give a general
+idea of his lines of thought and his theories. He says:
+
+"At some time in the past there was a common ancestor for man and the
+ape. At that time the mental ability of the man was the same as that of
+the ape, because at that time man and the ape were the same person. From
+that common ancestor there have been derived two main lines of descent,
+one leading to man and the other to the ape of today. In the line
+leading to man, mental ability has increased little by little so that
+today the mental ability of the man is far above that of the ape. While
+it may not be literally true for each and every generation between that
+common ancestor and man of the present time, still we will commit no
+error if we divide the total increase in mental ability by the number of
+intervening generations and say that each generation in turn was a
+little superior to that which produced it. Now it happens that mental
+ability is something which is inherited--is transmitted from parent to
+offspring. Take that fact with the fact that there has been a regular
+(or irregular) increase in mental ability in the generations leading to
+man, and it will be seen that each generation in succession transmitted
+to its offspring more than it inherited from its parents. BUT A PARENT
+CANNOT TRANSMIT SOMETHING WHICH HE DID NOT HAVE. Where and how did those
+generations get that ability which they transmitted but did not
+inherit?"
+
+Mr. Redfield in his writings shows that what is true of the human race
+is true of high-bred domesticated animals, namely, the cow of high milk
+producing breeds; the fast running and trotting horses; and the highly
+developed hunting dogs. To each case he applies his question: "Where and
+how did those generations of animals get that power which they
+transmitted but did not inherit?" In his investigations he claims to
+have discovered the secret, namely, that the ancestors, throughout
+several generations, had each acquired the power which it transmitted,
+which added to the inherited power raised the general power of the
+stock. This arose from careful breeding, and directly from the fact that
+the average age of the parent was much higher in the highly-bred stock
+than in the "scrub" or ordinary run of stock. In other words, DELAYED
+PARENTAGE PRODUCED BETTER OFFSPRING.
+
+Mr. Redfield proceeds to argue from these facts as follows: "At one
+time man and ape reproduced at the same average age, whereas now they
+reproduce at widely different ages. Going back to the time when man and
+ape separated, our ancestors survived by physical and mental activity in
+securing food and escaping from enemies. As time went on man reproduced
+at later and later average age until now he reproduces at about thirty
+years from birth of parent to birth of offspring. When time between
+generations stretched out in the man line more than it did in the ape
+line, the man acquired MORE MENTAL DEVELOPMENT BEFORE HE REPRODUCED than
+did the ape, and he did this because he was mentally active more years
+before reproducing. The successive generations leading to modern man
+transmitted to offspring more than they inherited from their parents,
+and the generations which did this are the same generations which
+acquired, before reproducing, the identical thing which they transmitted
+in excess of inheriting.
+
+"Coming now to those rare men of whom we have only a few in a century,
+how were they produced? It should be noted that each one had two
+parents, four grandparents, and eight great-grandparents. Also that they
+are certainly improvements over their great-grandparents. If they were
+not such improvements, then there would be many 'rare' cases in a
+century. In looking into the pedigrees of these great men it is found
+that they were sons of parents of nearly all ages, but were
+predominantly sons of elderly parents. While we sometimes find
+comparatively young parents in the pedigree of a great man, we never
+find a succession of young parents. Neither do we find an intellectually
+great man produced by a pedigree extending over three generations. The
+great man is produced only when the average for three generations is on
+the elderly side of what is normal. The average age of one thousand
+fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers in the pedigrees of
+eminent men was found to be over forty years. Great men rise from
+ordinary stock only when several generations in succession acquire
+mental efforts in excess amounts before reproducing."
+
+It is the opinion of the present writer that the theories of Mr.
+Redfield are in the main true, and that in the future much valuable
+information will be obtained along the same lines, which will tend to
+corroborate his general conclusions. One's attention needs but to be
+plainly directed to the matter, and then he will see that it is absurd
+to think of a creature transmitting to his offspring qualities which
+neither he or his mate had inherited or acquired. If there were no
+transmission of acquired qualities there would be no improvement--and in
+fact, we know that the bulk of inherited qualities were at some time in
+the history of the race "acquired." And, reasoning along the same line,
+we may see that the young parents who have not had as yet an opportunity
+to acquire mental power cannot expect to transmit it to their
+offspring--all that they can do is to transmit the inherited stock
+qualities plus the small acquired power which they have gained in their
+limited experience. And, finally, it is seen that offspring produced at
+a riper age of parenthood, continued over several generations, tend
+toward unusual ability and powers. Consequently, the people or nation
+with a higher average age of parenthood may logically expect to attain
+greater mental powers than the peoples lacking that quality. And what is
+true of a people or nation is of course true of a particular family.
+
+The subject touched upon in this part of our book is one of the greatest
+interest to careful students of Eugenics; and is one which calls for
+careful and unprejudiced consideration from all persons having the
+interest of the race at heart.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON IX
+
+THE DETERMINATION OF SEX
+
+
+The term "The Determination of Sex" is employed in two general senses in
+scientific circles.
+
+The first usage is that of the biologist, and it includes within its
+scope merely the discovery and understanding of the CAUSES which
+determine whether the embryo shall develop into a male or into a female.
+In the discussion of the subject from this standpoint there is but
+little, if any, attention given to the question of whether the sex of
+the unborn child may be determined by methods under the control of man.
+The biologist simply studies the causes which seem to lead to the
+production of an individual of one or the other sex, without regard to
+whether these causes, when discovered, may or may not be amendable to
+human control.
+
+An authority, speaking of this standpoint concerning the question
+referred to, says: "We may discover the causes of storms or earthquakes,
+and when our knowledge of them is sufficiently advanced we may be able
+to predict them as successfully as astronomers predict eclipses, but
+there is little hope that we shall ever be able to control them. So it
+may be with sex; a complete understanding of the causes which determine
+it may not necessarily give us the power of producing one or the other
+sex at will, or even of predicting the sex in any given case. Whether we
+shall ever be able to influence the causes of sex-determination cannot
+as yet be foretold; at present, biologists are engaged in the less
+practical, but immensely interesting, problem, of discovering what those
+causes are."
+
+The second usage of the term, includes and embraces the idea of the
+voluntary determination or control of the sex of the future child, by
+means of certain methods or certain systems of treatment, etc. Of recent
+years, science has been devoting considerable attention to the question
+of whether or not man may not be able to produce any particular sex at
+will, by means of certain systems or methods of procedure. Many theories
+have been evolved, and many plans and methods have been advocated, often
+with the expenditure of much energy and enthusiasm on the part of the
+promulgators and their adherents.
+
+In this lesson there will be briefly presented to you the general
+consensus of modern thought on the subject, with a general outline of
+the favorite methods and systems advocated by the several schools of
+thought concerned in the investigation.
+
+Professor Doncaster, the well-known authority on the subject, says: "But
+little progress has been made in the direction of predicting the sex of
+any child, and, if possible, even less in artificially influencing the
+determination of its sex. When the general principles arrived at are
+borne in mind, it must be confessed that the prospects of our ever
+attaining this power of control or even of prediction are not very
+hopeful, but the possibility of it cannot be yet regarded as entirely
+excluded. The general conclusions arrived at are that sex is determined
+by a physiological condition of the embryonic cells, that this condition
+is induced, at least in the absence of disturbing causes, by the
+presence of a particular sex-chromosome. [A "chromosome" is a portion of
+the chromatin, or substance characteristic of the nucleus of the cell,
+this nucleus seemingly controlling the life-processes of the cell.] But
+there is evidence, which for the present at least cannot be neglected,
+that certain extraneous conditions acting on the egg or early embryo may
+perhaps be able to counteract the effect of sex chromosome.
+
+"Quite generally, then, there are two conceivable methods by which the
+sex might be artificially influenced in any particular case; firstly, if
+means could be found of ensuring that any particular fertilized ovum
+received the required chromosomes; and, secondly, by the discovery of
+methods which always effect the ovum or embryo in such a way as to
+produce the desired sex. Many suggestions for applying both methods have
+been made, some of which have attained considerable notoriety, but
+hitherto none of them has stood the test of practical experience. In the
+case of the higher animals, especially of the mammals, in which the
+embryo develops in the maternal uterus until long after the sex is
+irrevocably decided, it is obviously difficult to apply methods which
+might influence the sex after fertilization, even if it were certainly
+known that such methods were ever really effective.
+
+"Apart from the few experiments like those of Hertwig on rearing
+tadpoles at different temperatures, there have been a very few cases in
+which there is even a suggestion that the sex of the fertilized egg can
+be modified by environment, and the belief that this is possible has
+been entirely abandoned by many of the leading investigators of the
+subject. It is probable, therefore, that if it will ever be possible to
+predict or determine artificially the sex of a particular child, the
+means will have to be sought in some method of influencing the output of
+germ-cells in such a way that one kind is produced rather than the
+other. It is in this way that Heape and others interpret the results of
+their investigations; they find that certain conditions affect the
+sex-ratio of cells, and they explain the result by assuming that UNDER
+SOME CIRCUMSTANCES MALE-DETERMINING OVA ARE PRODUCED IN EXCESS, AND
+UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, FEMALE-DETERMINING."
+
+Professor Rumley Dawson holds to the opinion that the male-determining
+and female-determining ova are discharged alternately from the ovaries.
+In woman one ovum is usually discharged each month, and it is maintained
+that on one month the ovum is male-determining, and in the next,
+female-determining. It is obvious that exceptions must occur, for boy
+and girl twins are quite common, but if the cases which support the
+hypothesis are taken by themselves, and the exceptions explained away,
+it is possible to make out a strong case in favor of this theory. Some
+authorities hold that the right ovary produces male-determining ova, and
+the left ovary female-determining, and that the two ovaries discharge an
+ovum alternately, but an impartial examination of the evidence for this
+belief shows that it rests on very slender foundations. Experiments on
+the lower animals have shown that after the complete removal of one
+ovary the female may produce young of both sexes. Women, also, have
+produced children of a particular sex after the corresponding ovary has
+been removed, and it is hardly possible to believe that the removal in
+all these cases was incomplete. On the whole it must be concluded that
+the theory is insufficiently supported by the evidence.
+
+Another widely promulgated and vigorously supported theory is that which
+holds that the sex of the future child may be determined by specific
+nutrition of the mother before conception, and in some cases after
+conception. Schenk's theory, advanced about 1900, attracted much
+attention at the time. He based his method on the observation that a
+number of women whose children were all girls all excreted sugar in
+their urine, such as happens in the case of persons affected with
+diabetes. From this he suspected that the physiological condition which
+leads to the excretion of sugar was inimical to the development of
+male-determining ova, and that males could be produced by its
+prevention. He therefore recommended that those who desire a male child
+should undergo treatment similar to that prescribed for diabetes for two
+or three months before conception, and held that a boy would be produced
+by these methods. Although this method has had considerable vogue, it
+cannot be held to have been established on a scientific basis.
+
+Doncaster says "The general conclusion with regard to man must therefore
+be that if sex is determined solely by the spermatozoon there is no hope
+either of influencing or predicting it in special cases. On the other
+hand, there is considerable evidence that the ovum has some share in the
+effect, and if this is so, before any practical results are reached it
+will be necessary to discover which of two conceivable causes of
+sex-determination is the true one. It is possible that there are two
+kinds of ova, as well as two kinds of spermatozoa, and that there is a
+selective fertilization of such a kind that one kind of spermatozoon
+only fertilizes one kind of ovum, the second kind of spermatozoon the
+second kind of ovum. If this should prove to be the case, it is possible
+that means might be found of influencing or predicting that kind of ovum
+which is discharged under any set of conditions. Secondly, it is
+possible that the ova are potentially all alike, but that their
+physiological condition may under some circumstances be so altered that
+the sex is determined independently of the spermatozoon. * * * It is
+hardly possible to avoid the conclusion that the sex of the offspring
+may be influenced, at least under certain circumstances, by the mother.
+The search for means of influencing the sex of the offspring through the
+mother is not of necessity doomed to failure. No results of a really
+positive kind have been obtained hitherto, and some of the facts point
+so clearly to sex-determination by the male germ-cell alone in man and
+other animals that many investigators have concluded that the quest is
+hopeless; but until an adequate explanation has been given of certain
+phenomena discovered in the investigation of the subject, it seems more
+reasonable to maintain an open mind, and to regard the control of sex in
+man as an achievement not entirely impossible of realization."
+
+Another writer on the subject has said: "Every individual among the
+higher animals, whether male or female, begins as an impregnated ovum in
+the mother's body. Any such ovum contains elements of constitution from
+both of its parents. In the earliest existence of this impregnated ovum,
+there is a season of sexual indifference, or indecision, in which the
+embryo is both male and female, having the characteristic rudiments of
+each sex, only indifferently manifested. In this stage, the embryo is
+susceptible of being influenced by external conditions to develop more
+strongly in the one or the other direction and thus become distinctly
+and permanently male or female. It is evident that this is the season in
+the development of the individual in which influencing conditions and
+causes must operate in deciding its sex, although it is possible in some
+of the lower animals to alter the tendency of sex in the embryo from one
+sex to the other, even after it has been quite definitely determined. It
+is well established, in fact, that differences do not come from a
+difference in the ova themselves; that is, there is not one kind of ova
+from the female which becomes female, while other ova become male, for
+it is possible to alter the tendency toward the one sex or the other
+after the ovum has been fertilized and the embryo has begun its career
+of development. This possible change in sex tendency in the embryo also
+proves that sex is not decided by a difference in the spermatozoa; that
+is some of the sperm cells from the father are not male, while others
+are female, in their constitution.
+
+"It is incorrect to suppose, as has been held by some theorists, that
+one testicle give rise to male spermatozoa and the other to female
+spermatozoa, for both male and female offspring have been produced from
+the same male parent after one testicle or the other has been removed.
+The same is true in cases in which either ovary has been removed from
+the mother; that is, male and female offspring are produced from mothers
+in whom either ovary has been removed. In like manner, the sex of
+offspring is shown not to be materially affected by the comparative
+vigor of the parents; thus, a stronger father than mother does not
+necessarily produce one sex to the exclusion of the other. These
+negative decisions are important because they simplify the solution of
+the problem of sex-determination, by excluding, more or less fully,
+various causes which have been supposed to operate quite forcibly in
+deciding the sex of offspring. Some of the more positive agencies that
+enter into the determination of sex are found (1) in the influence of
+nutrition upon the embryo during its indifferent stage of sexual
+development, and (2) in the constitution and general condition of the
+mother before and during the early stages of pregnancy. These two
+factors appear to enter more fully than any others in the decision of
+the sex in offspring, and deserve the greatest consideration. The
+influence of food in supplying the embryo with nourishment for its
+development is, perhaps, the most potent of these determining causes."
+
+Investigators along the line of theory indicated in the above last
+quotation, i. e., the theory of sex determination by means of
+nourishment of the mother and embryo, have presented a volume of reports
+which demand respectful consideration. The general report may be said to
+be the discovery that ABUNDANT NOURISHMENT DURING THE PERIOD OF SEXUAL
+NEUTRALITY TENDS TO PRODUCE FEMALES; WHILE LACK OF ABUNDANT NUTRITION
+DURING SUCH PERIOD TENDS TO PRODUCE MALES.
+
+These experiments, of course, have been chiefly performed upon the lower
+animals. The frog has been a favorite subject of such experiments--the
+tadpole stage being the one selected, because in that stage there exists
+a lack of sex, the stage being one of sex neutrality. Professor Yung's
+celebrated experiments will illustrate this class of experiments. Here
+were chosen 300 tadpoles, which when left to themselves manifested a
+ratio of 57 prospective females to 43 prospective males. These were
+divided into three classes of 100 tadpoles each. Each class was then fed
+upon one of several kinds of nutritious diet in order to ascertain the
+change in sex-tendency due to such food. The first set, with an original
+ratio of femaleness of 54 to 46, were fed abundantly on beef, and the
+ratio of femaleness was changed to 78 to 22. The second class, with a
+ratio of femaleness of 61 to 39, were fed on fish (specially nourishing
+to frogs), and the ratio changed to 81 to 19. The third class, with a
+ratio of 56 to 44, were fed upon a still more nutritious diet (i. e.,
+that of frogs' flesh), and the ratio was raised to 92 to 8. In short,
+the experiments showed that the increase of nourishment in diet changed
+every two out of three male-tendency tadpoles into females. The
+experiment was held to prove that a rich diet, affording nourishment,
+during the period of sexual neutrality in the embryo, tended to develop
+femaleness.
+
+The advocates of this theory also point to the instance of the bees.
+With the bees, the larva of ordinary worker-bees are fed ordinary food,
+and do not develop sex; while the larva which is intended to produce the
+queen-bee is fed specially nutritious "royal food," and consequently
+develops larger size and full female sex powers. If the queen is killed,
+or dies, the hive of bees proceeds to produce a new queen by means of
+feeding a selected larva with the "royal food" and thus developing full
+femaleness in it. It is said by some authorities that in cases in which
+some other of the larva accidently receive, through mistake, crumbs of
+the "royal food," they, too, grow to an extraordinary size, and develop
+fertility. This fact is held by the advocates of the nutrition theory to
+go toward establishing the fact that abundant nourishment of the embryo,
+during the neutral stage, tends to produce femaleness in it. They also
+claim that caterpillars which are very poorly nourished before entering
+into the chrysalis stage usually develop into male butterflies, while
+those highly nourished in the said stage tend to become females.
+Experiments on sheep have shown that when the ewes are particularly well
+nourished the offspring will show a large proportion of females.
+
+A writer, favoring the theory in question, says: "In general, it is
+reasonable to infer that the higher sexual organization which
+constitutes the female is to be attained in the greatest number of cases
+by embryos which have superior vital conditions during the formative
+period. Among human beings, some facts of general observation become
+significant in the light of the foregoing inferences. After epidemics,
+after wars, after seasons of privation and distress, the tendency is
+toward a majority of male births. On the other hand, abundant crops, low
+prices, peace, contentment and prosperity tend to increase the number of
+females born. Mothers in prosperous families usually have more girls;
+mothers in families of distress have more boys. Large, well-fed, fully
+developed, healthy women, who are of contented and passive disposition,
+generally become mothers of families abounding in girls; while mothers
+who are small or spare of flesh, who are poorly fed, restless, unhappy,
+overworked, exhausted by frequent childbearing, or who are reduced by
+other causes which waste their vital energies, usually give birth to a
+greater number of boys. As a general proposition, the facts and
+inferences tend to establish the truth of the doctrine with women, that,
+the more favorable the vital conditions of the mother during the period
+in which the sex of her offspring is being determined, the greater the
+ratio of females she will bear; the less favorable her vital conditions
+at such times, the greater will be her tendency to bear males. That many
+apparent exceptions occur does not disprove the general tendency here
+maintained. Moreover, it is impossible to know in all cases what were
+the conditions of the mother's organism at the time in which her child
+was in its delicate balance between predominant femaleness and maleness;
+else many cases which seemingly disprove the proposition would be found
+to be forcible illustrations of its truth. Still further, it is probable
+that other causes besides those here mentioned act with greater or less
+effect in determining the sex of offspring."
+
+Based upon this general theory of the relation of nutrition to
+sex-determination, many methods and systems have been devised by as many
+authorities, and have been followed and promulgated by as many schools.
+Without going into the almost endless detail which would be necessitated
+by a synopsis of these various methods and systems, it may be said that
+they all consist of plans having for their object the decrease of
+nutrition of the woman in cases in which male children are desired, and
+the increase of nutrition in cases in which female children are sought
+for. This increase or decrease in nutrition is enforced for a reasonable
+period before the time selected for the conception of the child, and
+also for a reasonable period after the time of conception. The decrease
+in nutrition does not consist of "starvation," but rather of a "training
+diet" similar to that followed by athletics, and from which dietary all
+rich foods, sweets, etc., are absent. In fact, the average dietary
+advocated by the "Eat and Grow Thin" writers would seem to be almost
+identical with that of the "male offspring" theorists.
+
+Many persons who have followed the methods and systems based on the
+nutrition theory above mentioned claim to have been more or less
+successful in the production of the particular sex desired, but many
+exceptions to the rule are noted, and some writers on the subject are
+disposed to regard the reported successes as mere coincidences, and
+claim that the failures are seldom reported while the successes are
+widely heralded. The present writer presents the claims of this school
+to the attention of his readers, but without personally positively
+endorsing the idea. He is of the opinion that the data obtainable is not
+as yet sufficient to justify the strong claims made for the theory in
+some quarters; but, at the same time, he does not hesitate to say that
+there are many points of interest brought out in the presentation of the
+theory, and that many thoughtful persons seem to accept the same as
+reasonably well established and logical.
+
+Another theory which has been heard of frequently of late years is that
+in which it is held that the ova are expelled in alternating sex, each
+month. Thus, if a male ovum is expelled in January, the February ovum
+will be a female one, according to this theory. Under this theory if the
+date of conception of a child be ascertained, and the sex of the child
+noted at its birth, it is a simple matter to count forward from the
+menstrual period following which the child was conceived, and thus
+determine whether the ovum of any succeeding period is male or female.
+It should be noted, however, that the periods are regulated by the lunar
+months, and not the calendar months. The fact that twins of different
+sexes are sometimes born would seem to disturb this theory--but not more
+than any other theory of sex-determination voluntarily produced, for
+that matter. The several schools explain this apparent discrepancy by
+the familiar saying that "exceptions prove the rule."
