Searchlights on Health: The Science of EugenicsJefferis, B. G. (Benjamin Grant)
Philosophy
Searchlights on Health: The Science of Eugenics
Jefferis, B. G. (Benjamin Grant)
Eugenics; Hygiene; Marriage; Medicine, Popular; Sexual ethics
4. GATHERED BREAST.--A healthy woman with a well-developed breast and
a good nipple, scarcely, if ever, has a gathered bosom; it is the
delicate, the ill-developed breasted and worse-developed nippled lady
who usually suffers from this painful complaint. And why? The evil can
generally be traced to girlhood. If she be brought up luxuriously, her
health and her breasts are sure to be weakened, and thus to suffer,
more especially if the development of the bosoms and nipples has been
arrested and interfered with by tight stays and corsets. Why, the
nipple is by them drawn in, and retained on the level with the
breast countersunk as though it were of no consequence to her future
well-being, as though it were a thing of nought.
5. TIGHT LACERS.--Tight lacers will have to pay the penalties of which
they little dream. Oh, the monstrous folly of such proceedings! When
will mothers awake from their lethargy? It is high time that they did
so! From the mother having "no nipple," the effects of tight lacing,
many a home has been made childless, the babe not being able to
procure its proper nourishment, and dying in consequence! It is a
frightful state of things! But fashion, unfortunately, blinds the eyes
and deafens the ears of its votaries!
6. BAD BREAST.--A gathered bosom, or "bad breast," as it is sometimes
called, is more likely to occur after a first confinement and during
the first month. Great care, therefore, ought to be taken to avoid
such a misfortune. A gathered breast is frequently owing to the
carelessness of a mother in not covering her bosoms during the time
she is suckling. Too much attention cannot be paid to keeping the
breasts comfortably warm. This, during the act of nursing, should be
done by throwing either a shawl or a square of flannel over the neck,
shoulders, and bosoms.
7. ANOTHER CAUSE.--Another cause of gathered breasts arises from a
mother sitting up in bed to suckle her babe. He ought to be accustomed
to take the bosom while she is lying down; if this habit is not at
first instituted, it will be difficult to adopt it afterwards. Good
habits may be taught a child from earliest babyhood.
8. FAINTNESS.--When a nursing mother feels faint, she ought immediately
to lie down and take a little nourishment; a cup of tea with the yolk
of an egg beaten up in it, or a cup of warm milk, or some beef-tea,
any of which will answer the purpose extremely well. Brandy, or any
other spirit we would not recommend, as it would only cause, as soon
as the immediate effects of the stimulant had gone off, a greater
depression to ensue; not only so, but the frequent taking of brandy
might become a habit a necessity which would be a calamity deeply to
be deplored!
9. STRONG PURGATIVES.--Strong purgatives during this period are highly
improper, as they are apt to give pain to the infant, as well as to
injure the mother. If it be absolutely necessary to give physic, the
mildest, such as a dose of castor oil, should be chosen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account