Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net BY THE SAME AUTHOR HIMSELF Talks with Men Concerning Themselves $1.00 CONFIDENCES Talks with a Young Girl Concerning Herself 50 cts. TRUTHS Talks with a Boy Concerning Himself 50 cts. FALSE MODESTY 50 cts. TEACHING SEX HYGIENE 50 cts. THE HOME NURSE $1.00 YOUR BABY A Guide for Mothers $1.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HERSELF TALKS WITH WOMEN CONCERNING THEMSELVES BY E. B. LOWRY, M.D. Author of "Confidences," "Truths," etc. CHICAGO FORBES & COMPANY 1917 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY FORBES AND COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE A recent number of the Journal of the American Medical Association contained this paragraph: "A correspondent asks for a good book describing the female generative organs anatomically, physiologically and pathologically, treating also of childbirth, written in language easily understood by a layman. He desires to give copies to some of his young women patients. The editor regrets there is no satisfactory book on the subject although there is great need for one." It is a lamentable fact that the majority of women and girls are ignorant of the structure of their most important organs. In the majority of schools and colleges where physiology is taught, absolutely nothing is mentioned about the reproductive organs. As far as books or instruction are concerned, the girl is ignorant of their very existence. If she knew something of the structure of such important organs and the harmful results of many practices or acts of carelessness affecting them, would she not be better prepared to take the proper care of herself and more liable to develop into a strong, healthy woman? If a girl in the business world is intrusted with a delicate piece of machinery she is taught the structure, use and care of it. Why is it not just as necessary that the girl, who is intrusted with the care of delicate organisms upon whose condition depends the health of the future generation, be instructed regarding the care of these organs? Instead, she is left in absolute ignorance and then blamed if she mars them. Every woman should have some knowledge of the structure and care of her body, especially of those parts which are concerned so intimately in the welfare of the future generation. Every woman, too, should receive some instruction regarding the care of young children and the proper management of the home. A woman who attempts to care for herself and her children without proper knowledge of these subjects is like a man who tries to run his business blindfolded.