+
+Another theory of sex-determination is that which holds that when
+conception occurs within a few days after the last day of menstruation,
+the child will be a girl; and that when conception occurs at a later
+period, the child will be a boy. Methods and systems based upon this
+theory are also reported as being reasonably successful in producing
+satisfactory results. But, inasmuch as there appears to be a great
+difference in individual women in this respect (even according to the
+claims of this school of sex-determination), it would seem that it would
+be difficult to proceed with certainty in the matter in most cases. One
+of the writers advocating this method, says: "Conception within five
+days after the end of the menstrual period is almost certain to produce
+a girl child; within five days to ten days, it may be either a boy or a
+girl; from ten to fifteen days, it is almost sure to be a boy; from
+eighteen to twenty-five days is the period of probable sterility, in
+which conception is extremely unlikely to occur."
+
+In conclusion, it may be said that Nature undoubtedly has certain rules
+of sex-determination which govern in these cases; and that it is
+possible if not indeed probable that these rules may some day be
+discovered by man, and turned to account; but that it is very doubtful
+whether the secret has as yet been solved by the investigators. The
+writer may be pardoned for suggesting that, in his opinion, if the
+discovery is ever made it will likely be found to be very simple--so
+simple that we have probably overlooked it because it was in too plain
+sight to attract our attention. Nature's methods are usually very
+simple, when once discovered. She hides her processes from man by making
+them simple, it would seem.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON X
+
+WHAT BIRTH CONTROL IS, AND IS NOT
+
+
+The student of the progress of human affairs, or even the average person
+whose knowledge of the doings of mankind is derived from a hasty and
+casual reading of the daily newspapers and the popular magazines, cannot
+plead ignorance of the growing interest in the general subject which is
+embraced within the content of the term "Birth Control."
+
+But while the general meaning of the term is at least vaguely grasped by
+the average member of the human crowd--the individual to whom we refer
+as "the man on the street"--we find a startling condition of mental
+confusion and often positive misconception concerning the essence and
+spirit of the general idea expressed by the term in question.
+
+While the fact is a reflection upon the average intelligence of the
+general public, it must be admitted that to the average person, or "the
+man on the street," Birth Control means simply the teaching and practice
+of certain methods whereby men and women may indulge their sexual
+appetites, in or out of marriage, without incurring the liability or
+risk of conception and child-bearing. The average person does not stop
+to consider that such teachings and practices do not constitute "Birth
+Control" at all, but are, rather, merely the theory and practice of
+Birth Prevention, desirable only to those who seek sexual indulgences
+without being called upon to shoulder the responsibilities attached by
+Nature to the physical sexual union of men and women.
+
+The term "CONTROL" does not mean "prohibition," or "prevention"; but, on
+the contrary, means "governing, regulating, or managing influence."
+Birth Control, in the true meaning of the term, does not mean the
+prevention or prohibition of the birth of children, but rather the
+encouragement of the birth of children under the best possible
+conditions and the discouragement of the birth of children under
+improper or unfavorable conditions.
+
+Birth Control, in the true meaning of the term, does not mean theories
+and practices which would tend to reduce the population of the civilized
+countries of the world, but rather theories and practice which would
+inevitably result in the production of an adequate ratio of increase in
+the population of such countries, not only by reason of a normal
+birth-rate, but also by reason of a diminishing death-rate among
+infants--by the production of healthier children, accompanied by the
+raising of the standard of the average child born in such countries.
+
+Birth Control, in the true meaning of the term, therefore, is seen to
+consist not of the PROHIBITION or PREVENTION of human offspring, but
+rather of the GOVERNING, REGULATING, AND MANAGING of the production of
+human offspring, under the inspiration of the highest ideals and under
+the direction of the highest reason, for the purpose of the advancement
+and welfare of the race and that of the individuals composing the race.
+Instead of being an anti-social and anti-moral propaganda, Birth Control
+when rightly understood is perceived to be in accordance with the
+highest social aims and aspirations, and in accordance with the highest
+and purest morality of the race.
+
+Much of the opposition toward the general movement of Birth Control
+which has been manifested by many well-meaning, though misinformed,
+persons, has arisen by reason of the erroneous conception and
+understanding of the term itself, and of misleading information
+concerning the true nature of the best teachings on the subject. This
+prejudice has been heightened by certain zealous but ill-balanced
+advocates of the general movement who have overemphasized the incidental
+feature of the limitation of offspring under certain conditions, and who
+have appealed to the attention and interest merely of those who wished
+to escape the responsibilities of parenthood. This has caused much
+sorrow and distress to the many persons who have the highest ideals and
+results in view, and who deplore this unbalanced propaganda under the
+name, and apparently under the cloak of the general movement. Such
+persons have felt inclined to cry aloud "Good Lord, deliver us from our
+so-called friends!"
+
+One of the most distressing features of the popular prejudice against
+Birth Control, arising from a total misconception of the subject, has
+been the widely spread and popularly accepted notion that Birth Control
+is practically analogous to abortion--or, at the best, but a more
+refined and less repulsive and less dangerous form of abortion. In view
+of the fact that one of the important results sought to be obtained by a
+scientific knowledge of Birth Control actually is the prevention and
+avoidance of the crime of abortion which has wrought such terrible havoc
+among the women of civilized countries, it is most distressing and
+discouraging to the conscientious and high-minded advocates of Birth
+Control to have it said and believed that their teachings encourage and
+justify abortion.
+
+A reference to any standard dictionary or textbook will reveal the fact
+that "Abortion" means: "the premature expulsion of the human embryo or
+foetus; miscarriage voluntarily induced or produced," etc. It is seen at
+a glance that the essence and meaning of abortion consists in the
+destruction of the human embryo which has resulted from conception. The
+embryo human child must already exist in its elemental form, before it
+can be destroyed by abortion. Therefore, if no such embryo form exists,
+it cannot be destroyed, and therefore there can be no abortion in such a
+case. And, it may positively be stated, no true advocate of Birth
+Control can possibly justify, much less advocate, the destruction of the
+human embryo or foetus, which act constitutes abortion. The difference
+between true Birth Control teachings and methods, and that of the
+advocates of abortion, is as great as the difference between the two
+poles. Instead of the two being identical or similar, they are
+diametrically opposed one to the other--they are logical "opposites,"
+each the antithesis of the other.
+
+Even in those forms or phases of the Birth Control propaganda in which
+the use of "contraceptives," or "preventatives" is considered justified
+in certain cases--and these forms and phases are far from being the most
+important, as all students of the subject know--even in these
+exceptional forms and phases of the general subject the idea of abortion
+is combatted, and never justified or encouraged. A "contraceptive"
+agency merely tends to prevent or obviate undesirable conception; it
+never acts to destroy the result of previous and accomplished
+conception. A "contraceptive" merely prevents the union of the male and
+female elements of reproduction, and consequently the process from which
+evolves the foetus or embryo. A leading medical authority has said
+regarding this distinction: "In inducing abortion, one destroys
+something already formed--a foetus or an embryo, a fertilized ovum, a
+potential human being. In prevention, however, one merely prevents
+chemically or mechanically the spermatozoa from coming in contact with
+the ovum. There is no greater sin or crime in this than there is in
+simple abstinence, in refraining from sexual intercourse."
+
+What then must we say when we consider the higher and more advanced
+forms and phases of Birth Control, those phases and forms which may be
+said to be mental or emotional "contraceptives," rather than physical?
+Surely these cannot be considered as identical with or similar to
+abortion. And when we consider those phases and forms of Birth Control
+which are concerned with Pre-Natal Culture--the culture of the child
+before its birth--can one, even though he be intensely prejudiced
+against Birth Control, assert that there is to be found here anything
+which in any way whatsoever can be considered as relating to the theory
+or practice of abortion? And what must we say of the still higher phases
+in which the teachings are concerned with the mental and physical
+preparation of the parents prior to the conception of the child, to the
+end that the child may have the best possible physiological and
+psychological basis for its future well-being? Is not this the very
+antithesis and opposite of all that concerns abortion or abortive
+methods?
+
+The trouble about all great movements designed for the benefit of the
+human race is that at the beginning there is attracted to the movement,
+by reason of its novelty and "newness," certain elements which seize
+upon certain incidental features of the general idea, make them their
+own while excluding or ignoring the more important things, and then
+exploit these incidental features in a sensational way, thereby
+attracting public attention and gaining much undesirable notoriety, and
+as a consequence bringing discredit and disfavor, prejudice and
+misunderstanding, to the general movement.
+
+Birth Control has passed through this apparently inevitable experience,
+and has suffered greatly thereby. But the Light is being thrown on the
+Dark Places, and the more intelligent portion of the public is beginning
+to realize that there is another side to the shield of Birth Control.
+And, as a consequence, much of the original prejudice is disappearing,
+and a new understanding of the subject is arising in the minds of many
+of the best individuals of the race. It is the purpose of this book to
+help to dispel the ignorance and misconception concerning this great
+subject of Birth Control, and to aid in presenting the higher and nobler
+aspects of the general movement to the attention of those who are
+concerned with the advance and progress of the race as a whole, and of
+the individual members thereof.
+
+The student of the subject of Birth Control will fall into grievous
+error if he begins his consideration of the subject under the impression
+that the questions concerned therein are new to the world of living
+things. If the process of Birth Control were something which had
+suddenly sprung into existence in the consciousness of man, without
+having an antecedent activity in the history of the race, and of living
+creatures in general, we might well hesitate to go further in the matter
+without the most serious and prolonged consideration of the entire
+principle by the careful thought of the wisest of the race. But while
+such consideration is advisable, as in the case of any and all important
+problems presenting themselves for solution and judgment, it is found
+that those so considering the subject have a sound and firm foundation
+upon which to base their thought and to test their conclusions.
+
+As many thoughtful students of the subject have pointed out to us, the
+question of Birth Control has been with the race practically since the
+beginning of human history; and it has its correspondences in the
+instinctive actions of the lower forms of life. The chief difference is
+that we are now seeking to deal with these problems consciously,
+voluntarily, and deliberately, whereas in the past the race has dealt
+with them more or less unconsciously, by methods of trial and error,
+through perpetual experiment which has often proved costly but which has
+all the more clearly brought out the real course of natural processes.
+
+We cannot hope to solve problems so ancient and so deeply rooted as
+these by merely the rational methods of yesterday and today. To be of
+value our rational methods must be the revelation in deliberate
+consciousness of unconscious methods which go far back into the remote
+past. Our deliberate methods will not be sound except in so far as they
+are a continuation of those methods which, in the slow evolution of
+life, have been found sound and progressive on the plane of instinct.
+This is particularly true in the case of those among us who desire their
+own line of conduct in the matter to be so closely in accord with
+natural law, or the law of creation, that to question it would be
+impious.
+
+It may be accepted without an extended argument or presentation of
+evidence that at the outset the prime object of Nature seems to have
+been that of Reproduction. There is evident, without doubt, an effort on
+the part of Nature to secure economy of method in the attainment of ever
+greater perfection in the process of reproduction, but we cannot deny
+that the primary motive seems to be that of reproduction pure and
+simple. The tendency toward reproduction is indeed so fundamental in
+Nature that it is impressed with the greatest emphasis upon every living
+thing. And, as careful thinkers have told us "the course of evolution
+seems to have been more of an effort to slow down reproduction than to
+furnish it with new facilities."
+
+Reproduction appears in the history of life even before sex manifests
+itself. The lower forms of animal and plant life oftener produce
+themselves without the aid of sex, and some authorities have argued that
+the presence of sex differentiation serves rather to check active
+propagation rather than to increase it. If quantity, without regard to
+quality or variation, be the object of Nature, then that purpose would
+have been better served by withholding sex-differentiation than by
+evolving it. As Professor Coulter, a leading American botanist, has well
+said: "The impression one gains of sexuality is that it represents
+reproduction under peculiar difficulties."
+
+To those who find it difficult to assimilate this somewhat startling
+idea, we now present a brief statement of the infinitely greater
+facility toward reproduction manifested by living creatures lacking in
+sex-differentiation as compared with those possessing it. It is seen that
+bacteria among primitive plants, and protozoa among primitive animals,
+are patterns of very rapid and prolific reproduction, though sex begins
+to appear in a rudimentary form in very lowly forms of life. A single
+infusorian becomes in a week the ancestor of millions, that is to say,
+of far more individuals than could proceed under the most favorable
+conditions from a pair of elephants in five centuries; and Huxley has
+calculated that the progeny of a single parthenogenetic aphis, under
+favorable circumstances, would in a few months outweigh the whole
+population of China. It must be noted, however, that this proviso "under
+favorable circumstances" reveals the weak point of Nature's early method
+of reproduction by enormously rapid multiplication. Creatures so easily
+produced are easily destroyed; and Nature, apparently in consequence,
+wastes no time in imparting to them the qualities needed for a high form
+of life and living.
+
+And, even after sex differentiation had attained a considerable degree of
+development, Nature seemed slow to abandon her original plan of rapid
+multiplication of individuals. Among insects so far advanced as the
+white ants, the queen lays eggs at the enormous rate of 80,000 a day
+during her period of active life. Higher in the scale, we find the
+female herring laying 70,000 eggs at one period of delivery. But in both
+of these cases we find the manifestation of that apparently invariable
+rule of Nature, viz., that A HIGH BIRTH-RATE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A HEAVY
+DEATH-RATE, whether that high death-rate be caused by natural enemies,
+wars, or disease.
+
+At a certain stage of the evolutionary process, Nature seems to have
+awakened to a realization of the fact that it was better, from every
+point of view, to produce A FEW superior beings rather than a vast
+number of inferior ones. Here, at last, Nature discloses a heretofore
+hidden aim, namely, the production of quality rather than quantity; and
+once she has started on this new path, she has pursued it with even
+greater eagerness than that of reproduction pure and simple. And here we
+pause to note a principle laid down by the students of Evolution, viz.,
+that ADVANCING EVOLUTION IS ACCOMPANIED BY DECLINING FERTILITY.
+
+This new stage of Nature's processes is marked by a constant and
+invariable manifestation of diminished number of offspring, accompanied
+by an increased amount of time and care in the creation and breeding of
+each of the young creatures. Accompanying this, we find that the
+reproductive life of the creature is shortened, and confined to more or
+less special periods; these periods beginning much later, and ending
+much earlier, and even during their continuance tending to operate in
+cycles of activity. Here, we see, NATURE, GROWN WISER BY EXPERIENCE,
+HERSELF BEGAN TO EXERCISE HER POWER IN THE DIRECTION OF BIRTH
+CONTROL--THE USE OF PREVENTIVE CHECKS ON REPRODUCTION.
+
+A writer has said along these lines: "As reproduction slackened,
+evolution was greatly accelerated. A highly important and essential
+aspect of this greater individuation is a higher survival value. The
+more complex and better equipped creature can meet and subdue
+difficulties and dangers to which the more lowly organized creature that
+came before--produced wholesale in a way which Nature seems to look
+back on as cheap and nasty--succumbed helplessly without an effort. The
+idea of economy began to assert itself in the world. It became clear in
+the course of evolution that it is better to produce really good and
+highly efficient organisms, at whatever cost, than to be content with
+cheap production on a wholesale scale. They allowed greater
+developmental progress to be made, and they lasted better. Even before
+man began it was proved in the animal world that THE DEATH-RATE FALLS AS
+THE BIRTH-RATE FALLS."
+
+Let us compare the lowly herring with the highly evolved elephant. The
+herring multiplies with enormous rapidity and on a vast scale, and it
+possesses a very small brain, and is almost totally unequipped to
+grapple with the special difficulties of its life, to which it succumbs
+on a wholesale scale. A single elephant is carried for about two years
+in its mother's womb, and is carefully guarded by her for many years
+after birth; it possesses a large brain, and its muscular system is as
+remarkable for its delicacy as for its power, and is guided by the most
+sensitive perceptions. It is fully equipped for all the dangers of life,
+save for those which have been introduced by the subtle ingenuity of
+modern man. Though a single pair of elephants produces so few offspring,
+yet their high cost is justified, for each of them has a reasonable
+chance of surviving to old age. This contrast, from the point of view of
+reproduction, of the herring and the elephant, well illustrates the
+principle of evolution previously referred to. It brings clearly into
+view the difference between Nature's earlier and her later methods--the
+ever increasing preference for quality over quantity. Unless we grasp
+this underlying principle of Nature in its wider aspects we may fail to
+perceive its operations in the case of man, which latter we may now
+consider.
+
+It is, of course, impossible to speak positively regarding the
+birth-rate and death-rate of the pre-historic primitive races of
+mankind, for there is not data upon which to base such a report. But
+reasoning upon the basis of conditions existing among the primitive
+tribes of the present time we are justified in holding that in the early
+stages of the evolution of the race there was manifested a high
+birth-rate and a correspondingly high death-rate. Upon the basis of
+conditions now existing among savage tribes it would appear that
+primitive man has a higher birth-rate than the average of mankind today,
+and likewise a higher death-rate. The rapidly increasing number of
+children born to the tribe was counteracted by deaths among children
+caused by neglect, poverty, and disease. In some cases the population
+was prevented from becoming larger than the means of subsistence
+justified by the practice of infanticide.
+
+As to the condition of the race in the early stages of "modern"
+civilization, we have modern Russia as a surviving instance of this
+stage. In modern Russia we find, side by side with the progress in
+neighboring nations, conditions which a few centuries ago existed all
+over Europe. Here we have an enormous birth-rate, and a terrible
+death-rate caused by ignorance, superstition, insanitation, filth, bad
+food, impure water, plagues, famines, and other accompaniments of
+overcrowding and misery. We find a mortality among young children which
+sometimes destroys more than half of the children born before they have
+attained the age of five years. As high as is the Russian birth-rate, it
+is a matter of record that at times the death-rate has actually exceeded
+it. And among the survivors there is found a startlingly large
+percentage of chronic and incurable diseases, with a large number of
+cases of blindness and other defects.
+
+Similar results follow in China, where the birth-rate is exceptionally
+high, and the death-rate correspondingly large; and where there is a
+large percentage of inferior physical development and pathological
+defects, the evil conditions which produce death also tending to produce
+deterioration in the survivors. In both of these countries we have an
+example of the result of unrestricted reproduction, and unrestricted
+destruction--as among herrings, so among men. And yet this condition of
+unrestricted reproduction is the logical goal of certain persons who,
+inspired by the best possible intentions, in their ignorance and
+criminal rashness would dare to arrest that fall in the birth-rate which
+is now beginning to spread its influence in every civilized land.
+
+In Western Europe before the nineteenth century the population increased
+very slowly. The enormous birth-rate was nearly equalled by the
+exceedingly heavy death-rate caused by plagues, pestilences, and famine,
+and by the frequent wars large and small. The mortality among young
+children was particularly heavy. Writers have pointed out that the old
+family records show frequently two or three children of the same
+Christian name, the first child having died and its name given to a
+successor.
+
+During the last quarter of the eighteenth century, when machinery was
+introduced and a new industrial era opened, the birth-rate rose rapidly.
+Factories springing up gave increased support to many, and as children
+were employed as "hands" in the mills at an early age, the richest
+family was the one with most children. The population began to increase
+rapidly. But soon disease, misery, and poverty arose from filth and
+insanitation, immorality and crime, overcrowding and child-labor, drink
+and lack of sane courses of conduct.
+
+In time, however, progress set in, and social reformers began the great
+movement for the betterment of the environment, sanitation, shorter
+hours of labor, and restriction of child-labor, factory regulation, etc.
+And when the environment is bettered, the death-rate drops, and the
+birth-rate accompanies it on its downward progress. As Leroy-Beaulieu
+says: "The first degree of prosperity in a rude population with few
+needs tends toward prolificness of reproduction; a later degree of
+prosperity, accompanied by all the feelings and ideas stimulated by the
+reduction of such prolificness."
+
+The law of the reduction of reproduction in response to the improvement
+of environment is a natural law, arising from fixed biological
+principles. This is because when we improve the environment we improve
+the individual situated in that environment; and the improvement of the
+individual has always resulted in a check upon reproduction. We must
+remember, however, that this change is not the result of conscious or
+voluntary action; instead it is the result of unconscious activities and
+instinctive urge. As Sir Shirley Murphy has said: "Birth Control is a
+natural process, and though in civilized men, endowed with high
+intelligence, it necessarily works in some measure voluntarily and
+deliberately, it is probable that it also works, as in the evolution of
+the lower animals, to some extent automatically."
+
+Science shows us that even among the most primitive micro-organisms;
+when placed under unfavorable conditions as to food and environment,
+they tend to pass into a reproductive phase and by sporulation or
+otherwise begin to produce new individuals rapidly. This, of course,
+because of the fact that their death-rate is increased, and an increased
+birth-rate must be manifested in order to maintain a balance. If the
+environment be improved, the death-rate decreases, and this is followed
+by a fall in the birth-rate, according to the constant laws of Nature
+manifesting in such cases.
+
+The same law is seen to be manifested in the case of Man. Improve his
+environment, and his death-rate drops, which is accompanied by a
+falling birth-rate. Here, once more we see the application of the
+scientific axiom "Improve the environment and reproduction is checked."
+As Leroy-Beaulieu has said: "The tendency of civilization is to reduce
+the birth-rate." And as Professor Benjamin Moore has said: "Decreased
+reproduction is the simple biological reply to good economic
+conditions." And as Havelock Ellis has said: "Those who desire a higher
+birth-rate are desiring, whether they know it or not, the increase of
+poverty, ignorance, and wretchedness."
+
+Among men, Birth Control has now evolved from the unconscious and
+instinctive phase, and is now unfolding and manifesting on the plane of
+conscious and voluntary activity. The influence of deliberate intention
+and conscious design is now one of the important factors in the process.
