Chapter VII: Part 7

“Where reducing the temperature of the head does not diminish the
pain, it will be well to try the effect of heat, which may be
accomplished in the following manner: pour a little æther into the
palm of the hand, and apply it to the forehead, or temples. The heat
will be kept up so long as the hand is pressed to the part, and any of
the æther remains.

“In severe cases of headache, the patient is to lie perfectly quiet,
with the head moderately raised by pillows, and the room is to be
darkened.

“If the feet are cold, they should be put into warm water; and if they
have a disposition to become chilled again soon, they are to be kept
warm by heated flannels, or bottles filled with hot water.

“During an attack of headache, arising from disordered digestive
organs, it is essential that the food be very simple, and small in
quantity.

“In headache, from nervous disorders, requiring stimulants, the food
may be of a nutritious quality; the quantity, however, should be
moderate.

“The foregoing remarks apply to sudden, or severe attacks of headache.
When slighter affections of the same nature often occur, strict
attention to diet, exercise, and the use of aperients, as recommended
in a previous chapter, will greatly tend to mitigate the suffering,
and to keep off the complaint altogether.

“Where headache comes on in consequence of fulness of the
blood-vessels of the head, it will be indicated by a sense of weight
within the skull, drowsiness, giddiness, particularly on stooping,
sickness, ringing or other sounds in the ears, and bright flashes, or
sparks in the eyes. In these cases, it will generally be necessary to
bleed the temples with eight or ten leeches; and if their application
to those parts is known to produce swelling of the eyes and face, the
leeches may be placed behind the ears. The head is then to be kept
cool by applying cold vinegar and water to it; and purgatives are to
be administered.

“The diet is to be very simple, animal food is to be avoided, and no
stimulants are to be taken.

“Headache may arise from whatever induces debility. It is generally
experienced where great loss of blood has taken place, and it may seem
singular that the symptoms and sensations of this kind of headache,
appear to be the consequence of the vessels of the head having too
much blood in them. For instance, there are usually noises resembling
the violent beating of a hammer, the rushing of water, the blowing of
wind, ringing, &c. It is therefore necessary to notice the condition
of the system, to be enabled to decide whether the pain arises from a
deficiency, or from an over supply of blood to the head.

“A correct decision should be formed upon this point, by ascertaining
whether there is a disposition to fulness of the system, or a state of
emptiness of the vessels from great loss of blood, with general
debility.

“In the latter case, quietness is most essential: wine and other
stimulants, will be necessary; together with a light nutritious diet.

“Opiates also will generally be found requisite, such as have been
previously enumerated in this chapter.

“In all cases of headache, mental tranquillity is of much importance;
and the patient should not persevere in the pursuit of any occupation
which materially increases the pain.

“In this disorder, as well as in many others, accompanied by much
irritability, the sleep is often seriously interrupted by slight
noises; in most cases, this may be prevented by stopping the ears with
small plugs, three quarters of an inch in length, and about one
quarter of an inch in diameter. If the plugs be made of white wax,
they will generally answer the best, as they admit of being accurately
moulded to the form of the openings of the ears. Plugs made of turned
wood will sometimes be sufficient.

“If such plans as the foregoing do not soon give relief, medical
advice should be had, especially where it is supposed that there is
too much blood in the vessels of the head.

“Tenderness and irritability of the external parts sometimes come on
to an almost intolerable extent, in consequence of inflammatory
action. They are most effectually relieved by bathing the parts
occasionally with cold or hot water, or decoction of poppy-heads, or
of laurel leaves, and by using a soothing lotion. The soothing lotion
may be made of two drachms of acetate of lead, commonly called sugar
of lead, and an ounce of laudanum, in seven ounces of water. It may be
applied three or four times during every twenty-four hours.

“In these troublesome affections the bowels must be kept rather more
active than usual by gentle aperients. The aperients to be, from two
to four drachms of Epsom salts. From one to two teaspoonfuls of
electuary of senna. From one to two spoonfuls of castor oil. Or from
fifteen to thirty grains of magnesia. Any of which may be taken every
second night, or every night, as circumstances may require. The diet
should be mild, and there must be a total abstinence from spirit,
wine, and malt liquor. If these means fail to give the desired relief,
it will be advisable to bleed the parts occasionally with six or eight
leeches, and to apply poultices of the same kind, and in the same
manner, as recommended in another chapter.

“A discharge frequently appears from the passage, which is either
white, or slightly tinged with green, or blood; in such cases, the
parts are to be washed, or the passage injected with a syringe, twice
daily, with tepid milk and water, or a weak solution of alum in water.
For the wash or injection, twelve grains of alum may be dissolved in
six ounces of water, and about two tablespoonfuls injected at each
time.

“Means should be used to secure the regular action of the bowels, by
employing mild aperients and injections, as previously recommended.

“More vigorous measures than the above might be productive of much
mischief.”

