Femina, A Work for Every Woman — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Femina, A Work for Every Woman
John Stuart Mill · en
Superfluous or too warm garments are the cause of an endless variety
of diseases. The rule is this, that any garment which by its weight
or thickness excites perspiration when the wearer sits quietly or
exercises moderately, is either superfluous or too thick or heavy, and,
as perspiration relaxes and softens the skin, it makes one susceptible
to take cold. It is reported on good authority that sealskin wraps
cause more deaths among those who wear them than typhoid fever and
for the reason above mentioned. Loosely-woven woolen goods make the
best wraps and the best underwear. If we were called upon to state a
single proposition which we considered of the greatest importance in
preventing disease, we would frankly say that, next to an irregular and
unwholesome diet, excessive clothing is the most mischievous factor in
causing or predisposing to disease.
The same rule applies to bedcovering; if it be so heavy as to make
the sleeper sweat during the night, he is almost sure to take cold
from the sudden change, from a warm, moist bed to the cool room or
comparatively chilled clothing.
Imprudence during menstruation. A heedless disregard, ignorance, or
carelessness of the precautions above referred to is, during the
catamenial days, quite sure to lay the foundation for disease. Every
practitioner has met with a great number of cases where the disease
originated during menstruation from some indiscretion, and it ran
on for years, until a condition of affairs was developed which was
well-nigh incurable.
The female organism is particularly sensitive about this time and much
easier affected than at any other.
During this period the ovaries and uterus are intensely congested, and
the Fallopian tubes which connect the former with the latter share this
condition, and if a cold should suddenly check or interfere with the
natural functions of these organs, it might result in inflammation of
the ovaries or in a catarrh of the tubes and womb. Any one of these
conditions is painful and often troublesome to cure, but when all these
organs are complicated in the diseased process, which we frequently
find to be the case, it may entail serious consequences.
Dysmenorrhea, or painful menstruation, will be a prominent symptom,
if any of the above organs have suffered from imprudence, during this
period, and I have known of cases which gave me no end of trouble
before they were restored to health.
Measurements of the healthy uterus. In a grown person the average
length is three inches, two inches in breadth and an inch in thickness.
It weighs from an ounce to an ounce and a half. The size of the uterus
is an important guide to the physician in establishing the presence or
absence of certain diseases.
In the child-bearing period measurements and weight change, because
the organ grows correspondingly large to accommodate the growth of the
child.