+Here at this point we reach a totally new aspect of reproduction. In the
+past stages of evolution the original impetus toward reproduction has
+been checked and directed by Nature, working along instinctive and
+unconscious lines; and the result has been an extreme diminution of the
+number of off-spring; a prolongation of the time devoted to the breeding
+and care of each new member of the family, in harmony with its greatly
+prolonged life; a spacing out of the intervals between the offspring;
+and, as a result, a vastly greater development of each individual, and
+an ever better equipment for the task of living. All this was slowly
+attained automatically, without any conscious volition on the part of
+the individuals, even when they were human beings, who were the agents.
+
+Now, however, we are confronted with a change which we may regard as, in
+some respects, the most momentous sudden advance in the whole history of
+reproduction, namely, the process of reproductive progress now become
+conscious and deliberately volitional. Birth control, no longer
+automatic, is now being directed by human mind and will precisely to the
+attainment of ends which Nature has been struggling after for millions
+of years; and, being consciously and deliberately directed, it is now
+enabled to avoid many of the pitfalls into which the unconscious method
+fell.
+
+Havelock Ellis says: "The control and limitation of reproductive
+activity by conscious and volitional effort is an attempt by open-eyed
+intelligence and foresight to attain those ends which Nature through
+untold generations has been painfully yet tirelessly struggling for. The
+deliberate co-operation of Man in the natural task of Birth Control
+represents an identification of the human will with what we may, if we
+choose, regard as the divinely appointed law of the world. We can well
+believe that the great pioneers, who, a century ago, acted in the spirit
+of this faith may have echoed the thought of Kepler when, on discovering
+his great planetary law, he exclaimed in rapture: 'O God! I think Thy
+thoughts after Thee!'"
+
+The following brief general history of the modern Birth Control movement
+is quoted from Havelock Ellis, and will be of interest to students of
+the subject: "The pioneers of modern Birth Control were English. Among
+them Malthus occupies the first place. That distinguished man, in his
+great and influential work, 'The Principles of Population,' in 1798,
+emphasized the immense importance of foresight and self-control in
+procreation, and the profound significance of birth limitation for human
+welfare. Malthus, however, relied on ascetic self-restraint, a method
+which could only appeal to the few; he had nothing to say for the
+regulation of conception in intercourse. That was suggested twenty years
+later, very cautiously by James Mill, the father of John Stuart Mill, in
+the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Four years afterwards, Mill's friend,
+the Radical reformer, Francis Place, advocated this method more clearly.
+Finally, in 1831, Robert Dale Owen, the son of the great Robert Owen,
+published his 'Moral Physiology,' in which he set forth the ways of
+preventing conception; while a little later the Drysdale brothers,
+ardent and unwearying philanthropists, devoted their energies to a
+propaganda which has been spreading ever since and has now conquered the
+whole civilized world.
+
+"It was not, however, in England but in France, so often at the head of
+an advance in civilization, that Birth Control first firmly became
+established, and that the extravagantly high birth rate of earlier times
+began to fall; this happened in the first half of the nineteenth
+century, whether or not it was mainly due to voluntary control. In
+England the movement came later, and the steady decline in the English
+birth-rate, which is still proceeding, began in 1877. In the previous
+year there had been a famous prosecution of Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant
+for disseminating pamphlets describing the methods of preventing
+conception; the charge was described by the Lord Chief Justice, who
+tried the case, as one of the most ill-advised and injudicious ever made
+in a court of justice. But it served an undesigned end by giving
+enormous publicity to the subject and advertising the methods it sought
+to suppress. There can be no doubt, however, that even apart from this
+trial the movement would have proceeded on the same lines. The times
+were ripe, the great industrial expansion had passed its first feverish
+phase, social conditions were improving, education was spreading. The
+inevitable character of the movement is indicated by the fact that at
+the very same time it began to be manifested all over Europe, indeed in
+every civilized country of the world.
+
+"At the present time the birth-rate (as well as usually the death-rate)
+is falling in every country of the world sufficiently civilized to
+possess statistics of its own vital movement. The fall varies in
+rapidity. It has been considerable in the more progressive countries; it
+has lingered in the more backward countries. If we examine the latest
+statistics for Europe, we find that every country, without exception,
+with a progressive and educated population, and a fairly high state of
+social well-being, presents a birth-rate below 30 per 1,000. We also
+find that every country in Europe in which the mass of the people are
+primitive, ignorant, or in a socially unsatisfactory condition (even
+although the governing classes may be progressive or ambitious) shows a
+birth-rate of above 30 per 1,000. France, Great Britain, Belgium,
+Holland, the Scandinavian countries, and Switzerland are in the first
+group. Russia, Austro-Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the Balkan countries
+are in the second group. The German Empire was formerly in the second
+group, but now comes within the first group, and has carried on the
+movement so energetically that the birth-rate of Berlin is already below
+that of London, and that at the present rate of decline the birth-rate
+of the German Empire will before long sink to that of France. Outside
+Europe, in the United States just as much as in Australia and New
+Zealand, the same progressive movement is proceeding with equal
+activity."
+
+The same authority sums up the present attitude of the advocates of
+scientific and rational Birth Control, as follows: "The wide survey of
+the question of birth limitation has settled the question of the
+desirability of the adoption of preventing conception, and finally
+settled those who would waste out time with their fears that it is not
+right to control conception. We know now on whose side are the laws of
+God and Nature. We realize that in exercising control over the entrance
+gate of life we are not fully performing, consciously and deliberately,
+a great human duty, but carrying on rationally a beneficial process
+which has, more blindly and wastefully, been carried on since the
+beginning of the world. There are still a few persons ignorant enough or
+foolish enough to fight against the advance of civilization in this
+matter; we can well afford to leave them severely alone, knowing that in
+a few years all of them will have passed away. It is not our business to
+defend the control of birth, but simply discuss how we may most wisely
+exercise that control."
+
+
+
+
+LESSON XI
+
+THE FETICH OF THE BIRTH-RATE
+
+
+To the student of the progress of the human race the consideration of
+the state of public opinion regarding the Birth-rate of nations is of
+great interest. To the careful observer there is evident the gradual
+evolution of intelligent public opinion on this subject even in the
+comparatively short space of time in which the present generation has
+played its part on the great stage of human development.
+
+Public opinion on this subject during the period named may be said to
+have passed through three general stages. These stages are, of course,
+more clearly defined among the peoples of the most prosperous and
+intelligent countries, as for instance, in Western Europe and America,
+and particularly in England, France, and the United States. While the
+peoples of certain of these countries have passed through these stages
+somewhat more rapidly than have others, still it is perceived that each
+of these peoples have in the main followed the same general course.
+
+The first stage of this evolution of popular opinion may be said to have
+been begun about 1850, and to have ended about 1880. In this stage the
+ideal of a large and rapidly increasing birth-rate became a popular
+fetich before which all men and women were supposed to fall down and
+render worship. In this period public opinion manifested great
+satisfaction and joy in the evidences of a high and rapidly increasing
+birth-rate. It was held that this increasing birth-rate tended toward
+the success and glory of the particular nation, and incidentally to the
+race as a whole. The idea of QUANTITY was elevated to the throne of
+public favor, and the question of QUALITY was ignored or overlooked.
+
+This period was one of an unusual expansion of industry, and the rising
+birth-rate was regarded as a token that the world was destined to be
+exploited and eventually governed by the people of those nations who
+were able to demonstrate the greatest efficiency in industrial pursuits,
+and who at the same time were wise enough to increase their respective
+populations by an increasing birth-rate. The populace were excited by
+the idea of the dominance and prosperity of their own countrymen, while
+the leaders of industry were delighted with the idea of an increasing
+supply of laborers which would tend to keep down the rate of wages which
+otherwise would have reached proportions which would have interfered
+with competition with other countries. At the same time, the militarists
+were secretly delighted by the signs of an increasing supply of military
+material with which to build up gigantic armies.
+
+A writer on the state of public opinion on this subject during this
+period has well said: "It seemed to the more exuberant spirits that a
+vast British Empire, or a mighty Pan-German, might be expected to cover
+the whole world. France, with its low and falling birth-rate, was looked
+down at with a contempt as a decadent country inhabited with a
+degenerate population. No attempt to analyze the birth-rate, to
+ascertain what are really the biological, social, and economic
+accompaniments of a high birth-rate, made any impression on the popular
+mind. They were drowned in a general shout of exultation."
+
+But this period of uncritical optimism was followed by a natural
+reaction. The pendulum stopped in its course, and soon began to swing in
+the opposite direction. Here, about 1880, the second stage may be said
+to have begun. Public opinion began to manifest a subtle change, and
+this mental attitude was accompanied by a physical manifestation in the
+form of a decreasing birth-rate. The rate of births began to fall
+rapidly, and has continued to fall steadily since that time.
+
+The writer above quoted from says of this second period: "In France the
+birth-rate fell slowly, in Italy more rapidly, and in England and
+Prussia still more rapidly. As, however, the fall began earliest in
+France, the birth-rate was lower there than in the other countries
+named. For the same reason it was lower in England than in Prussia,
+although England stands in this respect at almost exactly the same
+distance from Prussia today (1917) as thirty years ago, the fall having
+occurred at the same rate in both countries. It is quite possible that
+in the future it may become more rapid in Prussia than in England, for
+the birth-rate of Berlin is lower than the birth-rate of London, and
+urbanization is proceeding at a more rapid rate in Germany than in
+England."
+
+It is not difficult to arrive at the psychological reason underlying
+this great change in public opinion, as manifested in this second stage.
+In the first place, the wonderful era of world-expansion was arrested,
+by natural causes well understood by students of sociology. The
+ambitious dreams of world-empires were rudely interrupted. Moreover,
+public opinion was being affected by a quiet education along the lines
+of sociology and economics.
+
+The working classes began to perceive, on the one hand, the tendency of
+overpopulation to hold down, or even decrease, the scale of wages. The
+evils of over-production, and of under-consumption were dimly perceived.
+And, on the other hand, the capitalists began to perceive that another
+factor was at work--one which they had failed to include in their
+optimistic calculations. Instead of the cheaper wage rate which they had
+expected by reason of the over-abundance of human material, they found
+that the growth of popular education in the democratic countries had
+caused the working classes to demand greater comforts of life, and to
+oppose the cheapening of human labor. And at the same time, the masses
+began to revolt against the idea of raising children to become "cannon
+fodder" for ambitious autocratic rulers. The masses began to protest
+against selling their labor and their lives so cheaply.
+
+These changed viewpoints of the working classes began to result in
+attempts on their part to form associations to resist the tendency on
+the part of capitalists to force down the scale of wages to fit the
+increased population. Trade unions flourished and became powerful, and
+the same impulse carried many into the ranks of socialism, and still
+beyond into the fold of anarchism and syndicalism. And, here note this
+significant fact, with these new perceptions and these new movements
+among the masses, THE BIRTH-RATE BEGAN TO FALL RAPIDLY.
+
+The writer above quoted from says of this period: "The pessimists were
+faced by horrors on both sides. On the one hand, they saw that the
+ever-increasing rate of human production which seemed to them the
+essential condition of national, social, even moral progress, had not
+only stopped but was steadily diminishing. On the other hand, they saw
+that, even so far as it was maintained, it involved, under modern
+conditions, nothing but social commotion and economic disturbance. There
+are still many pessimists of this class alive among us even today, alike
+in England and Germany, but a new generation is growing up, and this
+question is now entering another phase."
+
+It would seem that the race is now well started in the third period,
+phase, or stage of this conception of the birth-rate. Even the Great War
+is not likely to seriously interrupt its ultimate progress, though
+conditions in all civilized countries will unquestionably be disturbed
+by the unusual conditions now prevailing and caused by the great
+conflict. The spirit of this third stage seems to be that the Truth is
+to be found between the two extremes, viz.: (1) the extreme of passive
+optimism of the first stage; and (2) the extreme of passive pessimism of
+the second stage. It realizes that there is excellent ground for hope in
+better things; but it equally realizes that hope alone is vain, and will
+accomplish nothing unless it is accompanied with and directed by a clear
+intellectual vision manifested in individual and social action based on
+that clear intellectual vision.
+
+The writer above quoted from says of this developing period: "It is
+today beginning to be seen that the old notion of progress by means of
+reckless multiplication is vain. It can only be effected at a ruinous
+cost of death, disease, poverty, and misery. We see this in the past
+history of Western Europe, as we still see it in the history of Russia.
+Any progress effected along that line--if 'progress' it can be
+called--is now barred, for it is utterly opposed to those democratic
+conceptions which are ever gaining greater influence among us. Moreover,
+we are now better able to analyze demographic phenomena, and are no
+longer satisfied with any crude statements regarding the birth-rate. We
+realize that they need interpretation. They have to be considered in
+relation to the sex-constitution and the age-constitution of the
+population, and ABOVE ALL, THEY MUST BE VIEWED IN RELATION TO THE INFANT
+MORTALITY RATE.
+
+"The bad aspect of the French birth-rate is not so much its lowness as
+that it is accompanied by a high infantile mortality. The fact that the
+German birth-rate is higher than the English ceases to be a matter of
+satisfaction when it is realized that German infantile mortality is
+vastly greater than English. A HIGH BIRTH-RATE IS NO SIGN OF A HIGH
+CIVILIZATION. BUT WE ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT A HIGH INFANTILE
+DEATH-RATE IS A SIGN OF A VERY INFERIOR CIVILIZATION. A LOW BIRTH-RATE
+WITH A LOW INFANT DEATH-RATE NOT ONLY PRODUCES THE SAME INCREASE IN
+POPULATION AS A HIGH BIRTH-RATE WITH A HIGH DEATH-RATE, WHICH ALWAYS
+ACCOMPANIES IT (FOR THERE ARE NO EXAMPLES OF A HIGH BIRTH-RATE WITH A
+LOW DEATH-RATE), BUT IT PRODUCES IT IN A WAY WHICH IS FAR MORE WORTHY OF
+OUR ADMIRATION IN THIS MATTER THAN THE WAY OF RUSSIA AND CHINA WHERE
+OPPOSITE CONDITIONS PREVAIL."
+
+The evolutionary process which all students of sociology clearly
+perceive to have been underway in the matter of the attitude of public
+opinion toward the birth-rate, and which is now underway with increased
+impetus, is perceived to be a natural process. It is a natural process
+which has been underway from the beginning of the living world. For a
+long time it operated and manifested along unconscious and instinctive
+lines of activity, but now it has emerged into the light of human
+consciousness and manifests along the lines of conscious, voluntary, and
+deliberate human action.
+
+In its present state of evolutionary progress human thought along these
+lines has found expression in what is generally known as "Birth
+Control." The process which has been working slowly through the ages,
+attaining every new forward step with waste and pain, is henceforth
+destined to be carried out voluntarily, in the light of human reason,
+foresight, and self-restraint. The rise of Birth Control may be said to
+correspond with the rise of social and sanitary science in the first
+half of the nineteenth century, and to be indeed an essential part of
+that movement.
+
+The new doctrine of Birth Control is now firmly established in all the
+most progressive and enlightened countries of Europe, notably in France
+and England; in Germany, where formerly the birth-rate was very high,
+Birth Control has developed with extraordinary rapidity during the
+present century. In Holland its principles and practice are freely
+taught by physicians and nurses to the mothers of the people, with the
+result that there is in Holland no longer any necessity for unwanted
+babies, and this small country possesses the proud privilege of the
+lowest death-rate in Europe.
+
+In the free and enlightened Democratic communities on the other side of
+the globe, in Australia and New Zealand, the same principles and
+practice are generally accepted, with the same beneficent results. On
+the other hand, in the more backward and ignorant countries of Europe,
+Birth Control is still little known, and death and disease flourish.
+This is the case in those eight European countries which come at the
+bottom of the list of the Birth Control scale, and in which the
+birth-rate is the highest and the death-rate the heaviest--the two rates
+maintaining such a constant correspondence as to lead to the inevitable
+conclusion that they are associated as cause and effect.
+
+But even in the more progressive countries Birth Control has not been
+established without a struggle, which has frequently ended in a
+hypocritical compromise, its principles being publicly ignored or denied
+and its practice privately accepted. For, at the great and vitally
+important point in human progress which Birth-Control represents, we see
+really the conflict of two moralities. The morality of the ancient world
+is here confronted by the morality of the new world.
+
+The old morality, knowing nothing of science and the process of Nature
+as worked out in the evolution of life, contented itself with assuming
+as a basis the early chapters of Genesis in which the children of Noah
+are represented as entering an empty earth which it is their business
+to populate diligently. So it came about that for this morality, still
+innocent of eugenics, recklessness was almost a virtue. Children were
+held to be given by God; if they died or were afflicted by congenital
+disease, it was the dispensation of God, and, whatever imprudence the
+parents might commit, the pathetic faith still ruled that "God will
+provide."
+
+But in the new morality it is realized that in these matters Divine
+action can only be made manifest in human action, that is to say through
+the operation of our own enlightened reason and resolved will. Prudence,
+foresight, self-restraint--virtues which old morality looked down upon
+with benevolent contempt--assume a position of first importance. In the
+eyes of the new morality the ideal woman is no longer the meek drudge
+condemned to endless and often ineffectual child-bearing, but the free
+and instructed woman, able to look before and after, trained in a sense
+of responsibility alike to herself and to the race, and determined to
+have no children but the best.
+
+Such were the two moralities which came into conflict during the
+nineteenth century. They are irreconcilable and each firmly rooted, one
+in ancient religion and tradition, the other in progressive science and
+reason. Nothing was possible in such a clash of opposing ideas but a
+feeble and confused compromise such as we find still prevailing in
+various countries of Old Europe. This is not a satisfactory solution,
+however inevitable, and is especially unsatisfactory by the consequent
+obscurantism which placed difficulties in the way of spreading a
+knowledge of the methods of Birth Control among the masses of the
+population. For the result has been that while the more enlightened and
+educated have exercised a control over the size of their families, the
+poorer and more ignorant--those who should have been offered every
+facility and encouragement to follow in the same path--have been left,
+through a conspiracy of silence, to carry on helplessly the bad customs
+of their forefathers. This social neglect has had the result that the
+superior family stocks have been tampered by the recklessness of the
+inferior stocks.
+
+In America, we find the two moralities in active conflict today. Until
+recently America has meekly accepted at the hand of Old Europe the
+traditional prescription. On the surface, the ancient morality had been
+complacently, almost unquestionably, accepted in America, even to the
+extent of tacitly permitting the existence of a vast extension of
+abortion, under the surface of society--a criminal practice which ever
+flourishes where Birth Control is neglected.
+
+But today, a new movement is perceptible in America. It would seem that,
+almost in a flash, America has awakened to the true significance of the
+issue. With that direct vision of hers, that swift practicality of
+action, and above all, that sense of the democratic nature of all social
+progress, we see her resolutely beginning to face this great problem. In
+her vigorous tongue she is demanding "What is all this secrecy about,
+anyway? Let us turn on the Light!" And the best authorities agree that
+America's answer to the demand will be of the greatest importance, and
+of immense significance to the whole world.
+
+In concluding this portion of our discussion, I ask my readers to
+consider the following quotations from writers who have touched upon the
+question of the stimulation of the birth-rate by the State, for the
+purpose of military policy. These quotations speak for themselves, and
+need but little comment.
+
+The first authority, a German, whose name has escaped me for the moment,
+laments the falling birth-rate in his country, and urges his own nation
+to stimulate it by offering bounties; he says: "Woe to us if we follow
+the example of the wicked and degenerate people of other nations. Our
+nation needs men. We have to populate the earth, and to carry the
+blessings of our Kultur all over the world. In executing that high
+mission we cannot have too much human material in defending ourselves
+against the aggression of other nations who are jealous of us and our
+achievements and progress. Let us promote parentage by law; let us
+repress by law every influence which may encourage a falling birth-rate;
+otherwise there is nothing left us but speedy national disaster,
+complete and irremediable."
+
+Havelock Ellis, an Englishman, says: "In Germany for years past it has
+been difficult to take up a serious periodical without finding some
+anxiously statistical article about the falling birth-rate, and some
+wild recommendations for its arrest. For it is the militaristic German
+who of all Europeans is most worried by this fall; indeed Germans often
+even refuse to recognize it. Thus today we find Professor Gruber
+declaring that if the population of the German Empire continues to grow
+at the rate of the first five years of the present century, it will have
+reached 250,000,000 at the end of the century. By such a vast increase
+in population, the Professor complacently concludes, 'Germany will be
+rendered invulnerable.' But Gruber's estimate is entirely fallacious.
+German births have fallen, roughly speaking, about 1 per 1,000 of the
+population, every year since the beginning of the century, and it would
+be equally reasonable to estimate that if they continue to fall at the
+present rate (which we cannot, of course, anticipate) births will
+altogether have ceased in Germany before the end of the century. The
+German birth-rate reached its climax forty years ago (1871-1880) with
+40.7 per 1,000; in 1906 it was 34 per 1,000; in 1909 it was 31 per
+1,000; in 1912 it was 28 per 1,000; in an almost measurable period of
+time, in all probability before the end of the century, it will have
+reached the same low level as that of France, when there will be but
+little difference between the 'invulnerability' of France and of
+Germany, a consummation which, for the world's sake, is far more
+devoutly to be wished than that anticipated by Gruber."
+
+Writers of Teutonic sympathies have asserted that the aggressive
+attitude of Germany at the beginning of the Great War was to be
+legitimately explained and apologized for on the ground that the War was
+the inevitable expansive outcome of the abnormally high birth-rate of
+Germany in recent times. Dr. Dernburg, the German statesman, said not
+very long ago: "The expansion of the German nation has been so
+extraordinary during the past twenty-five years that the conditions
+existing before the war had become insupportable." Another writer has
+said: "Of later years there has arisen a movement among German women for
+bringing abortion into honor and repute, so that it may be carried out
+openly and with the aid of the best physicians. This movement has been
+supported by lawyers and social reformers of high position."
