The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in HygieneGalbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Science
The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in Hygiene
Galbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Women -- Health and hygiene
Continence, self-control, and a willingness to deny himself-- that is
what is required of the husband. But suffering women assure us that
this will not suffice; that men refuse to restrain themselves; that it
leads to loss of domestic happiness, to illegitimate amours; or that
it is injurious physically and mentally; that, in short, such advice
is useless because it is impracticable.
Dr. Napheys writes: "Is it amiss to hope that science will find
resources, simple and certain, which will enable a woman to let reason
and sound judgment, not blind passions, control the increase of her
family?"
The Crime of Abortion.-- From the moment of conception a new life
begins, a new individual exists; another child is added to the family.
The mother who deliberately sets about to destroy this life by want of
care, or by taking drugs, or by the use of instruments, commits a
great crime, and is just as guilty as if she strangled her new-born
infant. The crime she commits is child-murder. Women in their frenzy
at finding themselves in this condition, and with no slightest idea of
the sin that they are committing, are constantly guilty of committing
abortions on themselves, or going to professional abortionists to have
this crime of child-murder committed. This is another of the sins due
to the ignorance of the sex in all matters pertaining to reproduction;
and it is a fearfully prevalent one.
Infidelity in Women.-- "We have now reached the last infernal circle
of the divine comedy of marriage; we are at the depths of the inferno.
There is something, I do not know what, terrible in the situation in
which a married woman finds herself when an illegitimate love has
ruined her for the duties of a wife and mother. As has been so well
and strongly expressed by Diderot, infidelity in woman is like
incredulity in a priest; it is the last step in human forfeitures; it
is for her the great social crime, for it implies all the others.
"Weigh the sufferings of the future, the agonies of years by the
ecstasy of half an hour. If this conservative sentiment of the
creature, the fear of death, does not stop her, what could be expected
of laws? Oh, sublime infamy!"-- (Balzac).
_________________
PART III.-- MATERNITY.
_________________
CHAPTER X.
PREGNANCY.
Nature of Conception; Pregnancy Defined; Duration of Pregnancy; the Signs
of Pregnancy; Quickening; the Determination of Sex at Will; the Influence
of the Male Sexual Element on the Female Organism; Heredity; Hygiene of
Pregnancy; Causes of Miscarriage.
"Happy he
With such a mother, faith in womankind
Beats with his bood, and trust in all things high
Comes easy to him, and though he trip and fall,
He shall not bind his soul with clay."
-- TENNYSON.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account