Family Limitation

A NURSE'S ADVICE TO WOMEN.

Every woman who is desirous of preventing conception will follow this advice:

Don't wait to see if you do not menstruate (monthly sickness) but make it your duty to see that you do.

If you are due to be "sick" on the eighth of August, do not wait until the eighth to see, but begin as early as the fourth to take a good laxative for the bowels, and continue this each night until the eighth.

If there is the slightest possibility that the male fluid has entered the vagina, take on these same nights before retiring, five or ten grams of quinine, with a hot drink. The quinine in capsule form is considered fresher, but if this is taken do not use alcoholic drinks directly after, as it hardens the capsules, thus delaying the action of the quinine.

By taking the above precautions you will prevent the ovum from making its nest in the lining of the womb.

Women of intelligence who refuse to have children until they are ready for them, keep definite track of the date of their menstrual periods. A calendar should be kept, on which can be marked the date of the last menstruation, as well as the date when the next period should occur.

Women must learn to know their own bodies, and watch and know definitely how regular or irregular they are: if the period comes regularly every twenty-eight days (normal) or every thirty days in the case of many young girls.

Mark it accordingly on your private calendare; do not leave it to memory or guess work.

Only ignorance and indifference will cause one to be careless in this most important matter.

A very good laxative (though it is a patent medicine) is Beechams Pills. Two of these taken night and morning, four days before menstruation, will give a good cleansing of the bowels, and assist with the menstrual flow. Castor oil is also a good laxative.

The American physicians may object to this advice because Beechams Pills are a patent medicine. But until they are willing to give open advice on this subject, we must resort to such as the least harmful, until such time as they do.

If a woman will give herself attention BEFORE the menstrual period arrives, she will almost never have any trouble, but if she neglects herself and waits to see if she "comes around," she is likely to have difficulty.

It takes quinine from four to six days to bring about the desired results, and if one finds a longer time has elapsed and the flow is not brought on, then the only remedy is an abortion. When once one has been convinced that an abortion is necessary, do not indulge in medicine of any kind. They only weaken the system, and require a much greater length of time to recuperate. Never allow a pregnancy to run over a month.

If you are going to have an abortion, make up your mind to it in the first stages, and have it done. Abortions will become unnecessary when means to prevent conception are better understood. It is for each woman to decide this for herself, but act at onc, whichever way you decide.

There is current among people an idea that conception can take place at only certain times of the month. For instance: ten days after the menstrual period, and four or five days before the next period. This is not to be relied upon at all, for it has been proven again and again that a woman can conceive at any time in the month. Do not depend upon this belief, for there is not reliable foundation for it. There is also the knowledge that nursing after childbirth prevents the return of the menstrual flow for several months and conception does not take place. It is well not to depend upon this too much, especially after the fifth or sixth month, for often a woman becomes pregnant again without having "seen anything" or without her realizing that she has become pregnant. She thus finds herself with one at the breast and another in the womb. Use some preventative.

Again, it is believed that conception cannot take place if the woman lies upon her left side at the time of the act. It makes no difference which side she lies upon; she can become pregnant if the semen is not prevented from entering the womb.

Perhaps the commonest preventative excepting the use of the condom is "coitus interrupts," or withdrawal of the penis from the vagina shortly before the ejaculation of the semen. No one can doubt that this is a perfectly safe method; and it is not considered so dangerous to the man as some authoritites have formerly viewed it, but it requires a man of the strongest will-power to be certain that he has withdrawn before any of the semen has been deposited in the vagina. It is very difficult to determine exactly whether this has been done. The greatest objection to this is the evil effect upon the woman's nervous condition. She has not completed her desire, she is under a highly nervous tension, her whole being is perhaps on the verge of satisfaction. She is then left in the dissatisfied state, which is far from humane. This does her injury. A mutual and satisfied sexual act is of great benefit to the average woman, the magnetism of it is health giving and acts as a beautifier and tonic. When it is not desired on the part of the woman and she has no response, it should not take place. This is an act of prostitution and is degrading to the woman's finer sensibility, all the marriage certificates on earth to the contrary notwithstanding. When a woman desires the sexual act, and is completely satisfied, her whole being is built up and beautified through it, her form develops, her eyes become brighter, her health improves, color comes to her cheeks. All life is changed for her and would continue thus if it were not for the fact that she allows intercourse when she has no natural desire for it, and then allowing it, she is throughout the act conscious and fearful of its consequences. Withdrawal on the part of the man should be substituted by some other mean that does not injure the woman.