+
+Thus, it would seem that a birth-rate stimulated by unusual
+circumstances or by deliberate State encouragement, seemingly draws upon
+it the operation of natural laws which tend to increase its death-rate
+by War, as well as by an increased number of abortions, and an increased
+death-rate. It would seem as natural laws operate to bring down the
+population to normal by war if the other factors do not operate
+sufficiently rapidly and efficiently.
+
+Havelock Ellis makes the following interesting statement: "If we survey
+the belligerent nations in the war we may say that those who took the
+initiative in drawing it on, or at all events were most prepared to
+welcome it, were Germany, Austria, Serbia, and Russia--all nations with
+a high birth-rate, and in which the fall of the birth-rate has not yet
+had time to permeate. On the other hand, of the belligerent peoples of
+today, all indications point to the French as the people most
+intolerant, silently but deeply, of the war they are so ably and
+heroically waging. Yet the France of the present, with the lowest
+birth-rate, was a century ago the France of a birth-rate higher than
+that of Germany today, and at that time the most militarist and
+aggressive of nations, a perpetual menace to Europe."
+
+Finally, let us quote Havelock Ellis once more; he says: "When we
+realize these facts we are also enabled to realize how futile, how
+misplaced and how mischievous it is to raise the cry of 'Race Suicide.'
+It is futile because no outcry can affect a world-wide movement of
+civilization. It is misplaced because the rise and fall of the
+population is not a matter of birth-rate alone, but of the birth-rate
+combined with the death-rate, and while we cannot expect to touch the
+former we can influence the latter. It is mischievous because by
+fighting against a tendency which is not only inevitable but altogether
+beneficial, we blind ourselves to the advance of civilization and risk
+the misdirection of our energies. How far this blindness may be carried
+we see in the false patriotism of those who in the decline of the
+birth-rate, fancy they see the ruin of their own particular country,
+oblivious of the fact that we are concerned with a phenomenon of
+world-wide extension. The whole tendency of civilization is to reduce
+the birth-rate. We may go further, and assert with the distinguished
+German economist, Roscher, that the chief cause of the superiority of a
+highly civilized state over lower stages of civilization is precisely a
+greater degree of forethought and self-control in marriage and
+child-bearing. Instead of talking about Race Suicide, we should do well
+to observe at what an appalling rate, even yet, the population is
+increasing; and we should note that it is everywhere the poorest and
+most primitive countries, and in every country (as in Germany) the
+poorest regions, which show the highest birth-rate."
+
+The same authority says: "One last resort the would-be patriotic
+alarmist seeks when all others fail. He is good enough to admit that a
+general decline in the birth-rate might be beneficial. But, he points
+out, it affects social classes unequally. It is initiated, not by the
+degenerate and unfit, with whom we could well dispense, but by the very
+best classes in the community, the well-to-do and the educated. One is
+inclined to remark, at once, that a social change initiated by its best
+social class is scarcely likely to be pernicious. Where, it may be
+asked, if not among the most educated classes, is any process of
+amelioration to be initiated? We cannot make the world topsy-turvy to
+suit the convenience of topsy-turvy minds. All social movements tend to
+begin at the top and to permeate downwards. This has been the case with
+the decline of the birth-rate, but it is already well marked among the
+working classes, and has only failed to touch the lowest stratum of all,
+too weak-minded and too reckless to be amenable to ordinary social
+motives. The rational method of meeting this situation is not a
+propaganda in favor of procreation--a truly imbecile propaganda, since
+it is only carried out and only likely to be carried out, by the very
+class which we wish to sterilize--but rather by a wise policy of
+regulative eugenics. We have to create the motives, and it is not an
+impossible task, which will act even upon the weak-minded and reckless
+lowest social stratum."
+
+
+
+
+LESSON XII
+
+THE ARGUMENT FOR BIRTH CONTROL
+
+
+Let us now consider the general and special arguments advanced in favor
+of rational and scientific Birth Control, as stated by the advocates
+thereof.
+
+GENERAL ARGUMENT. The general argument in favor of Birth Control may
+well be begun by the statement that rational and scientific Birth
+Control is not the fixing upon the race of a new and unfamiliar practice
+or policy, but is rather the scientific correction of a practice and
+policy which is now followed by the majority of married persons in
+civilized countries, though in a bungling, unscientific, and frequently
+a harmful manner. The modern advocates of scientific methods of Birth
+Control seek to replace these bungling, unscientific, and frequently
+harmful methods by sane, scientific, harmless methods, approved of by
+capable physicians and other experienced and capable authorities, and
+under the sanction of the law rather than contrary to it.
+
+The advocates of Birth Control seek to place upon a scientific basis,
+under cover and protection of the law, a subject which heretofore has
+been but imperfectly known, and more imperfectly practiced in some form
+by the majority of married couples, and which has heretofore been under
+condemnation of the law so far as concerned the actual dissemination of
+information concerning methods of contraception. They hold that it is
+the veriest hypocrisy to pretend ignorance of the fact that the great
+majority of married couples in civilized communities know and practice
+to some extent contraceptive methods--usually imperfectly and
+bunglingly, it must be added.
+
+One has but to consider the families of married couples, and to count
+their children, to become aware that at least some form of contraception
+has been known and practiced in many cases. This is particularly true of
+the more intelligent and cultured members of civilized society, among
+whom we find large families of children to be the exception, and small
+families to be the general rule. Among the less intelligent and
+uncultured classes the reverse of this condition is found.
+
+It is hypocritical folly to assert that these small families to be found
+among the more intelligent classes of society are due to the fact that
+the husbands and wives are physically incapable of procreating
+off-spring--the mere suggestion produces an incredulous smile from the
+reader. No one who is acquainted with the habits and customs of married
+people would in good faith offer such an explanation. Rather is it
+tacitly acknowledged by all thinking persons that such married couples
+practice some form of Birth Control, or else commit the crime of
+abortion. All physicians, particularly those who practice in the large
+cities, are fully informed as to the appalling facts concerning the
+prevalence of abortion among the women of the "respectable" classes, and
+are likewise fully informed as to the terrible consequences so
+frequently arising from this criminal course.
+
+The question, then, to many intelligent persons is not so much that of
+"Should contraception be employed in order to avoid excessively large
+families?" as that of "Should not contraception be employed to obviate
+the crime of abortion with its terrible train of consequences?" And the
+Birth Control propaganda which is so vigorously underway in all
+civilized countries may be stated to be designed for the following
+purposes: (1) to replace abortion, and other harmful methods of
+restricting the size of families, with rational and scientific methods
+of contraception; and (2) to supply to married persons the best
+scientific knowledge concerning the regulation of the size of families,
+and the methods of producing the best kind of children, under the best
+conditions, and at the times best adapted for their proper care and
+well-being. These advocates of the Betterment of the Race face the facts
+of human nature and married life fearlessly, instead of trying to cover
+them over with pretty words and sentimental generalities. They take
+"things as they are," and not as certain persons insist that "they
+should be"--they live in a world of facts and try to better things as
+they find them, instead of trying to live in a fool's paradise and
+contenting themselves with denying the existence of the facts which they
+consider "ugly."
+
+Dr. William J. Robinson, one of the leading American workers in the
+field of Birth Control, ably presents the main contention of the Birth
+Control advocates as follows:
+
+"We believe that under any conditions, and particularly under our
+present economic conditions, human beings should be able to control the
+number of our offspring. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE HOW MANY CHILDREN
+THEY WANT TO HAVE, AND WHEN THEY WANT TO HAVE THEM. And to accomplish
+this result we demand that the knowledge of controlling the number of
+offspring, in other and plainer words, the knowledge of preventing
+undesirable conception, should not be considered criminal knowledge,
+that its dissemination should not be considered a criminal offense
+punishable by hard labor in Federal prisons, but that it should be
+considered knowledge useful and necessary to the welfare of the race and
+of the individual; and that its dissemination should be permissible and
+as respectable as is the dissemination of any hygienic, sanitary or
+eugenic knowledge.
+
+"There is no element of force in our teachings; that is, we would not
+force any family to limit the number of children against their will,
+though we would endeavor to create a public opinion which would consider
+it a disgrace for any family to have more children than they can bring
+up and educate properly. We would consider it a disgrace, an anti-social
+act, for any family to bring children into the world which they must
+send out at an early age into the mills, shops, and streets to earn a
+living, or must fall back upon public charity to save them from
+starvation.
+
+"Public opinion is stronger than any laws, and in time people would be
+as much ashamed of having children whom they could not bring up properly
+in every sense of the word, as they are now ashamed of having their
+children turn out criminals. Now, no disgrace can attach to any poor
+family, no matter how many children they have, because they have not got
+the knowledge, because society prevents them from having the knowledge
+of how to limit the number of children. But if that knowledge became
+easily accessible, and people still refused to avail themselves of it,
+then they would properly be considered as anti-social, as criminal
+members of society. As far as couples are concerned who are well-to-do,
+who love children, and who are well capable of taking care of a large
+number, we, that is, we American limitationists, would put no limit. On
+the contrary, we would say: 'God bless you, have as many children as you
+want to; there is plenty of room yet for all of you.'"
+
+Another writer, a celebrated English thinker along these lines, has said
+of the general argument in favor of Birth Control:
+
+"It used to be thought that small families were immoral. We now begin to
+see that it was the large families of old which were immoral. The
+excessive birth-rate of the early industrial period was directly
+stimulated by selfishness. There were no laws against child-labor;
+children were produced that they might be sent out, when little more
+than babies, to the factories and the mines to increase their parents'
+incomes. The diminished birth-rate has accomplished higher moral
+transformation. It has introduced a finer economy into life, diminished
+death, disease, and misery. It is indirectly, and even directly,
+improving the quality of the race. The very fact that children are born
+at longer intervals is not only beneficial to the mother's health, and
+therefore to the children's general welfare, but it has been proved to
+have a marked and prolonged influence on the physical development of
+children.
+
+"Social progress, and a higher civilization, we thus see, involve A
+REDUCED BIRTH-RATE AND A REDUCED DEATH-RATE. The fewer the children
+born, the fewer the risks of death, disease, and misery to the children
+that are born. The fact that civilization involves small families is
+clearly shown by the tendency of the educated and upper social classes
+to have small families. As the proletariat class becomes educated and
+elevated, disciplined to refinement and to foresight--as it were
+aristocratised--it also has small families. Civilizational progress is
+here on a line with biological progress. The lower organisms spawn their
+progeny in thousands, the higher mammals produce but one or two at a
+time. The higher the race, the fewer the offspring.
+
+"Thus diminution in quantity is throughout associated with augmentation
+in quality. Quality rather than quantity is the racial ideal now set
+before us, and it is an ideal which, as we are beginning to learn, it is
+possible to cultivate, both individually and socially. That is why the
+new science of eugenics or racial hygiene is acquiring so immense an
+importance. In the past, racial selection has been carried out crudely
+by the destructive, wasteful, and expensive method of elimination,
+through death. In the future, it will be carried out far more
+effectively by conscious and deliberate selection, exercised not merely
+before birth, but before conception and even before mating. Galton, who
+recognized the futility of mere legislation to elevate the race,
+believed that the hope of the future lay in eugenics becoming a part of
+religion. The good of the race lies, not in the production of a
+super-man, but of a super-humanity. This can only be attained through
+personal individual development, the increase of knowledge, the sense of
+responsibility toward the race, enabling men to act in accordance with
+responsibility. THE LEADERSHIP IN CIVILIZATION BELONGS NOT TO THE NATION
+WITH THE HIGHEST BIRTH-RATE, BUT TO THE NATION WHICH HAS THUS LEARNT TO
+PRODUCE THE FINEST MEN AND WOMEN."
+
+Let us now proceed to a consideration of the special arguments in favor
+of rational and scientific Birth Control as advanced by its leading
+advocates.
+
+The advocates of rational and scientific Birth Control have presented
+the strongest points of their case in their replies to those opposing
+the general idea, and without positively taking the stand that the
+burden of the proof in the argument concerning Birth Control rested upon
+those opposing the idea, have practically assumed that position. They
+claim that the right to Birth Control is so self-evident, and its
+application so generally recognized (though usually sought to be
+smothered with silence) that the case in favor of Birth Control is
+really quite apparent to anyone seriously considering the same without
+prejudice. The opposing side of the question is held by them to be
+represented principally by statements based on prejudice and
+disingenuous statements, which are capable of being turned against those
+advancing them.
+
+And, the present writer, likewise is of the opinion that the strongest
+possible case for Birth Control is presented in the answer to the
+arguments advanced by the opponents thereof. But, before proceeding to
+the latter phase of the argument, it may be well to examine briefly the
+several leading points of argument advanced by the advocates of rational
+and scientific Birth Control, in order to clear the way for the answers
+to the opposite side of the question. The reader is, therefore, invited
+to consider the said points, briefly presented in the following
+paragraphs:
+
+BIRTH CONTROL ENCOURAGES MARRIAGE. The advocates of Birth Control hold
+that a scientific knowledge of contraception would speedily result in a
+large increase of marriages, particularly among persons of limited
+incomes. Persons who have not been able to accumulate the "little nest
+egg" which prudent persons consider a requisite on the part of those
+contemplating marriage and the responsibilities of rearing a family of
+children, are in many cases caused to hesitate about contracting
+marriage, and often relinquish the idea altogether. Many of these
+persons are well adapted for marriage, being of the domestic temperament
+and having the home ideal prominent in their mental makeup.
+
+The increasing number of bachelors and unmarried women past thirty years
+of age, who are in evidence in all large centers of population at the
+present time, is undoubtedly due to a great extent to the fear on the
+part of these men and women regarding the proper support of a family of
+children. Many men and women feel that the man is able to earn enough to
+support himself and wife comfortably, by the exercise of economy, but
+that the said earnings are not sufficient to provide properly for a
+family of children. Some would be willing to have one or two children,
+born after the couple have well established themselves, but are
+appalled at the thought of bringing into the world a practically
+unlimited number of little children for whom they would not be able to
+provide properly.
+
+These people shrink at the idea of abortion, and doubt the efficacy of
+the popular so-called contraceptive methods of which their friends tell
+them, and they either defer the marriage until later in life, or else
+give up the idea altogether as being impossible for them under the
+existing circumstances. A scientific knowledge of the subject would give
+to such persons--and there are many thousands of such--an assurance of
+their ability to safely and properly control and regulate the size of
+their families, and would lead to many a marriage which would otherwise
+be out of the question.
+
+If it is agreed that the marriage state is the one normal to the average
+man and woman, and that marriages are in the interests of society--and
+few would seek to dispute this--then it would seem that anything that
+would tend to encourage marriage among the right kind of persons should
+receive the encouragement of society and be fully protected by the laws
+of society; and that the old prejudice against the subject, and the laws
+which discourage the same, and place a penalty upon the dissemination of
+scientific methods leading to the said result, are unworthy of civilized
+society and modern thought.
+
+EARLIER MARRIAGES AND CURB ON PROSTITUTION. It is generally conceded by
+students of sociology that earlier marriages tend to decrease the causes
+of the evil of prostitution, illicit sexual relations, and general
+sexual morality; and the consequent spread and existence of the venereal
+diseases which have followed in the trail of such relations. And it is
+likewise conceded that prostitution is an evil, and a cancer spot upon
+modern social life, and that venereal diseases constitute a frightful
+menace to the health and physical welfare of the race. Therefore, it
+would seem that anything which would promote early marriages among
+healthy, intelligent young men and women would be a blessing to the race
+and to society. And as these earlier marriages are unquestionably
+prevented in a great number of cases by reasons of the fear of
+inadequate financial support for large families of children, it would
+seem to follow that the best interests of society would be served by the
+encouragement by public opinion, under the protection of the law, of the
+teaching by competent authorities upon the subject of rational and
+scientific methods of Birth Control.
+
+HEALTH OF WIVES. The advocates of Birth Control lay considerable stress
+upon the fact that a scientific knowledge of Birth Control would
+practically obviate the state of broken-down health so common among
+married women, particularly among those who have been compelled to bear
+large numbers of children during the first few years of married life.
+Many a young married woman is in bad health--often reaching the state of
+chronic invalidism--as the result of having had to bear too many
+children, and in too close succession.
+
+Not only is the above the case, but there is to be found on all sides
+many cases of invalidism and shattered health caused by the horrible
+practice of criminal abortion. It is doubted whether anyone outside of
+medical circles can even faintly begin to realize the frequency of this
+practice of abortion among the well-to-do, and those in "comfortable
+circumstances"--not to speak of the countless deaths which arise from
+the prevalence of this curse. Were a physician to even faintly indicate
+the number of cases coming under his personal professional attention, in
+which the patient is suffering from the effects of one or more
+abortions, he would be accused of gross exaggeration, and would be
+condemned as a sensationalist.
+
+Without going into detail concerning these things, the writer states
+that it is a matter of common knowledge among physicians that in every
+large city there are thousands of unscrupulous (including those who call
+themselves physicians) who are kept busy every week in the year
+performing criminal operations designed to produce abortions. Some of
+these practitioners have many regular patients--women who visit them
+regularly for the purpose of having abortions produced by criminal
+operations. It seems almost incredible, but it is a veritable fact, that
+there are to be found many women in the large cities who actually boast
+to their friends of the number of operations of this kind they have had
+performed on them.
+
+Surely, any instruction which would prevent the physical breakdown of so
+many women by reason of excessive child-bearing on the one hand, and
+abortion on the other hand, would seem to be worthy of the hearty
+support of society, and the encouragement of its laws, rather than the
+reverse. So true does this seem, that it is difficult to realize that
+there are any intelligent persons who would condemn such instruction as
+evil and harmful to society. That such persons do exist is a striking
+proof of the persistence of ancient superstitions and the survival and
+tenacity of old prejudices.
+
+MORALITY OF MARRIED MEN. It is a matter of common knowledge among
+physicians, and students of sociology, that many married men,
+particularly those living in the large cities, indulge in extra-marital
+or illicit sexual relations, with prostitutes and other women of loose
+morals, and this not because these men are naturally vicious, depraved
+or licentious, but rather because they fear causing their wives to bear
+them more children--the wives either being in delicate or broken-down
+health, or else the family already too large to be reared properly in
+justice to the children.
+
+Many persons who would see only what "ought to be," and who refuse to
+see "things as they are" in modern society, will be disposed to
+pooh-pooh the above statement, and to accuse those making it to be
+sensational or even morbid on the subject. But those who are brought in
+close contact with men and women, as are family physicians and
+specialists, as well as honest students of sociology, know only too well
+that the above is not an over-statement, but is rather a very
+conservative recital of certain unpleasant, but true, facts of human
+society.
+
+JUSTICE TO THE CHILDREN. The advocates of scientific Birth Control hold
+that a scientific knowledge along the lines favored by them would
+prevent the gross injustice to children which is now only too obvious to
+anyone who candidly considers the matter without prejudice. The child
+brought into the world, unwanted, undesired, unprepared for, and
+unprovided for before and after birth, is handicapped from the very
+start of its existence upon earth. The present state of affairs works a
+terrible injustice upon countless children brought into the world in
+such conditions. Nothing that the present writer could put into words
+would state this fact more concisely and clearly than the following
+statement made by Dr. Wm. J. Robinson, a leading authority along these
+lines, who has said:
+
+"The responsibility of bringing a child into the world under our present
+social and economic conditions is a very great one. The primitive savage
+or the coarse ignorant man does not care. It does not bother him what
+becomes of his offspring; if they get an education, if they have enough
+to eat, if they learn a trade or a profession, well--if they don't,
+also well; if they achieve a competence or a decent social position, he
+is satisfied--if not, he can't help it. God willed it so. But, on the
+other hand, the cultured, refined man and woman look at the matter
+differently. The thought of bringing into the world a human being which
+may be physically handicapped, which may be mentally inferior, which may
+have a hard struggle through life, which may have to go through endless
+misery and suffering, fills them with anguish. * * * * *
+
+"We see about us millions of working men and women who go through life,
+from cradle to grave, without a ray of joy, without anything that makes
+life worth living. In the higher classes we see a constant, hard,
+infuriated struggle to make a living, to make a career, and the spectre
+of poverty is almost as unremittingly before the eyes of the middle and
+professional classes as it is before the eyes of the laborer. And all
+over we see ignorance, superstition, beliefs bordering on insanity,
+hardness, coarseness, rowdyism, brutality, crime and prostitution;
+prostitution of the body, and what is worse, prostitution of the mind,
+the hiding or selling of one's convictions for a mess of pottage. And
+our prisons, asylums, and hospitals are not decreasing, but increasing
+in number and inmates.
+
+"It is my sincerest and deepest conviction that we could accomplish
+incomparably more if only a small part of the energy and money now spent
+on philanthropic efforts were expended in teaching the women, the
+married women of the poor, how to limit the number of their children; in
+other words, how to prevent conception. It would work a wonderful reform
+in the lives of the poor, and our slums would be metamorphosed in ten
+years. * * * It is we who are to blame now for the large families of
+the poor, and for this reason we are morally obligated to give them the
+financial and medical aid that they demand. But when effectual means
+are put into their hands for limiting the number of their offspring,
+then they, and not we, will be to blame if they do not make use of
+them. * * * *
+
+"The rich and the upper-middle classes, those to whom several children
+would be the least burden, are quite familiar with the various means of
+prevention. The poorer middle classes use preventives recommended by
+their friends; these preventives sometimes succeed, sometimes fail, and
+sometimes ruin the woman's health. While the very poor, the
+wage-earners, those who can least afford to have unlimited progeny,
+knowing no means of prevention, go on breeding to their own and to the
+community's detriment. The result, as you can plainly see, is a general
+lowering of the physical and mental stamina of the race. For if the
+cultured and the well-to-do do not breed, or have only a few children,
+while the poor and the ignorant go on having a numerous progeny for
+which they cannot well provide, and which they cannot afford to educate
+properly, it stands to reason that the percentage of the uneducated, the
+unfit and the criminal, must go on constantly increasing. And this is
+something that no lover of humanity can look upon with equanimity."
+
+Surely the above recited special points of argument in favor of Birth
+Control seem to be statements of self-evident facts to the unprejudiced
+mind, do they not? And the person of this kind who considers them
+carefully for the first time usually finds himself wondering what
+rational argument can be fairly urged on the other side of this
+important question. And, when he acquaints himself with the arguments of
+"the other side" he usually finds himself even more established in the
+belief that scientific Birth Control is advisable, sane, and along the
+lines of the mental evolution of the race. At any rate, it is difficult
+to escape the conviction that the burden of proof needed to controvert a
+proposition so nearly self-evident as intelligent and scientific Birth
+Control, must be placed squarely upon the shoulders of those opposing
+the proposition.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON XIII
+
+THE ARGUMENT AGAINST BIRTH CONTROL
+
+
+The argument against Birth Control, urged by those who are opposed to
+the dissemination of scientific information on the subject, may be
+reduced to a few general points. These points of objection I shall now
+state, together with the rejoinder to each as given by the advocates of
+the proposition. I think that these points cover the main argument
+advanced against Birth Control, and I shall endeavor to state them as
+fully and as fairly as possible.
+
+OPPOSED TO RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS. One of the most common arguments
+advanced against Birth Control is the one which holds that the idea is
+opposed to religious teachings. The statement, however, is usually made
+in a vague general way, the charge of "irreligious" being hurled without
+explanation, and usually without any attempt to show any proof of the
+accusation.
+
+As a matter of fact, as the advocates of Birth Control have pointed out,
+there is nothing whatsoever in the New Testament which in fairness may
+be construed as indicating Birth Control as sinful; in fact, it has been
+frequently asserted by authorities on the subject that there is nothing
+to be found in either the Old Testament or the New Testament which
+directly or indirectly prohibits the limitation of offspring, or which
+encourages the production of an unlimited number of children regardless
+of all other conditions.
+
+Nor do the majority of the various religious denominations seem to have
+in their statements of doctrine and living anything in the nature of
+prohibition along the lines indicated above. It is true, however, that
+the Roman Catholic Church does quite positively, and vigorously,
+condemn and prohibit the use of contraceptive methods among its members;
+and I have been informed that its priests place such methods in the
+category of methods producing abortion, both being regarded as
+practically identical with infanticide. I have been informed, however,
+that in this Church the restriction of marital relations to certain
+periods of the month in which conception is held to be not so likely to
+be effected, with abstinence at other periods, is a method of limiting
+offspring that does not come under the ban, particularly if there be a
+reasonable excuse offered for the desire to limit the size of the
+family; though, as a rule, even such method is frowned upon unless the
+reasonable excuse be forthcoming.
+
+In the case of members of the Catholic Church--and these only--there may
+seem to be warrant for the objection to Birth Control as "contrary to
+religion," it being assumed that the teachings and rules of the Church
+constitute the true measure of "religion." To such there is, of course,
+only one answer, and that is that if the teaching or practice of Birth
+Control methods be held by them to be "contrary to religion" (according
+to their definition of "religion") then they have merely to adhere to
+the said religious teachings, and to refuse to learn anything about
+Birth Control. The matter undoubtedly is one entirely for the exercise
+of their own judgment and conscience. There is no desire on the part of
+the advocates of Birth Control to insist that such people must limit the
+size of their families--or for that matter that there is any "must"
+about it for anyone whatsoever.
+
+But we must not lose sight of the fact that the laws and customs of
+society in general are not based upon, or bound up with, the teachings
+and rules of this particular Church. On the contrary, particularly in
+the instance of Marriage and Divorce, many of our customs sanctioned by
+our laws permit and sanction things which are not countenanced or
+approved of by the Church in question. But just as persons outside of
+that Church are in no way bound by the teachings or rules thereof in the
+matter of Marriage and Divorce, so are they in no way bound by the
+teachings and rules of the said Church concerning the limitation of the
+size of families. The Church in question does not regard "civil
+marriages" as true marriages at all--yet our laws, and general public
+opinion, countenance such marriages; and it is extremely probable that
+within a comparatively short time the status of Birth Control will
+likewise manifest the same conflict between State and Church. But just
+as no Catholic is COMPELLED to accept or practice civil marriage, so no
+Catholic will be compelled to accept or practice Birth Control.
+
+Religion is entirely a matter of individual belief and faith, and binds
+no one not agreeing with its precepts. There is no union of Church and
+State in this country, or in most other modern civilized countries; and
+we are not under the jurisdiction of the Church in matters of conscience
+or conduct, unless we voluntarily so place ourselves under such
+jurisdiction and control. The argument that Birth Control which is based
+upon the assertion that it is opposed to the edicts or dogmas of some
+particular Church organization, is found to be no true argument for the
+reasons given above; and such argument must be dismissed as fallacious
+by those who base their judgments and conduct upon the dictates of
+science, reason, and common-sense, rather than upon the dogmas or
+decrees of any Church organization. The answer to those who urge that
+"Birth Control is contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church" is:
+"Well, what of it? if you are not a Catholic!"
+
+The force of the above objection to Birth Control becomes important when
+we find that those who are opposed to Birth Control merely because their
+Church condemns it do not content themselves with letting alone the
+subject, but would also endeavor to fasten the rule of their Church upon
+the rest of society. While such persons are undoubtedly acting in good
+faith, and inspired by motives which seem good to them, they should stop
+to remember that general society refuses to accept the rules of their
+Church in the matter of Marriage and Divorce, and is likely to refuse a
+like attempt to fasten upon it the rules of the Church in the case of
+Birth Control. The general public, here and in the first mentioned
+cases, will insist upon entering a plea of "LACK OF JURISDICTION."
+
+In the cases of persons outside of the Church in question who may
+consider Birth Control to be contrary to their religious convictions and
+teachings, there is to be made the same answer given above, namely, that
+the advocates of Birth Control are not trying to force anything upon
+those who entertain such religious or conscientious scruples--they would
+leave such persons free to follow the dictates of their own conscience
+or the religious teachings favored by them. But at the same time they
+would demand the legal and moral right to follow the dictates of their
+own conscience and reason, and would insist upon their right to receive
+legal protection for the dissemination of their scientific teachings.
+All that the advocates of Birth Control are claiming is the right of
+free speech and free knowledge concerning this subject which they deem
+concerned with the future progress and well-being of the race.
+
+The argument against Birth Control which is based upon the claim that it
+is "irreligious," arises from the general tradition based upon the
+Hebrew conception of a Deity who bade the legendary first families of
+the race to "increase and multiply." According to the scriptural
+narrative this authoritative command was addressed to a world inhabited
+by eight people. From such a point of view a world's population of a few
+thousand persons would have seemed inconceivably great. But the old
+legendary command has become a tradition which has survived amid
+conditions totally unlike those under which it arose.
+
+Under this old traditionary conception reproduction was regarded as a
+process in which men's minds and wills had no part. To those holding it,
+knowledge of Nature was still too imperfect for the recognition of the
+fact that the whole course of the world's natural history has been an
+erection of barrier against wholesale and indiscriminate reproduction.
+Thus it came about that under the old dispensation, which is now forever
+passing away, to have as many children as possible and to have them as
+often as possible--providing that certain ritual prescriptions were
+fulfilled--seemed to be a religious duty.
+
+Today the conditions have altogether altered, and even our own feelings
+have altered. We no longer feel with the ancient Hebrew who bequeathed
+his ideals, though not his practices, to Christendom, that to have as
+many wives and concubines and as large a family as possible is both
+natural and virtuous and in the best interests of religion. We realize,
+moreover, that such claimed Divine Commands were the expression of the
+prophets and rulers of the people to whom they were addressed, and in
+accordance with the ideals concerning race-betterment which were held by
+these self-constituted authorities.
+
+To the educated men and women of today, it is seen that these ideals of
+human-betterment (no longer imposed upon the people under the guise of
+Divine Commands, but rather by an appeal to their reason and judgment)
+are no longer based upon the sanctification of the impulse of the
+moment, but rather involve restraint of the impulse of the moment as
+taught by the lessons of foresight and regard for the future which the
+race has received. We no longer believe that we are divinely ordered to
+be reckless, or that God commands us to have children who, as we
+ourselves know, are fatally condemned to disease or premature death.
+Matters which we formerly believed to be regulated only by Providence,
+are now seen to be properly regulated by the providence, prudence,
+foresight, and self-restraint of men themselves. These characteristics
+are those of moral men, and those persons who lack these characteristics
+are condemned by our social order to be reckoned among the dregs of
+mankind. Our social order is one in which the sphere of procreation
+could not be reached or maintained by the systematic control of
+offspring.
+
+More and more is Religion perceived to be more than a mere matter of the
+observance of certain ritual and ceremonies, or the belief in certain
+dogmas. More and more is true religion seen to be vitally concerned and
+bound up with the relations of man to man, and the welfare of society in
+general. More and more is it being perceived that anything which is
+decidedly anti-social, or opposed to the best interests of
+human-betterment, is not truly "religious," no matter how sanctified by
+tradition, or bound up with ritual and ceremonies it may be.
+
+The spirit of modern Christianity is seen to consist of two fundamental
+principles, viz.: (1) the love of God; and (2) the Golden Rule. The
+conscientious Christian who uses head and heart in harmony and unison,
+cannot avoid the conclusion that the avoidance of the bringing into the
+world of offspring destined by social and economic conditions to
+misery, poverty, and sin, is more in accordance with the true spirit of
+Christianity than opposed to it--the ancient dogmas and traditions of
+the Church to the contrary notwithstanding. Modern religion is based
+upon Reason as well as upon Faith, and it is safe to predict the time
+when Birth Control will not only be sanctioned by "religion," but also
+encouraged by it.
+
+IS IT IMMORAL? Akin to the objection urged against Birth Control on the
+score of conflict with religious teachings, we find the one which states
+that "it is IMMORAL." Morality means "quality of an action which renders
+it right or good; right conduct." Right conduct or "good" action depends
+upon the effect of the conduct or action upon the individual, other
+individuals, or society in general. The standards of morality, right
+conduct, and good actions have changed from time to time in the history
+of the race, and are not fixed. Reason teaches that that which is for
+the benefit of the individual and the race is and must be "moral," and
+that which is harmful to the individual and the race is and must be
+"immoral."
+
+As to whether Birth Control is helpful or harmful to the individual and
+the race--moral or immoral--the individual student of the question must
+decide for himself after having given the subject careful and
+unprejudiced consideration. The advocates of Birth Control hold that
+every fair argument and consideration of the question must bring the
+unprejudiced person to the conviction that the ideals advanced by them
+are in the direction of the betterment of the race, and the increased
+happiness of the individuals composing the race. If such be the case,
+then Birth Control must be regarded as positively "moral" in character
+and principles, and its teachings directly in the interests of
+"morality."
+
+So true is the above statement that every argument of the advocates of
+Birth Control is based upon the assumption of its "morality," in the
+sense of making for human betterment. If it be shown that the teachings
+are in anywise "immoral," in the sense indicated, then no one would be
+quicker to condemn them than the intelligent and conscientious advocate
+of Birth Control, for the reason that his whole case is based upon the
+inherent "morality" of his ideals.
+
+Any one who has made a careful and unprejudiced study of the subject of
+Birth Control will discard the idea that a tendency so deeply rooted in
+Nature as is Birth Control can ever be in opposition to morality. It can
+only be so held as contrary to morality when men confuse the eternal
+principles of morality, whatever they may be, with their temporary
+applications, which are always becoming modified in adaptation to
+changing circumstances.
+
+The old ideals of morality placed the whole question of procreation
+under the authority (after God) of men. Women were in subjection to men,
+and had no right of freedom, no right to responsibility, no right to
+knowledge, for, it was believed, if they were entrusted with any of
+these they would abuse them at once. This view prevails even today in
+some civilized countries, and middle-aged Italian parents, for instance,
+will not allow their daughters to be conducted by a man even to Mass,
+for they believe that as soon as they are out of their sight they will
+be unchaste. That is their morality.
+
+Our morality today is different. It is inspired by different ideas, and
+aims at a different practice. We are by no means disposed to rate highly
+the morality of a girl who is only chaste so long as she is under her
+parents' eyes; for us, indeed, that is much more like immorality than
+morality. We, today, wish women to be reasonably free; we wish them to
+be trained in a sense of responsibility for their own actions; we wish
+them to possess knowledge, more especially in the sphere of sex, once
+theoretically opposed to them, which we now recognize as peculiarly
+their own domain.
+
+Our ideal woman today is not she who is deprived of freedom and
+knowledge in the cloister, even though only the cloister of her own
+home; but rather the woman who being instructed from early life in the
+facts of sexual physiology and sexual hygiene, is also trained to
+exercise judgment, will, self-restraint, and self-responsibility, and
+able and worthy to be trusted to follow the path which is right
+according to the highest ideals of the society of which she is a part.
+That is the only kind of morality which now seems to us to be worth
+while.
+
+And, as any unprejudiced intelligent person is forced to admit, there is
+nothing in the policy of scientific Birth Control to run contrary to
+such an ideal of moral womanhood.
+
+But the relation of Birth Control to morality is, however, by no means a
+question which concerns women alone. It equally concerns men. Here we
+have to recognize, not only that the exercise of control over
+procreation enables a man to form a marriage of faithful devotion with
+the woman of his choice at an earlier age than would otherwise be
+possible, but it further enables him, throughout the whole of his
+married life, to continue such relationship under circumstances which
+might otherwise render them injurious or else undesirable to his wife.
+
+That the influence exerted by a general knowledge of scientific methods
+of Birth Control would suffice to entirely abolish prostitution it is
+foolish to maintain, although it would undoubtedly tend to decrease the
+social evil. And even the partial elimination of prostitution would be
+in the interests of general morality, not only in the direction of
+lessening the brutal demand of women to serve in the ranks of
+prostitution, but also in many other ways of importance to society as a
+whole. The decrease of venereal disease would follow a decrease in
+prostitution caused by a general knowledge and practice of scientific
+methods of Birth Control on the part of married people; and it must be
+remembered that venereal disease spreads far beyond the patrons of
+prostitution and is a perpetual menace to others who may become innocent
+victims. And any influence that serves to decrease prostitution and the
+spread of venereal disease, must be placed in the category of "moral,"
+and certainly not in the opposite one.
+
+The objection is frequently heard that the general knowledge of
+scientific methods of contraception would lead to increased illicit
+relations among unmarried persons, particularly among the young people.
+This argument is apparently based upon the belief, or fear, that the
+fear of conception is the only thing which prevents many persons from
+indulging in illicit relations. It assumes that a large portion of our
+womankind are chaste simply because of fear of pregnancy; and that this
+fear once removed these women would at once plunge into such relations.
+In other words, it assumes that mentally and in spirit these women are
+already unchaste, but are restrained from physical unchastity by reason
+of the fear of conception.
+
+The answer of the advocates of Birth Control takes direct issue with the
+above contention. On the contrary, it asserts that the chastity of our
+women is the result of their general training, education, heredity,
+observance of the accepted customs and standards of their community,
+religious and moral training, etc. The woman who is chaste simply
+through fear, usually manages to allay that fear in one way or another,
+often by mistaken methods which work great harm to the woman and the
+community in general. The general knowledge of scientific contraceptive
+methods might result in such women manifesting their inclinations and
+desires in a "safer" manner, but this "safety" would not consist of
+protection against conception (for that they already think they have)
+but rather of a protection against the dangers of abortion and similar
+evil practices.
+
+Some of the writers go further in this matter, as for instance Dr.
+Robinson, who says: "If some women are bound to have illicit relations,
+is it not better that they should know the use of scientific preventives
+than that they should become pregnant, disgracing and ostracising
+themselves, and their families; or that they should subject themselves
+to the degradation and risks of an abortion; or failing this, take
+carbolic acid or bichloride, jump into the river, or throw themselves
+under the wheels of a running train?"
+
+The objection to Birth Control on the ground that it would increase
+illicit relations among men and women by means of removing the fear of
+physical consequences, seems to many careful thinkers to be akin to the
+old objection (now happily passing away) to the dissemination of the
+knowledge of the treatment of venereal diseases, and to the public cure
+of such diseases, on the ground that by so doing a part of the fear
+concerning illicit relations was removed, and thereby illicit relations
+actually encouraged. The result of this fallacious argument was the
+enormous spread of venereal diseases, to the great hurt of the race; and
+the encouragement of quacks and charlatans who fattened on the gains
+received from the sufferers from this class of complaints. The argument
+against Birth Control on similar grounds will be seen to be equally
+fallacious, and capable of equally evil consequences, if the matter be
+fairly and carefully considered.
+
+Illicit relations, if prevented or regulated at all by society, must be
+so regulated or prevented by other means than fear of conception. Such
+fear, though it may deter for a short time, will usually be overcome in
+time if the desire and temptation remain sufficiently strong. It is
+doubtful whether any considerable number of women remain chaste for any
+length of time simply by reason of fear of conception. If such fear be
+the only remaining deterring factor, it will usually be swept away in
+time under continued temptation, opportunity, and desire. Chastity and
+virtue must have a far more solid foundation than such fear; and
+experience repeatedly shows that such fear is but as shifting sand
+sought to be employed as a foundation for the structure of chastity.
+
+There is no reason whatsoever for believing that the scientific
+knowledge of contraceptive methods, if generally possessed by married
+people under the sanction of the law and society, would result in any
+more cases of illicit relations than exist at the present time. It
+might, it is true, result in less evil consequences of such relations in
+some cases, as Dr. Robinson has so clearly pointed out in the above
+quotation; but the relations in such cases would exist in either event.
+Fear of conception, like fear of infection, has never, and will never
+entirely prevent illicit relations between men and women; and to oppose
+scientific information in the one case on these grounds, is as futile as
+to oppose scientific treatment in the other case on the same grounds.
+And when it is considered how society in general is injured by the
+withholding of such information or treatment, respectively, the argument
+in favor of such suppression of scientific truth and method is seen to
+be actually dangerous to society and sub-service of the public good.
+
+I would like to add a few words concerning the question of morality in
+the matter of practicing scientific Birth Control. To me what I shall
+say in the succeeding paragraphs of this chapter have a vital bearing on
+the whole subject, and should be taken into serious consideration by the
+fair-minded and conscientious student of the subject. Here follows my
+thought in the matter:
+
+In my consideration of the arguments against scientific Birth Control I
+am impressed with one particular thought which refuses to be silenced,
+but which insists upon persistently presenting itself to my
+consciousness. This particular thought may be expressed as follows: It
+is admitted by unprejudiced students of the subject that the educated
+and cultured portions of the civilized countries of modern times do
+actually practice, to some extent, in some form, manner, or degree, the
+limitation of offspring--no honest observer will dispute this statement.
+This being so, does it not seem that the race should fairly and
+squarely, honestly and frankly, face this question and decide whether or
+not such rules of conduct are "right" or "wrong"--"moral" or
+"immoral"--and to what extent, if any, they should be permitted or
+encouraged to be practiced toward the ends of individual and race
+happiness and betterment.
+
+If the decision is totally against this rule of conduct, then it should
+be vigorously denounced, and all honest people should refrain from it.
+If, on the contrary, the decision should be that this mode of conduct,
+or some phases of it, are justified, then, in the name of Honesty and
+Truth, let us turn on the full light of general information, knowledge,
+and instruction on the subject, under the full protection of the laws
+and public opinion. Why should we not throw aside the mask of cowardly
+hypocrisy, and stand before the world showing ourselves as just what we
+really are?
+
+My thought, in essence, is that the chief "wrong," and "immorality"
+about the whole matter consists in our present practice of doing one
+thing in private, and condemning the same thing in public. There can be
+no excuse, to the intellectually honest person at least, for the course
+of tacitly holding that a certain thing is "all right for us," while
+"all wrong for the other folks."
+
+IS IT INJURIOUS TO HEALTH? It is sometimes urged against Birth Control
+that the use of contraceptive methods is injurious to the health of
+women, in some cases a long list of physical and mental ills being given
+as possible of being caused by such methods. Opposed to this is the
+contention of the members of the medical profession who have arrayed
+themselves on the side of scientific Birth Control. The latter
+authorities positively contradict the assertion that women's health is
+injured by the practice of rational and scientific methods of Birth
+Control; although these authorities freely admit, in fact they CLAIM,
+that certain unscientific methods and practices popular among certain
+persons--such as the use of certain chemicals and mechanical
+appliances--undoubtedly have resulted in physical harm, and they
+strongly advise against the use of such bunglesome methods.
+
+One of the leading medical advocates of scientific Birth Control in the
+United States throws down the gauntlet squarely before those of his
+profession, and others, who urge this objection to scientific Birth
+Control, in the following challenging words: "I challenge any physician,
+any gynecologist, to bring forth A SINGLE AUTHENTICATED CASE in which
+disease or injury resulted from the use of modern methods of prevention.
+I know they cannot do it." And others in the ranks of the medical
+profession have made similar assertions and claims. The unprejudiced
+person who will consult the best medical authorities on the subject will
+unquestionably agree that the best medical opinion of the day holds that
+scientific Birth Control is not in fairness to be open to this
+objection.
+
+IS BIRTH CONTROL UNNATURAL? Another favorite argument of the opponents
+of scientific Birth Control is the broad statement and claim that "all
+voluntary attempts to limit procreation are unnatural," and therefore
+wrong. This objection, while usually offered without any particular
+argument, explanation, or proof, must be carefully and honestly met and
+answered by the fair-minded advocate of Birth Control.
+
+In the first place, it may as well be admitted that regulation,
+restriction, or control of the procreative functions by application of
+the intellect or reasoning processes IS unnatural, in the sense of not
+being indicated by Nature and enforced through the instinctive actions
+of the race. The only instinct which primitive man seems to have had in
+this case (and these he held in common with the lower animals) was that
+of free and unlimited sexual intercourse, in response to his instinctive
+desires, with this exception (and this exception should be carefully
+noted), i. e.: that the male respected the instinctive disinclination to
+cohabit during the period in which the woman was pregnant, and often
+also during the period in which she nursed her infant. This instinct,
+unhappily for the race, the "civilized" man has overridden until it has
+practically ceased to manifest its voice.
+
+The lower animals, obeying this primitive instinct, do not manifest
+violation of this law of Nature. On the contrary, the female will not
+allow the male to approach her at such times, and will fight savagely at
+any attempt to violate this instinctive law of her nature. The male
+usually recognizes the existence of this law, and makes no attempt to
+violate it, but should he attempt the same he is defeated by the female
+as above stated. It has remained for Man alone to override and violate,
+and to eventually render nul and void this wise instinctive provision of
+Nature.
+
+But beyond this there is no "natural," instinctive regulation of the
+sexual activities of animal or man, other than the desires of the male
+and female. If civilized man adhered wholly to the "natural" in this
+respect, he would obey the voice of instinct alone, and would show
+reason and intellect the door in such matters, and would also bid
+defiance to all legal or ecclesiastical authority when it sought to
+"control" his activities along these lines. But, it is needless to say,
+such is not the case. Not only has the Law of the Church insisted upon
+certain "control" of these matters--as witness the laws against
+adultery, illicit relations, incest, bastardy, etc.--but man, himself,
+has asserted a greater and still greater voluntary control over the
+reproductive functions as he has risen in the scale of civilization and
+culture.
+
+Today it is only the lowest and least cultured classes of society who
+(to use the expressive but somewhat inelegant term) persist in "breeding
+like pigs." All other classes exercise a greater or less degree of
+"control" of some kind in the matter of limitation of offspring. In
+making this broad assertion I, of course, have in mind not only the
+modern methods urged by the advocates of scientific contraception, but
+also the "control" and regulation observed by married persons in either
+total abstinence from the marital relations for a stated time, or else
+the abstinence from such relations during certain portions of the lunar
+month, the latter method (somewhat uncertain, however, in its efficacy
+in some cases) being apparently favored by certain ecclesiastical
+authorities as the "only moral" method.
+
+In view of the above facts, which might be enlarged and extended if
+necessary, it is seen that as soon as man rises above the level of the
+beast or savage--as soon as he begins to manifest culture and
+civilization--he begins to exercise a certain "control" over the
+procreative FUNCTION, and in the direction of the limitation of the
+size of his family of offspring. The contention of the modern advocates
+of scientific Birth Control is that the "new ideas" on the subject are
+simply a natural and inevitable evolution from the degrees of "control"
+which man has exercised since the time he emerged from savagery. The
+later developments are no more "unnatural" than the earlier--nor the
+accepted methods and forms any more "natural" than those which are now
+opposed by the more conservative elements of society.
+
+When anyone begins to talk about things being "natural" or "unnatural,"
+respectively, he should tread softly and watch his steps carefully. For
+at every step he treads upon instances of "unnatural" modes and methods
+of living. Strictly speaking, it is "unnatural" to wear clothes, or to
+cook food, or to live in houses, or to ride in conveyances or on
+horseback. All of these things have been evolved by the use of intellect
+and reason, and are not instinctive or "natural" to man. Birds build
+nests, wasps build shelter, hornets build homes, bees build honey-combs,
+worms build cocoons, snails build shells--all by instinct and
+"naturally"--and the young of such species do not have to be TAUGHT how
+to do these things. But the young of the human race requires to be
+taught such things as above mentioned as having been evolved by man in
+the course of his rise from savagery--instinct will not do it for them.
+And all of these things outside the plane of instinct, and within the
+plane of intellect, cannot be called "natural" in the strict sense of
+the term.
+
+You think that I am exaggerating the matter, perhaps. Well, then, I ask
+you to consider the meaning of the two terms which I have employed so
+freely in the foregoing paragraphs: First, let us consider the term,
+"NATURAL"; we find it defined as "FIXED OR DETERMINED BY NATURE, AND,
+THEREFORE, ACCORDING TO NATURE, AND NOT ARTIFICIAL, ASSUMED, OR
+ACQUIRED." Next, let us consider the term, "INSTINCT"; we find it
+defined as "NATURAL IMPULSE, OR UNCONSCIOUS, INVOLUNTARY, OR UNREASONING
+PROMPTING TO ANY ACTION." It will be seen, accordingly, that merely the
+most elemental and primitive activities of man are "natural" in this
+sense; and that all his acquired activities and methods are "not
+natural."
+
+The activities of man which are in the "not natural" class may be either
+desirable for the individual and the race, or else undesirable for both.
+Therefore, it will be seen, all such activities must be subjected to the
+test of reason and experience in order to determine whether they are in
+the best interests of the individual and the race, or else opposed to
+these. This is the only sane method of testing the validity and
+desirability of such things--Birth Control among the others. The claim
+of "not natural," if applied at all, must be extended to ALL things
+which are not strictly "natural" or instinctive--it is casuistical to
+apply the term in reproach to certain things and to withhold it from
+others in the same general class.
+
+
+
+
+LESSON XIV
+
+RACE SUICIDE
+
+
+A favorite argument of certain opponents of scientific Birth Control is
+that such teachings and modes of conduct tend toward Race Suicide, and
+the consequent weakening and final destruction of the human race by
+means of "bleeding it white" by draining from it its normal supply of
+children. Those who hold this view argue that if Birth Control methods
+become popular, and sanctioned by the law and public opinion, then the
+race will eventually die out and disappear from the face of the earth.
+Some vary the argument by insisting that those nations favoring Birth
+Control would suffer decline and gradual extinction at the hands of
+other nations opposed to scientific methods of regulating the number and
+frequency of offspring. This is a serious charge against Birth Control,
+which if proved would probably serve to array all right-thinking persons
+against it.
+
+But the advocates of Birth Control seriously and positively controvert
+and deny the validity and truth of this argument. On the contrary they
+claim that scientific Birth Control would not only keep up the
+population of all countries, or any country, to a normal standard
+proportionate to its ability to sustain properly such population, but
+will also act to render that population stronger and better, physically,
+mentally and morally, and far more efficient in every way owing to
+improved quality of the stock. The first requisite is met by THE
+REDUCTION OF THE DEATH RATE to meet the decreasing birth-rate; and the
+second requisite is met by the improvement of the stock by proper
+rearing and training made possible by the decreased size of the average
+family. BIRTH CONTROL SERVES TO ELIMINATE THE WASTE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE
+INFANT MORTALITY, and to thus fully counterbalance the decreased birth
+rate.
+
+The advocates of Birth Control assert that the natural instinct of
+parenthood, the love of children, and the desire for offspring and the
+perpetuation of the family name and stock, are too firmly rooted and
+grounded in human nature to be seriously affected by such knowledge and
+practice on the part of the race. They point to the fact that in many
+families in which intelligent modes of Birth Control are favored, and in
+which the size of the family has been limited to a few children, the
+children are, as a rule, better cared for and provided for, better
+reared and better educated, than in the case of families in which
+children are brought into the world without thought or reason, and
+without the possibility of proper care and rearing. Birth Control, say
+its advocates, will not do away with children, but will merely regulate
+their number to rational limits, and at appropriate intervals between
+births. Moreover, it is claimed, that while the birth-rate in such
+families may be smaller, THE DEATH-RATE IS ALSO SMALLER. And, at the
+last, it is the number of children that SURVIVE that counts with the
+race, not those who merely are BORN.
+
+The fact that many persons consult physicians for a cure for sterility,
+and go to great trouble and expense to further the bearing of children,
+and the fact many childless couples adopt children rather than to have a
+childless home, are evidence of the fact that there is no danger of the
+parental instinct dying out. It is the experience of physicians
+generally that the patients who desire information regarding scientific
+contraceptive methods are usually those who already have as many
+children as they can well take care of, and not those who wish to escape
+parenthood in toto.
+
+We are constantly reminded that the size of the average family is much
+smaller than it was a hundred years ago--but still the race is rapidly
+increasing, owing to the decreased death-rate resulting from a better
+knowledge of hygiene and medicine. Moreover, it is positively asserted
+that the "old time large family" frequently had one father but several
+mothers--the husband marrying several times in order to replace with a
+new life the old wife who had broken down and died from overwork and
+excessive childbearing.
+
+It is claimed that in Holland, in which Birth Control is recognized by
+law, and where it is legally sanctioned and even encouraged among those
+who are not able to support large families, statistics show that the
+population is increasing more rapidly than before, owing to the
+decreased mortality of infants and young children arising from the
+better care of those who are born.
+
+Dr. Robinson says on this point: "Here we have a whole country, Holland,
+in which the prevention of conception is legally sanctioned, in which
+the use of preventives is practically universal--and is this country
+dying out? On the contrary, it is increasing more rapidly than before,
+because we have this remarkable and gratifying phenomenon to bear in
+mind, that WHEREVER THE BIRTH-RATE GOES DOWN, THE DEATH RATE GOES DOWN
+PARI PASSU, OR EVEN TO A STILL GREATER DEGREE. This can be proven by
+statistics from almost every country in the world. For instance, in 1910
+the birth-rate in Holland was 32, and the mortality 18; in 1912 the
+birth-rate fell to 28, but then the mortality rate fell still lower,
+namely to 12, so we see an actual gain in population, instead of a loss.
+And the physical constitution of the people has been improving * * *.
+And in New Zealand, where the sale of contraceptives is practically
+free, the birth rate is now 20, and the mortality rate is 10. Does that
+look like race suicide? On the contrary, there is a steady increase at
+the rate of ten per cent, while sickness and death of children, with
+their attendant economic and emotional waste, are reduced to a minimum."
+
+Not only are the children of small families as a rule better cared for,
+from economic reasons easy to discern, but it is also a fact that the
+health of the mothers is far better, and consequently the health of the
+children when born is better than the average. One has but to look
+around him upon the families who boast of having had eight, ten, and
+twelve children born to them, to see what a frightful average percentage
+of deaths of infants and young children is present, and which brings
+down the number of the survivors.
+
+Dr. Alice Hamilton, in "The Bulletin of the American Academy of
+Medicine," for May, 1910, reports that she has investigated the families
+of 1,600 wage workers, and found the following death rate per 1,000
+birth among them, viz.:
+
+    Families of 4 children and less  118 deaths per 1,000 births
+    Families of 6 children           267 deaths per 1,000 births
+    Families of 7 children           280 deaths per 1,000 births
+    Families of 8 children           291 deaths per 1,000 births
+    Families of 9 children or more   303 deaths per 1,000 births
+
+Dr. Hamilton sums up her investigation as follows:
+
+"OUR STUDY OF THE POORER WORKING CLASS SHOWS THAT CHILD MORTALITY
+INCREASES PROPORTIONATELY AS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN INCREASE, UNTIL WE
+HAVE A DEATH RATE IN FAMILIES OF 8 CHILDREN AND OVER WHICH IS TWO AND A
+HALF TIMES AS GREAT AS THAT IN FAMILIES OF 4 CHILDREN AND OVER."
+
+The facts above mentioned, and other facts of the same nature which will
+be disclosed in the progress of our consideration of the matter in the
+present book, have evidently been overlooked, deliberately or otherwise,
+by the fanatics in this country and in Europe who have been preaching to
+the people that a falling birth-rate means a decaying nation. Careful
+students of sociology now dismiss altogether the statement so often
+made that a falling birth-rate means "an old and decaying community."
+The Germans for years have contemptuously been making this remark about
+France, but today they have been forced to recognize an unexpected
+vitality in the French, while, in fact, their own birth-rate has been
+falling more rapidly than that of France.
+
+Nor is it true that a falling birth-rate means a falling population. The
+French birth-rate has been steadily falling for a number of years, yet
+the French population has been steadily increasing all the time, though
+less rapidly than it would had not the death-rate been abnormally high.
+It is not the number of babies born that counts, but the net result in
+surviving children. An enormous number of babies are born in China; but
+an enormous number die while still babies. So that it is better to have
+a few babies of good quality than a large number of indifferent quality,
+for the falling birth-rate is more than compensated by the falling
+death-rate. In England, as the statistics show, while the birth-rate is
+steadily falling, the population has been steadily growing.
+
+Small families and a falling death-rate are not merely no evil--they are
+a positive good. They are a gain for humanity. They represent an
+evolutionary rise in Nature and a higher stage in civilization. We are
+here in the presence of a great fundamental principle of progress which
+has been working through life from the beginning.
+
+At the beginning of life on the earth, reproduction ran riot. Of one
+minute organism it is estimated that, if its reproduction were not
+checked by death or destruction, in thirty days it would form a mass a
+million times larger than the sun. The conger-eel lays fifteen million
+eggs, and if they all grew up, and reproduced themselves on the same
+scale, in two years the whole sea would become a wriggling mass of eels.
+As we approach the higher forms of life, reproduction gradually dies
+down. The animals nearest to man produce few offspring, but they
+surround them with parental care, until they are able to lead
+independent lives with a fair chance of surviving. The whole process may
+be regarded as a mechanism for slowly subordinating quantity to quality,
+and to promoting the evolution of life to even higher stages.
+
+This process, which is plain to see on the largest scale throughout
+living nature, may be more minutely studied, as it acts within a
+narrower range, in the human species. Here we statistically formulate it
+in the terms of birth-rate and death-rate; by the mutual relationship of
+the two courses of the birth-rate and death-rate we are able to estimate
+the evolutionary rank of a nation, and the degree in which it has
+succeeded in subordinating the primitive standard of quantity to the
+higher and later standard of quality.
+
+Especially in Europe we can investigate this relationship by the help of
+statistics which in some cases extend back for nearly a century. We can
+trace the various phases through which each nation passes, the effects
+of prosperity, the influence of education and sanitary improvement, the
+general complex development of civilization, in each case moving
+forward, though not regularly and steadily, to higher stages by means of
+a falling birth-rate, which is to some extent compensated by a falling
+death-rate, the two rates nearly always running parallel, so that a
+temporary rise in the birth-rate is usually accompanied by a rise in the
+death-rate, by a return, that is to say, towards the conditions which we
+find at the beginning of animal life, and a steady fall in the
+birth-rate is always accompanied by a fall in the death-rate.
+
+It is thus clear that the birth-rate combined with the death-rate
+constitutes a delicate instrument for the measurement of civilization,
+and that the record of their combined curves registers the upward or
+downward course of every nation. The curves, as we know, tend to be
+parallel, and when they are not parallel we are in the presence of a
+rare and abnormal state of things which is usually temporary or
+transitional.
+
+A study of the statistics of European countries furnishes us with
+evidence of the facts above stated. It is instructive to perceive how
+closely the birth-rate and the death-rate of the several European
+countries agree. It is perceived that THE EIGHT COUNTRIES OF EUROPE
+WHICH REGISTER THE HIGHEST BIRTH-RATE ARE THE IDENTICAL COUNTRIES
+REGISTERING THE HIGHEST DEATH-RATE. This is as might be expected, for a
+very high birth-rate seems fatally to involve a very high death-rate.
+The study of the following table may prove interesting--it certainly is
+instructive. In the following table the European countries having the
+highest birth-rate are stated in the order of rank according to size of
+such rate; and the countries having the heaviest death-rate are stated
+in the order of their rank in size of such rate:
+
+    Highest European Birth-Rate.   Highest European Death-Rate.
+
+             Russia.                         Russia.
+             Roumania.                       Roumania.
+             Bulgaria.                       Hungary.
+             Serbia.                         Bulgaria.
+             Hungary.                        Spain.
+             Italy.                          Serbia.
+             Austria.                        Austria.
+             Spain.                          Italy.
+
+Moreover, Japan, with a rather high birth-rate, has the same death-rate
+as Spain; and Chile, with a still higher birth-rate, has a higher death
+rate than Russia. So, we see, that among human peoples we find the same
+laws prevailing as among animals, and the higher nations of the world
+differ from those which are less highly evolved precisely as the
+elephant differs from the herring, though within a narrower range, that
+is to say, BY PRODUCING FEWER OFFSPRING AND TAKING BETTER CARE OF THEM.
+
+So, when we get to the root of the matter, the whole question of "Does
+Birth Control tend toward Race Suicide?" becomes clear, and we are able
+to answer, positively, "It certainly does not; on the contrary it tends
+toward Race Progress and Race Betterment." We see that there is really
+no standing ground in any country for the panic-monger who bemoans the
+fall of the birth-rate, and storms against small families. The falling
+birth-rate is a world-wide phenomenon in all countries that are striving
+toward a higher civilization along lines which Nature laid down from the
+beginning. We cannot stop it if we would, and if we could we should be
+merely impeding civilization. It is a movement which rights itself and
+tends to reach a just balance.
+
+Instead of trying to raise the birth-rate by offering a bonus on babies
+as has been proposed in some quarters, it would be saner and better
+calculated for the betterment of the race to offer a bonus upon young
+men and women who attained maturity with a definite high standard of
+physical and mental development. As a writer on the subject has well
+said: "But we need not therefore fold our hands and do nothing. There is
+much still to be effected for the protection of motherhood and the
+better care of children. We cannot, and should not, attempt to increase
+the number of children born; there is still far more misery in having
+too many babies than in having too few; a bonus on babies would be a
+misfortune, alike for the parents and the State. BUT WE MAY WELL WORK
+FOR THE BETTER QUALITY OF BABIES. There we should be on very safe
+ground. More knowledge is necessary so that all would-be parents may
+know how they may best become parents, and how they may, if necessary,
+best avoid it. Procreation by the unfit should be, if not prohibited by
+law, at all events so discouraged by public opinion that to attempt it
+would be considered disgraceful. Much greater public provision is
+necessary for the care of mothers during the months before, as well as
+in the period after, the child's birth. Along such lines as these we may
+hope to increase the happiness of the people and the strength of the
+State. We need not worry about the falling birth-rate."
+
+The more that one intelligently examines the argument against Birth
+Control based upon fear of Race Suicide, the more one becomes convinced
+that not only is there "nothing to it," but that every fact brought to
+light in the inquiry reveals itself in the nature of proof of the
+desirability of Birth Control as a factor of Race Evolution, rather than
+evidence to the contrary. Therefore, the more inquiry and investigation
+that such argument brings forth, the stronger is the case disclosed for
+Birth Control, and the greater the amount of public opinion created in
+its favor.
+
+In all considerations of the general question of Race Suicide, one must
+take note of the general question of Eugenics or Human Breeding. This
+because the sound breeding of the race operates in a direction
+diametrically opposed to Race Suicide, while unsound breeding operates
+directly in favor thereof.
+
+When we consider the general subject of Eugenics we touch upon the
+highest ground, and are concerned with our best hopes for the future of
+the world. There can be no doubt that Birth Control, considered as a
+phase of Eugenics, is not only a precious but also an indispensable
+instrument in moulding the coming man to the measure of our developing
+ideals. Without Birth Control we are powerless in the face of the awful
+evils which flow from random and reckless reproduction. With it we
+possess a power so great that some persons have professed to see in it a
+menace to the propagation of the race, amusing themselves with the idea
+that if people possess the means to prevent the conception of children
+they will never have children at all. It is not necessary to discuss
+such a grotesque notion seriously.
+
+The desire for children is far too deeply implanted in mankind and
+womankind alike ever to be rooted out. If there are today many parents
+whose lives are rendered wretched by large families and the miseries of
+excessive child-bearing, there are an equal number whose lives are
+wretched because they have no children at all, and who snatch eagerly at
+any straw which offers the smallest promise of relief to the craving.
+Certainly there are people who desire marriage, but--some for very sound
+and estimable reasons and other for reasons which may less well bear
+examination--do not desire children at all.
+
+For the class of married people who do not desire children at all,
+contraceptive methods, far from being a social evil, are a social
+blessing. For nothing is as certain as that it is an unmixed evil for a
+community to possess unwilling, undesirable parents. Birth Control would
+be an unmixed blessing if it merely enabled us to exclude such persons
+from the ranks of parenthood. We desire no parents who are not competent
+and willing parents. Only such parents are fit to father and to mother a
+future race worthy to rule the world.
+
+It is sometimes said that the control of conception, since it is
+frequently carried out immediately upon marriage, will tend to delay
+parenthood until an unduly late age. Birth Control has, however, no
+necessary result of this kind, and might even act in the reverse
+direction. A chief cause of delay in marriage is the prospect of the
+burden and expense of an unrestricted flow of children into the family;
+and it is said that in Great Britain, since 1911, with the extension of
+the use of contraceptives, there has been a slight but regular increase
+not only in the general marriage rate but also in the proposition of
+early marriage. The ability to control the number of children not only
+enables marriage to take place at an early age, but also makes it
+possible for the couple to have at least one child soon after marriage.
+The total number of children are thus spaced out, instead of following
+in rapid succession.
+
+It is only of late years that the eugenic importance of a considerable
+interval between births has been fully recognized, as regards not only
+the mother--this has long been recognized--but also the children. The
+very high mortality of large families has long been known, and their
+association with degenerate conditions and with criminality. However, of
+recent years, evidence has been obtained that families in which the
+children are separated from each other by intervals of more than two
+years are both mentally and physically superior to those in which the
+interval is shorter. Investigators have found that children born at only
+a short interval after the birth of a previous child are notably
+defective, even at the age of six, in a large percentage of cases; and
+when compared with children born at a longer interval, or with first
+children, they are, on the average, three inches shorter and three
+pounds lighter. These are facts of the most vital significance.
+
+Thus when we calmly survey, in however summary a manner, the great field
+of life affected by the establishment of voluntary human control over
+the production of the race, we can not see a cause for anything but
+hope. It is satisfactory that it should be so, for there can be no doubt
+that we are here facing a great and permanent fact in civilized life.
+With every rise in civilization, indeed with all evolutionary progress
+whatever, there is what seems to be an automatic fall in the birth-rate.
+That fall is always normally accompanied by a fall in the death-rate, so
+that a low birth-rate frequently means a high rate of natural increase,
+since most of the children born survive.
+
+Thus in the civilized world of today, notwithstanding the low birth-rate
+which prevails as compared with earlier times, the rate of increase in
+the population is still appalling--nearly half a million a year in Great
+Britain, over a million in Austro-Hungary, and three-quarters of a
+million in Germany. When we examine this excess of births in detail we
+find among them a large proportion of undesired and undesirable
+children. There are two alternative methods working to diminish this
+proportion: the method of regulating conception under the methods of
+scientific Birth Control, or the bungling substitutes for the same, on
+the one hand, and the method of preventing live births after conception
+by means of the abominable practice of abortion.
+
+There can be no doubt about the enormous extension of the practice of
+abortion in all civilized countries, even although some of the
+extravagant estimates of its frequency in countries, the United States
+for example, be discarded as unwarranted. The burden of bearing
+excessive children on the overworked and underfed mothers of the working
+classes becomes at last so intolerable that almost anything seems better
+than another child. As a woman in Yorkshire once said to an English
+investigator of this evil: "I'd rather swallow the druggist's shop and
+the man in it, than have another kid."
+
+A community which takes upon itself the responsibility of encouraging
+abortion lays itself open to severe criticism. And it must be admitted
+that just as all those who work for Birth Control are really diminishing
+the frequency of abortion, so every attempt to discourage Birth Control
+promotes abortion. We have to approach this problem calmly, in the light
+of Nature and reason. We have each of us to decide on which side to
+range ourselves. For it is a vital problem concerning which we cannot
+afford to be indifferent.
+
+There is no desire here to exaggerate the importance of Birth Control.
+It is not a royal road to the millennium of the race; and like all other
+measures which the course of progress forces us to adopt, it has its
+disadvantages. But fairness and honest thought should admit freely that
+so far as is concerned the question of its being a factor toward Race
+Suicide, we must pronounce a verdict of "Not Guilty" upon Birth Control.
+On the contrary, the contrary course of teaching and practice, if
+carried to their full logical conclusion, would inevitably bring the
+race to such a stage of degeneracy, and retrogression to primitive type,
+that a fate far worse than suicide would befall the human race. For the
+race, as well as the individual, may commit "suicide" and an end to its
+career, not only by a will-not-to-live but also by a will-to-degenerate.
+
+The face of Birth Control is set toward the rising sun of Race
+Betterment, not toward the setting sun of Racial Decline. Its ideas are
+those of Race Life, not of Race Death. It bids the race not to perish,
+but rather to live on in greater strength, happiness, and efficiency.
+Birth Control is in full accord with the Racial Will-to-Live, and not
+opposed to it. All humanity, all civilization, all human progress, call
+upon us to take our stand upon this vital question of Birth Control.
+And, as a writer has well said, in doing so we shall each of us be
+contributing, however humbly, to that "one far-off event, to which the
+whole creation moves."
+
+
+
+
+LESSON XV
+
+BIRTH CONTROL METHODS
+
+
+The general subject of Birth Control necessarily includes the special
+subject of Birth Control Methods, viz., of the methods of association
+between husband and wife under which offspring is conceived only at such
+times as desired, and consequently only in the number desired.
+
+These methods may be grouped into three general classes, as follows:
+
+I. METHODS OF CONTINENCE (TOTAL OR TEMPORARY). In the practice of the
+methods under this class, there is an avoidance of sexual relations
+between husband and wife, either continuously or for certain periods
+during which the liability to conception is great.
+
+II. METHODS OF SEMI-CONTINENCE. In the practice of the methods under
+this class, there is a partial manifestation of the sexual relation
+accompanied by an absence of the manifestation of the procreative
+functions.
+
+III. METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION. In the practice of the methods under this
+class, the usual manifestations of the sexual relation are observed,
+accompanied by an avoidance of the union of the male and female elements
+of reproduction which result in conception.
+
+The student of the subject of Birth Control, of course, familiarizes
+himself or herself with each of the several classes of methods above
+noted, for the purpose of understanding the characteristic distinctions
+between them, and the respective advantages and disadvantages of each
+class. In the following pages each class will be briefly considered,
+that the student may acquire a general understanding thereof, and may be
+enabled to reason intelligently concerning them. In this presentation
+there will be sought a fair statement of each class, without any desire
+to influence the student for or against either of them.
+
+
+Continence.
+
+Continence (which in this special sense means the avoidance of sexual
+relations between husband and wife), in the strict sense, is based upon
+the idea that the sexual relation should not be exercised except for the
+purpose and intent of procreation. In the restricted usage of the term,
+it refers to the abstinence from sexual intercourse during stated
+periods in which the liability to conception is greatest.
+
+Rev. Sylvanus Stall, the author of several widely-read works on the
+subject of Sex, says of strict continence: "One theory is that the
+reproductive function is not to be exercised except for the purpose of
+procreation. * * * There are some married people, more numerous than
+some suppose, who have adopted the idea of uniform continence, and who
+call the reproductive nature into exercise for the purpose of
+procreation only, and who assert that the maintenance of continence
+secures not only the greater strength and better health, but greater
+happiness also. * * * While the results of our investigations do not
+enable us to assert that it is the true theory, we are yet prepared to
+say that it is worthy of thoughtful consideration. If it is possible for
+married people to maintain absolute continence for a period of six
+months or a year, it must be conceded that it would be possible to
+extend that time to a longer period. The maintenance of this theory
+would require such a degree of self-control as is far beyond the
+possession of the great mass of humanity. We fear, also, that there are
+but few, even if they entered upon a life union with such thought and
+intention, who would be willing to maintain their principles for any
+considerable period. * * * The other theory, and that which many men
+and women who are eminent for their learning and religious life hold to
+be the correct theory, is that while no one has a right to enter upon
+the marriage relation with the fixed purpose of evading the duty of
+parenthood, yet that procreation is not the only high and holy purpose
+which God has had in view in establishing the marriage relation, but
+that the act of sexual congress may be indulged in between husband and
+wife for the purpose of expressing their personal endearments, and for
+quickening those affections and tender feelings which are calculated to
+render home the place of blessing and good which God intended. * * * It
+is held by those who advocate this theory, that while it would be
+possible to restrict the exercise of the reproductive functions to the
+single purpose of procreation, yet in the great majority of instances
+the effort to live by that theory would generally result in marital
+unhappiness. * * * Due regard is not only to be paid to the perpetuity
+of the race, but to the well-being and perpetuity of the individual."
+
+The advocates of continence, except for the purpose of procreation,
+advance many arguments and evidence to justify their contention that
+this is the only course justified by Nature and Morality. We need not
+present this argument here, for it is outside the particular question
+now under consideration. However, in all fairness and justice, there
+should be presented here the general outline of their argument that
+there is no rational basis for the widely accepted idea that abstinence
+from sexual relations is in any way harmful or detrimental to the health
+and physical well-being of the human race.
+
+The advocates of continence cite the cases of many continent men who
+have been noted for their vigor and activity; and claim that such cases
+also justify their claim that continence makes for the sound mind in the
+sound body of mankind. The following quotations from authorities will
+give the general spirit of this contention.
+
+Dr. Kellogg says: "It has been claimed by many, even physicians, and
+though with but a slight show of reason, that absolute continence, after
+a full development of the organs of reproduction, could not be
+maintained without a great detriment to health. It is needless to
+enumerate all the different arguments employed to support this position,
+since they are, with a few exceptions, too frivolous to mention." Dr.
+Mayer says: "This position is held by men of the world, and many
+physicians share it. This belief appears to us erroneous, without
+foundation, and easily refuted. No peculiar disease nor any abridgement
+of the duration of life can be ascribed to such continence. * * * Health
+does not absolutely require that there should ever be an emission of
+semen, from puberty to death, though the individual live a hundred
+years." Dr. Kellogg also says: "This has been amply confirmed by
+experiments upon animals, as well as by the experience of some of the
+most distinguished men who have ever lived, among whom may be mentioned
+Sir Isaac Newton, Kant, Paschal, Fontenaille, and Michael Angelo. These
+men never married, and lived continent lives. Some of them lived to be a
+very great age, retaining to the last their wonderful abilities. In view
+of this fact, there is certainly no danger."
+
+Another writer has said: "The Greek athletes training for the great
+Olympic Games were compelled to observe strict continence, the
+experience being that by this course they were able to conserve their
+vigor and strength much better. The prize-fighters of today are
+compelled by their trainers to observe strict continence during the
+period of training. Many of the former champions who went to pieces
+suddenly, owe their downfall to a violation of this rule." Another has
+said: "Chastity, even continence, is the prime necessity of the
+successful athlete." Dr. Kellogg forcefully says: "Breeders of stock who
+wish to secure sound progeny will not allow the most robust stallion to
+associate with mares as many times during the whole season as some of
+these salacious human males perform a similar act within a month."
+
+Dr. Warbasse has said: "Testicular fluid in the seminal vesicles, under
+unexciting conditions, does not require to be discharged at intervals. I
+have not been able to find in the studies of the physiologists that its
+retention is abnormal or unhygienic. * * * I do not conceive of a man
+suffering from the ills of continence who has been cast away on a desert
+island, with no immediate prospect of relief, and whose mind and hands
+are occupied with raising grain, catching fish for subsistence, and
+constructing a boat for escape. All that has been said of men may be
+said of women."
+
+Dr. Talmey has said: "Continence, if long continued, has been claimed to
+be the cause of impotence. But there is no valid reason for this belief.
+To prove the harmfulness of continence an analogue is brought forward
+between the atrophy of a muscle in enforced idleness and the injury to
+the sex organs in enforced abstinence. But the proof is somewhat feeble.
+The essential organs of generation are not muscles, but glands, and who
+has ever heard of a tear gland atrophying for lack of crying. * * *
+There is no valid proof of the harmfulness of total abstinence in a
+healthy individual. A perfectly healthy man is never injured by
+abstinence. At least there is no sufficient proof that he ever was; but
+there are unmistakable proofs that total abstinence does not harm the
+individual."
+
+Dr. Stockham has said: "The testes may be considered analogous to the
+salivary and lachrymal glands, in which there is no fluid secreted
+except at the demand of their respective functions. The thought of food
+makes the mouth water for a short time only, while the presence of food
+causes abundant yield of saliva. It is customary for physicians to
+assume that the spermatic secretion is analogous to bile, which, when
+once formed, must be expelled. But substitute the word 'tears' for bile,
+and you put before the mind an idea entirely different. Tears, as
+falling drops, are not essential to life and health. A man may be in
+perfect health and yet not cry once in five or even fifty years. The
+lachrymal fluid is ever present, but in such small quantities that it is
+unnoticed. Where are tears while they remain unshed? They are ever
+ready, waiting to spring forth when there is an adequate cause, but they
+do not accumulate and distress the man because they are not shed daily,
+weekly, or monthly. The component elements of the tears are prepared in
+the system, they are on hand, passing through the circulation, ready to
+mix and flow whenever they are needed; but if they mix, accumulate and
+flow without adequate cause, there is a disease of the lachrymal glands.
+While there are no exact analogies in the body, yet the tears and the
+spermatic fluids are much more closely analogous in their normal manner
+of secretion and use than are the bile and the semen. Neither flow of
+tears nor of semen is essential to life or health. Both are largely
+under the control of the imagination, the emotions, and the will; and
+the flow of either is liable to be arrested in a moment of sudden mental
+action."
+
+Parkhurst says: "The prostatic fluid, according to Robin, is secreted at
+the moment of ejaculation. The remaining element of the spermatic
+secretion is produced, under normal circumstances, only as required,
+either for impregnation or for the maintenance of the affectional
+function. The theory that the sperm is naturally secreted only as it is
+required, brings it into harmony with other secretions. The tears, the
+saliva, and the perspiration, are always required in small quantities,
+and the secretion is continuous; but if required in great quantities,
+the secretion becomes great almost instantly. The mother's milk is
+chiefly secreted just as it is required for the infant, and when not
+required the secretion entirely ceases; yet it recommences the moment
+the birth of another child makes it necessary. * * * A man accustomed to
+abstinence will not suffer from any accumulation of secretions, while a
+man whose absorbing glands have never had occasion to take up the
+secretions will be in trouble; just as a dairy cow which has not been
+milked will be in trouble, though if running wild she would never have
+any necessity for milking. * * * The objection that man needs physical
+relief from a continuous secretion is answered by the admitted fact that
+men not deficient in sexual vigor live for months, and probably for
+years, in strict abstinence, and with no physical inconvenience such as
+is often complained of by men who happen to be deprived of their
+accustomed indulgence for a week or two at a time."
+
+Dr. Nystrom, the eminent Swedish writer on the subject, however, utters
+the following warning to those who would make hasty generalizations on
+the subject: "In speaking of relative abstinence or regulation and
+command of the sexual instinct, I warn against absolutism in this
+regard, and especially against the generalizing of abstinence as
+possible for everybody. Although abstinence during an entire lifetime
+does not injure certain individuals, it cannot be endured by others for
+some length of time without undesirable consequences. I therefore oppose
+the principle of absolute continence as in the main false. It may
+possibly be applied to a few deeply religious or philosophical persons,
+but not to the majority of normal people, despite good resolutions and
+habits. * * * We must consider the different bodily constitutions and
+passions--why some people without difficulty, others with the greatest
+difficulty, can master their feelings regarding sexual relations. * * *
+May those who try to better humanity in sexual respects first give their
+attention to the subject when well prepared with a rich experience and
+deep study, for otherwise they cannot give advice which can be followed,
+and their work should fail as being contrary to human nature."
+
+TEMPORARY CONTINENCE. Many married couples who are desirous of
+preventing too-frequent conception, or conception following too soon
+after the birth of the youngest child, practice the method of refraining
+from the marital sexual relations during certain periods in which
+conception is most likely to occur. This custom is said to be favored by
+those acting under the advice of their religious instructors, and who
+regard all methods of birth-control other than continence as sinful.
+Even the most orthodox objectors to birth-control as a general principle
+seem to regard this particular method as free from objection, providing
+that the married couple do not seek to entirely escape parenthood in
+this manner.
+
+This plan is based upon the well-known, and well-established
+physiological principle that THE TIME IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE MENSTRUAL
+PERIOD, AND STILL MORE, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PERIOD IS THE MOST
+FAVORABLE TO CONCEPTION. Impregnation is most likely to occur just after
+the menstrual period; while from about two weeks after the beginning of
+the period, to a few days before the beginning of the next period, is
+the time of comparative sterility when impregnation and conception are
+the least likely to occur. Consequently, the authorities hold that the
+period of from ten to fifteen days after the END of the menstruation is
+one peculiarly free from the probability of impregnation and conception.
+
+This plan of temporary continence, continuing during the period in which
+conception is most probable, and terminating when that period has
+passed each month, until the new period approaches, is followed by many
+married couples with the full approval of the conscience and their
+religious guides. In many cases the result fulfills the expectations,
+though as there is a considerable variation observed among different
+women there is no absolute certainty to the plan considered as a
+birth-control method--at the best it is but taking advantage of the law
+of probabilities, the chances being in favor of the result sought.
+
+
+Semi-Continence.
+
+Semi-Continence (in the sense in which the term is employed herein)
+consists of the abstinence from the exercise of the procreative
+functions, while there is a partial manifestation of the sexual
+relation. Under various fanciful names, backed by as many curious
+theories, this birth-control method is practiced by very many married
+couples in this and other countries.
+
+Among the earlier advocates of this general class of birth-control
+methods was Noyes, the founder of the one-time famous Oneida Community,
+who taught the doctrine of what he called "Male Continence." The gist of
+his teaching was as follows: That the sexual relation (in its entirety)
+should be exercised solely for the purpose of reproduction, all else
+being contrary to nature. But, he held, notwithstanding this, there was
+possible and proper a certain degree of such physical relation which,
+while not opposing Nature's laws of reproduction, yet was sufficient to
+afford a complete manifestation of the "affectional desire and
+function." In other words, as a writer has expressed it, "that one might
+manifest a marked degree of sexual gratification and still remain
+continent, while feeling none of the irksome restraints of continence."
+
+Noyes claimed that his community followed this plan with satisfactory
+results, the ordinary sexual relations being manifested only when
+reproduction was specially desired and deliberately decided upon. Noyes
+claimed that in this way there was no secretion of the seminal fluid,
+and therefore no waste of the same, and no unnatural practices such
+attached to the common custom of "tricking Nature" by methods of
+preventing impregnation and conception. Parkhurst (who, as we shall see
+presently, followed Noyes) objected to the Noyes plan, claiming that "it
+necessarily stimulates into activity the generative functions of the
+sexual batteries, and this not only causes a wasteful use of sperm, but
+diverts the sexual batteries from their affectional function,
+diminishing amative attraction."
+
+In the year 1896, Dr. Alice B. Stockham, of Chicago, published a book
+called "Karezza" which has since attained an enormous sale, the leading
+principle of which seems to have been almost similar to that of Noyes,
+as above stated. The book was built around the idea previously announced
+by the same author in an earlier book, which she stated as follows: "By
+some a theory called 'secular absorption' is advanced. This involves
+intercourse without culmination." In her book "Karezza" this author
+further stated: "Karezza so consummates marriage that through the power
+of will, and loving thoughts, the crisis is not reached, but a complete
+control by both husband and wife is maintained throughout the entire
+relation, a conscious conservation of the creative energy. * * * It is
+both a union on the affectional plane, and a preparation for the best
+possible conditions for procreation."
+
+About 1882, Henry M. Parkhurst published a booklet called "Diana," which
+since that time has passed through several editions, and has had a large
+number of readers. The principle advocated is radically different from
+that of Noyes or Dr. Stockham, above mentioned, although some of the
+writings of Dr. Stockham seem to favor the Parkhurst idea as much as the
+one advanced by herself. Parkhurst, as we may see by reference to a
+quotation from him in connection with the Noyes' idea, did not approve
+of the "male continence" as taught by the latter, although he seems to
+have considered it a step in the right direction.
+
+The gist of the Parkhurst idea is expressed in the following quotations
+from his booklet, "Diana": "In order to secure proper and durable
+relations between the sexes, it is necessary to live in harmony with the
+law of Alphism, that is ABSTINENCE EXCEPT FOR PROCREATION. But if that
+principle is adopted alone, no means being taken to provide for the due
+exercise of the sexual faculties, it will likely be abandoned or lead to
+a life of asceticism. In order to make Alphism practicable for ordinary
+men and women, another law has to be observed, that is, the law of
+SEXUAL SATISFACTION FROM SEXUAL CONTACT; understanding by the term
+'contact' not merely physical external contact, but using the term in
+its more general sense to include sexual companionship, or even
+correspondence, bringing the minds into mental contact. The observance
+of this law will lead to complete and enduring satisfaction in
+abstinence.
+
+"It is an observed fact that contact incites to activity the affectional
+action, * * * extending over the whole frame, and by their activities
+satisfies them, without calling into action the special generative
+function of the generative organs. And it is also an observed fact that
+the repression of this affectional activity naturally creates a desire
+for the exercise of the other; so that a true remedy for sexual
+intemperance is the full satisfaction of the affectional mode of
+activity by frequent and free sexual contact. Sexual satisfaction may be
+obtained by personal presence, conversation, a clasp of the hands,
+kissing, caressing, embracing, personal contact with or without the
+intervention of dress.
+
+"The exercise of the affectional function tends to satiety and
+exhaustion in the same way as all other physical or mental exercise; but
+if it is not carried to excess it is a permanent benefit. * * * The
+principle of Alphism will tend to diminish prostitution, not only by
+diminishing sexual intemperance, even if the principle is not at once
+accepted in practice to the full extent, thus diminishing the temptation
+of the present generation, and the hereditary temptation of future
+generations; but also by correcting the physiological error which has
+led astray so many, i. e., that total abstinence is not conducive to
+health, or to the highest physical pleasure, but that the ordinary
+physical relation is an essential feature in male existence.
+
+"To avoid misapprehension, these two theories should be clearly defined
+and the distinction between them explained. The doctrine of Alphism is
+confined to one principle, i. e., THE LAW OF ABSTINENCE EXCEPT FOR
+PROCREATION. Those who believe in this doctrine may be divided into
+different classes. Some believe in it as a matter of duty, to be
+enforced by precept and self-denial; and some believe in it as a matter
+of right, requiring no self-denial. In the latter is included the
+doctrine of 'Diana,' which may be defined as THE LAW OF SEXUAL
+SATISFACTION FROM SEXUAL CONTACT. In other words, Dianism is Alphism as
+the result of sexual equilibration."
+
+The general idea of Parkhurst, and those who have followed his teachings
+in some modified or adapted form, may be said to be based upon the
+following general proposition: That there is a dual function in the
+sexual relations, which may be stated as follows: (1) the function
+exercised from purely physiological causes, and which expresses the
+desire for the relation resulting in procreation; and (2) the function
+exercised from emotional causes, and which expresses what may be called
+the "affectional desire," i. e., the desire for the embrace, caress,
+fondling, and general companionship with the loved one of the other sex.
+
+The first one of these phases, i. e., the reproductive function, is
+manifested by the lower animals as well as by man, and is elemental and
+primitive in character. It is often manifested by man without the
+accompaniment of the affectional function, and at times seems to be
+almost entirely divorced from the idea of high human affection. The
+second one of these phases, i. e., the affectional function, usually
+accompanied the procreative function in the human sexual relation, at
+least in the highest forms of that relation. But also, it may be and
+often is manifested independently of the procreative function by men and
+women of refinement. In fact, it would seem to be the form of physical
+attraction accompanying the very highest phase of love, particularly in
+women.
+
+It is this affectional function which is manifested by betrothed lovers
+in their beautiful period of mutual understanding, sympathy, and
+affection. It is that characteristic of the courting days which is so
+precious to the woman, but which is too often sadly missed by the wife
+after the honeymoon. It exists often before the fires of passion are
+kindled, and it persists often after the flame of passion has died away.
+It is the expression of the purest love of youth, and of the tenderest
+affection of age. It is this form of sexual relation, physical though it
+may be, that is the outgrowth of evolution in man. May it not be that in
+this way man has "improved upon the sexual habits of the animals"; and
+that when man violates the natural restrictions held sacred by animal
+life, and indulges in excessive sexual relations in and out of season,
+that he is really manifesting a degenerative tendency instead of taking
+an upward step on the evolutionary scale.
+
+There have been many excellent authorities who have held that this
+affectional function, and its manifestation, is far better calculated to
+satisfy the sexual instincts of advanced men and women than is the
+ordinary physical sexual relation. They claim that in the higher form of
+this affectional relation is to be found the secret of the joy, bliss,
+and happiness of the betrothed lovers, which alas! too often disappear
+when the other form of the relation is manifested, particularly when
+manifested to excess in the manner customary to so many married men.
+They claim that in the recognition of this fact of human life and love
+is to be found the secret of married happiness between wedded advanced
+and cultured individuals. They assert that the experience of the race,
+rightly considered and understood, full proves this contention.
+
+Edward Carpenter has the following to say on this point: "It is a matter
+of common experience that the unrestrained outlet of the purely physical
+desire leaves the nature drained of its higher love-forces. * * * There
+are grounds for believing in the transmutability of the various forms of
+the passion, and grounds for thinking that the sacrifice of a lower
+phase may sometimes be the only condition on which a higher and more
+durable phase can be attained; and that, therefore, restraint (which is
+absolutely necessary at times) has its compensation. Anyone who has once
+realized how glorious a thing love is in its essence, and how
+indestructible, will hardly need to call anything that leads to it a
+sacrifice; and he is indeed a master of life who, accepting the grosser
+desires as they come to his body, and not refusing them, knows how to
+transform them at will into the most rare and fragrant flowers of human
+emotion * * * Between lovers, then, a kind of hardy temperance is to be
+recommended--for all reasons, but especially because it lifts their
+satisfaction and delight in each other out of the regions of
+ephemeralities (which too often turn into dull indifference and satiety)
+into the region of more lasting things--one step nearer at any rate to
+the eternal kingdom.
+
+"How intoxicating, indeed, how penetrating--like a most precious
+wine--is that love which is the sexual transformed by the magic of the
+will into the emotional and spiritual! And what a loss, on the merest
+ground of prudence and the economy of pleasure, is the unbridled waste
+along physical channels! So nothing is so much dreaded between lovers as
+just this--the vulgarization of love--and this is the rock upon which
+marriage so often splits. There is a kind of illusion about physical
+desire similar to that which a child suffers from when, seeing a
+beautiful flower, it instantly snatches the same and destroys in a few
+moments the form and fragrance which attracted it. He only gets the full
+glory who holds back a little, and he only truly possesses who is
+willing if need be not to possess. * * * It must be remembered, however,
+that in order for a perfect intimacy between two people their physical
+endearment must by the nature of the case be free to each other. The
+physical endearment may not be the object for which they come together;
+but, if it is denied, its denial will bar any real sense of repose and
+affiance, and make their mutual association restless, vague, tentative
+and unsatisfied. I think, from various considerations, that, generally,
+even without the actual physical sex-act, there is an interchange of
+vital and ethereal elements--so that it may be said that there is a kind
+of generation taking place within each of the persons concerned, through
+their mutual influence on each other, as well as that more specialized
+generation which consists in the propagation of the race."
+
+Count Tolstoi said on this subject: "The difference in organization
+between man and woman is not only physiological but extends also into
+other and moral characteristics, such as go to make manhood in man, and
+womanhood (or femininity) in woman. The attraction between the sexes is
+based not merely upon the yearning for physical union, but likewise upon
+that reciprocal attraction exerted by the contrasting qualities of the
+sexes each upon the other, manhood upon womanhood, and womanhood upon
+manhood. The one sex endeavors to complement itself with the other, and
+therefore the attraction between the sexes demands a union of spirit
+precisely identical with the physical union.
+
+"The tendency toward physical and spiritual union forms two phases of
+manifestation of one and the same fountain-head of desire, and they bear
+such intimate relations to each other that the gratification of the one
+inclination inevitably weakens the other. So far as the yearning for
+spiritual union is satisfied, to that extent the yearning for physical
+union is diminished or entirely destroyed; and, vice versa, the
+gratification of the physical desire weakens or destroys the spiritual.
+And, consequently, the attraction between the sexes is not only physical
+affinity leading to procreation, but is also the attraction of opposites
+for one another, capable of assuming the form of the most spiritual
+union in thought only, or of the most animal union, causing the
+propagation of children, and all those varied degrees of relationship
+between the one and the other. The question of upon which footing the
+relation between the sexes is to be established and maintained, is
+settled by deciding what method of union is regarded at any given time,
+or for all time, as good, proper, and therefore desirable. * * *
+
+"The nearer the union approaches the extreme physical boundary, the more
+it kindles the physical passions and desires, and the less satisfaction
+it gets; the nearer it approaches the opposite extreme spiritual
+boundary, the less new passions are excited and the greater is the
+satisfaction. The nearer it is to the first, the more destructive it is
+to animal energy; the nearer it approaches the second, the spiritual,
+the more serene, the more enjoyable and forceful is the general
+condition. * * * Taking into consideration the varying conditions of
+temperament, and above all what the contracting parties regard as good,
+proper, and desirable, marriage for some will approach the spiritual
+union, and for others the physical; but the nearer the union approaches
+the spiritual the more complete will be the satisfaction. The substance
+of what has been said is this: that the relation between the sexes have
+two functions, i. e., the reproductive, and the affectional; and that
+the sexual energy, if only it have no conscious desire to beget
+children, must be always directed in the way of affection and love. The
+manifestation which this energy assumes depends upon custom or reason;
+the gradual bringing of the reason into accord with the principles
+herein expounded, and a gradual reorganization of customs consonant with
+them, results in saving men from many of their passions, and giving them
+satisfaction for their higher sexual instincts and desires."
+
+Some capable writers on the subject have held that in the practice of
+the methods of semi-continence, such as have been referred to in the
+foregoing pages of this part of the book, there may lie the danger of
+excessive stimulation of the sexual centres, without the safety-valve of
+the physical and nervous relief which follows as a natural sequence in
+the ordinary sexual relations. The advocates of these methods, however,
+reply that such objections while valid in the case of persons who
+practice the same only because opportunity prevents the performance of
+the usual physical relation, still have no true application to those who
+adopt these methods in a conscientious and honest manner, and who
+maintain THE PROPER MENTAL ATTITUDE toward the whole question.
+
+These advocates say that the MENTAL EFFECT upon the secretions of the
+body must be taken into account in all considerations of the question.
+They say that just as the gastric juice will begin to flow in response
+to the mental image or idea of food, and the mother's milk in response
+to the cry of the child for food, so do the sexual secretions, direction
+of the circulation, and other physiological activities result from the
+mental pictures or idea of sexual congress. They hold that if the mind
+of the husband be filled with mental images of sexual congress, then
+there is set into operation the process of secretion of seminal fluids,
+and the consequent engorgement of the blood-vessels concerned therewith,
+which are denied the normal physiological relief, and accordingly
+produce bad effects upon the nervous system. But they likewise claim
+that if the mind of the husband entertains ideas merely of physical
+endearment and caress as "an end to itself," then there is no mental
+incentive toward the secretion of the seminal fluids, and the constant
+engorgement of the blood-vessels, and no nerve force is generated--and
+therefore no nerve-shock is experienced by reason of frustrated
+manifestation and expression.
+
+Parkhurst says regarding the point just mentioned: "In the relations
+between the sexes, the question of how the association of the husband
+and the wife shall stimulate the affectional or generative action or
+sexual batteries must depend greatly upon their habits of association.
+We have only to accustom ourselves to associating the relation with the
+affectional action, by repeated repetition when the affectional action
+is all that is felt or thought of, in order to cultivate such habits and
+associations as will make the association tend to REPRESS passional
+desires, by the direction of the sexual forces into the channel of
+affectional attraction and functioning. * * * The form of the sexual
+manifestation will be largely influenced, by the mind, and largely by
+force with these principles, and the gradual formation of habits
+consistent therewith, will make more and more evident their beneficial
+operation."
+
+There is much interest now being taken by thinking people in some phases
+of the general subject of semi-continence, and many thoughtful and
+conscientious persons find in it at least the promise of a worthy and
+honest solution of the problem of Continence as applied to Birth
+Control. Such persons claim to find in this general class of Birth
+Control methods a happy medium between the rigid practice of absolute
+Continence in the marriage relations, on the one hand, and the more
+popular methods of Contraception, on the other hand.
+
+
+Contraception.
+
+We now come to the consideration of the subject of Contraception, pure
+and simple, the methods of which contemplate the manifestation of the
+usual physical sexual relations between husband and wife, accompanied by
+an avoidance of the union of the male and female elements of
+reproduction which result in conception.
+
+It should once more be positively emphasized that BY CONTRACEPTION IS
+NOT MEANT ABORTION. ABORTION means "the premature expulsion of the human
+embryo or foetus; miscarriage." CONTRACEPTION, on the other hand, means
+simply the prevention of the union of the male and female elements of
+reproduction, and consequently, the preventing of the process which
+evolves the foetus or embryo. CONTRACEPTION IS PREVENTION; ABORTION IS
+DESTRUCTION. There is here a difference as wide as the poles. As Dr.
+William J. Robinson says, in a paragraph previously quoted in this
+book: "In inducing abortion, one destroys something already formed--a
+foetus, or an embryo, a fertilized ovum, a potential human being. In
+prevention, however, one merely prevents chemically or mechanically the
+spermatozoa from coming in contact with the ovum. There is no greater
+sin or crime in this than there is in simple abstinence, in refraining
+from sexual intercourse."
+
+Unfortunately for the cause of scientific Birth Control in America, the
+laws of the United States (and of most of the separate States) at
+present prevent the public dissemination by written or printed words, or
+by public teaching of information concerning the contraceptive methods
+known to all intelligent physicians and others who have made a
+scientific study of the subject. The conveyal of such information, in
+the manner stated, is made a criminal offence, subject to heavy fines
+and imprisonment. Though there is a strong movement underway on the part
+of many intelligent and earnest citizens of this country, having for its
+object the repeal of such prohibitive laws, and the passage of careful
+legislation designed to give the dissemination of such instruction a
+legal and certain status, under the restrictions imposed by common
+sense, intellectual honesty, and the best interests of the race--to
+place it upon the same footing as in certain advanced European
+countries--the fact remains that at the present time no person may give
+such information without subjecting himself to indictment and probable
+conviction as a law-breaker and enemy of society. UNDER THE
+CIRCUMSTANCES, OF COURSE, THERE HAS BEEN, AND WILL BE, NO ATTEMPTS TO
+FURNISH SUCH FORBIDDEN INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK. So long as these laws
+stand unrepealed on the statute books, they must be observed by all law
+abiding citizens.
+
+Dr. Wm. J. Robinson, an authority on the subject, says: "We believe
+that under any conditions, and particularly under our present economic
+conditions, human beings should be able to control the number of their
+offspring. They should be able to decide how many children they want to
+have, and when they want to have them. And to accomplish this result we
+demand that the knowledge of controlling the number of offspring, in
+other and plainer words, the knowledge of preventing undesirable
+conception, should not be considered a criminal offence punishable by
+hard labor in Federal prisons, but that it should be considered
+knowledge useful and necessary to the welfare of the race and of the
+individual; and that its dissemination should be as permissible as is
+the dissemination of any hygienic, sanitary or eugenic knowledge."
+
+THE ONLY POSSIBLE RELIEF FROM THE PRESENT CONDITION IS SEEN BY CAREFUL
+THINKERS TO BE IN THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC AS TO THE NEEDS OF THE
+CASE, AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF
+RATIONAL AND PROPER BIRTH CONTROL, TO THE END THAT PUBLIC OPINION, ONCE
+SEEING THE TRUTH IN THE CASE, MAY BE SUFFICIENTLY STRONG AS TO BRING
+ABOUT A CHANGE IN THE PRESENT ANTIQUATED AND BIGOTED LAWS. BUT, SO LONG
+AS THE LAWS REMAIN ON THE STATUTE BOOKS, THEY MUST BE OBSERVED AND
+OBEYED. EDUCATION, NOT ANARCHY, IS THE TRUE REMEDY.
+
+The following general remarks on the subject of Contraception, by
+Havelock Ellis, the well-known English authority of the subject of Sex
+in Modern Society, may perhaps prove interesting to students of the
+general subject: Ellis says: "Many ways of preventing conception have
+been devised since the method which is still the commonest was first
+introduced, so far as our certainly imperfect knowledge extends, by a
+clever Jew, Onan (Genesis, Chap. XXXVIII) whose name has since been
+wrongly attached to another practice with which the Mosaic record in no
+way associates him. There are now many contraceptive methods, some
+dependent on precautions adopted by the man, others dependent upon the
+woman, others again which take the form of an operation permanently
+preventing conception, and, therefore, not to be adopted save by couples
+who already have as many children as they desire, or else who ought
+never to have children at all and thus wisely adopt a method of
+sterilization. It is unnecessary here, even if it were otherwise
+desirable, to discuss these various methods in detail. It is even
+useless to do so, for we must bear in mind that no method can be
+absolutely approved or absolutely condemned. Each may be suitable under
+certain conditions and for certain couples, and it is not easy to
+recommend any method indiscriminately. We need to know the intimate
+circumstances of individual cases. For the most part, experience is the
+final test.
+
+"Forel compared the use of contraceptive devices to the use of
+eyeglasses, and it is obvious that, without expert advice, the results
+in either case may sometimes be mischievous or at all events
+ineffective. Personal advice and instruction are always desirable. In
+Holland nurses are medically trained in a practical knowledge of
+contraceptive methods, and are thus enabled to enlighten the women of
+the community. This is an admirable plan. Considering that the use of
+contraceptive measures is now almost universal, it is astonishing that
+there are yet so many 'civilized' countries in which this method of
+enlightenment is not everywhere adopted. Until it is adopted, and a
+necessary knowledge of the most fundamental facts of sexual life brought
+into every home, the physician must be regarded as the proper adviser.
+It is true that until recently he was generally in these matters a blind
+leader of the blind. Nowadays it is beginning to be recognized that the
+physician has no more serious and responsible duty than that of giving
+help in the difficult path of sexual life. Very frequently, indeed, even
+yet, he has not risen to a sense of his responsibilities in this matter.
+It is well to remember, however, that a physician who is unable or
+unwilling to give frank and sound advice in this most important
+department of life, is unlikely to be reliable in any other department.
+If he is not up to date here, he is probably not up to date anywhere.
+
+"Whatever may be the method adopted, there are certain conditions which
+it must fulfill, even apart from its effectiveness as a contraceptive,
+in order to be satisfactory. Most of these conditions may be summed up
+in one: the most satisfactory method is that which least interferes with
+the normal process in the act of intercourse. Every sexual act is, or
+should be, a miniature courtship, however long marriage may have lasted.
+No outside mental tension or nervous apprehension must be allowed to
+intrude. Any contraceptive proceeding which hastily enters the
+atmosphere of love immediately before or immediately after the moment of
+union is unsatisfactory and may be injurious. It even risks the total
+loss of the contraceptive result, for at such moments the intended
+method may be ineffectively carried out, or neglected altogether. No
+method can be regarded as desirable which interferes with the sense of
+satisfaction and relief which should follow the supreme act of loving
+union. No method which produces a nervous jar in one of the parties,
+even though it may be satisfactory to the other, should be tolerated.
+Such considerations must for some couples rule out certain methods. We
+cannot, however, lay down absolute rules, because methods some couples
+may find satisfactory prove unsatisfactory in other cases. Experience,
+aided by expert advice, is the only final criterion.
+
+"When a contraceptive method is adopted under satisfactory conditions,
+with a due regard to the requirements of the individual couple, there is
+little room to fear that any injurious results will be occasioned. It is
+quite true that many physicians speak emphatically concerning the
+injurious results to husband or to wife of contraceptive devices.
+Although there has been exaggeration, and prejudice has often been
+imported into this question, and although most of the injurious results
+could have been avoided had trained medical help been at hand to advise
+better methods, there can be no doubt that much that has been said under
+this head is true. Considering how widespread is the use of these
+methods, and how ignorantly they have often been carried out, it would
+be surprising indeed if it were not true. But even supposing that the
+nervously injurious effects which have been traced to contraceptive
+practices were a thousandfold greater than they have been reported to
+be--instead of, as we are justified in believing, considerably less than
+they are reported--shall we therefore condemn contraceptive methods? To
+do so would be to ignore all the vastly greater evils which have
+followed in the past from unchecked reproduction. It would be a
+condemnation which, if we exercised it consistently, would destroy the
+whole of civilization and place us back in savagery. For what device of
+man, ever since man had any history at all, has not proved sometimes
+injurious?
+
+"Every one of even the most useful and beneficial of human inventions
+has either exercised subtle injuries or produced appalling catastrophes.
+This is not only true of man's devices, it is true of Nature's in
+general. Let us take, for instance, the elevation of man's ancestors
+from the quadrupedal to the bipedal position. The experiment of making a
+series of four-footed animals walk on their hind-legs was very
+evolutionary and risky; it was far more beset by dangers than is the
+introduction of contraceptives; we are still suffering all sorts of
+serious evils in consequence of Nature's action in placing our remote
+ancestors in the erect position. Yet we feel that it was worth while;
+even those physicians who most emphasize the evil results of the erect
+position do not advise that we should go on all-fours. It is just the
+same with a great human device, the introduction of clothes. They have
+led to all sorts of new susceptibilities to disease and even tendencies
+to direct injury of many kinds. Yet no one advocates the complete disuse
+of all clothing on the ground that corsets have sometimes proved
+harmful. It would be just as absurd to advocate the complete abandonment
+of contraceptives on the ground that some of them have been misused. If
+it were not, indeed, that we are familiar with the lengths to which
+ignorance and prejudice may go we should question the sanity of anyone
+who put forward so foolish a proposition. Every great step which Nature
+and man have taken in the path of progress has been beset by dangers
+which are gladly risked because of the advantages involved. We must
+never loose sight of the immense advantages which Man has gained in
+acquiring a conscious and deliberate control of reproduction."
+
+    THE END.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+
+Numerous minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
+Variations in spelling (e.g. fetus/foetus), capitalization, and
+hyphenation have not been standardized. Where a misspelling was used five
+or more times (e.g. umbillical), no correction has been made. No attempt
+has been made to correct factual errors or poorly constructed sentences.
+
+The following corrections were also made to the text:
+
+p. 11: femininists to feminists (modern feminists)
+
+p. 12: phenomena to phenomenon (phenomenon of pregnancy)
+
+p. 27: laceration to lactation (lactation or nursing)
+
+p. 27: is to are (there are found severe cramps)
+
+p. 36: "of" added (period of gestation)
+
+p. 73: degeration to degeneration (degeneration and actual Race Suicide)
+
+p. 84: "in" added (in men in general)
+
+p. 85: "for" added (for inebriety)
+
+p. 92: strongly to strong (the woman most strong sexually)
+
+p. 104: "the" added (the best ability and capacity)
+
+p. 110: "are" added (there are unavoidable fallacies)
+
+p. 113: grandparents to great-grandparents (eight great-grandparents)
+
+p. 135: individualation to individuation (greater individuation)
+
+p. 139: "is" added (This is because)
+
+p. 143: below to above (shows a birth-rate of above 30)
+
+p. 154: "of" added (who of all Europeans)
+
+p. 170: preventitives to preventives (use preventives recommended)
+
+p. 190: weaking to weakening (consequent weakening)
+
+p. 192: passi paru to pari passu (goes down pari passu)
+
+p. 196: furnish to furnishes (furnishes us with evidence)
+
+p. 198: "of" added (general question of Eugenics)
+
+p. 200: "not" added (we can not see a cause)
+
+p. 203: SEMI-CONCEPTION. to SEMI-CONTINENCE. (METHODS OF
+SEMI-CONTINENCE.)
+
+p. 209: "are" removed ("some people are without" to "some people
+without")
+
+p. 217: "be" removed ("must be by the nature" to "must by the nature")
+
+p. 222: potention to potential (potential human being)
+
+p. 226: "both" removed ("to both husband or to wife" to "to husband or
+to wife")
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Private Sex Advice to Women, by R. B. Armitage
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40623 ***