Footnote 28:

One of the English kings, Edward III., in the year 1344, picked up
from the floor of a ball-room, an embroidered garter, belonging to a
lady of rank. In returning it to her, he checked the rising smile of
his courtiers with the words, “Honi soit qui mal y pense!” or,
paraphrased in English, “Shame on him who invidiously interprets it!”
The sentiment was so greatly approved, that it has become the motto of
the English national arms. It is one which might be not inaptly nor
unfrequently applied in rebuking the mawkish, skin-deep, and
intolerant morality of this hypocritical and profligate age.

Footnote 29:

It may perhaps be argued, that all married persons have this power
already, seeing that they are no more obliged to become parents than
the unmarried; they may live as the brethren and sisters among the
Shakers do. But this Shaker remedy is, in the first place, utterly
impracticable, as a general rule; and, secondly, it would chill and
embitter domestic life, even if it were practicable.

Footnote 30:

Will our sensitive fine ladies blush at the plain good sense and
simplicity of such an observation? Let me tell them, the indelicacy is
in their own minds, not in the words of the French mother.

Footnote 31:

For a vice so unnatural as onanism there could be no possible
temptation, and therefore no existence, were not men unnaturally and
mischievously situated. It first appeared, probably in monasteries;
and has been perpetuated by the more or less anti-social and
demoralizing relation in which the sexes stand to each other, in
almost all countries. In estimating the consequences of the present
false situation of society, we must set down to the black account the
wretched consequences (terminating not unfrequently in incurable
insanity) of this vice, the preposterous offspring of modern
civilization. Physicians say that onanism at present prevails, to a
lamentable extent, both in this country and in England. If the
recommendations contained in these pages were generally followed, it
would probably totally disappear in a single generation.

Footnote 32:

See letter of Percy Bysshe Shelley, published in the “Lion,” of
December 5, 1828.

Footnote 33:

Every reflecting mind will distinguish between the
unreasoning—sometimes even generous, imprudence of youthful passion,
and the calculating selfishness of the matured and heartless
libertine. It is a melancholy truth, that pseudo-civilization produces
thousands of seducers by profession, who, while daily calling the
heavens to witness their eternal affections, have no affection for
anything on earth but their own precious and profligate selves. It is
to characters so utterly worthless as these that my observations
apply.

Footnote 34:

Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee.” _John_ viii., 11.

Footnote 35:

I should like to hear these gentlemen explain, according to what
principle they imagine the chastity of their _wives_ to grow out of a
fear of offspring; so that, if released from such fear, prostitution
would follow. I can readily comprehend that the unmarried may be
supposed carefully to avoid that situation to which no legal cause can
be assigned; but a wife must be especially dull, if she cannot assign,
in all cases, a legal cause; and a husband must be especially
sagacious, if he can tell whether the true cause be assigned or not.
This safeguard to married chastity, therefore, to which the gentlemen
of the Committee alluded to seem to look with so implicit a
confidence, is a mere broken reed; and has been so ever since the days
of Bethsheba.

Yet _conjugal_ chastity is that which is especially valued. The
inconstancy of a wife commonly cuts much deeper than the dishonour of
a sister. In that case, then, which the world usually considers of the
highest importance, the fear of offspring _imposes no check whatever_.
It cannot make one iota of difference whether a married woman be
knowing in physiology or not; except perhaps, indeed, to the husband’s
advantage; in cases where the wife’s conscience induces her at least
to guard against the possibility of burthening her legal lord with the
care and support of children that are not his. Constancy, where it
actually exists, is the offspring of something more efficacious than
ignorance. And if in the wife’s case, men must and do trust to
something else, why not in all other cases, where restraint may be
considered desirable? Shall men trust in the greater, and fear to
trust in the less? Whatever any one may choose to assert regarding his
relatives’ secret inclinations to profligacy, these arguments may
convince him that if he has any safeguard at present, a perusal of
these pages will not destroy it.

’Tis strange that men, by way of suborning an argument, should be
willing thus to vilify their relatives’ character and motives, without
first carefully examining whether anything was gained to their cause,
after all, by the vilification.

Footnote 36:

Instances innumerable might be adduced. Not one young person, for
example, in twenty, is ever told, that sexual intercourse during the
period of a woman’s courses is not unfrequently productive to the
woman of a species of fluor albus, and sometimes (as a consequent) to
the man of symptoms very similar to those of urethritis or gonorrhœa,
but more easily removed. Yet what fact more important to be
communicated? And how ridiculous the mischievously prudish refinement
that conceals from human beings what it most deeply concerns them to
know? The following case is related by Dr. Dewees in his work on
Diseases of Females: “We have known a complaint communicated to the
male by intercourse with a woman labouring under _Pruritis_. It was
very similar to that which affected the female in its general
character. When this occurs with the married man, much disturbance is
sometimes created from a supposition that the wife has been
unfaithful, and the contrary. Indeed, it has occurred in more
instances than one, within our own knowledge, where the woman has
thought herself the injured party; and in one case the recrimination
was mutual. In this instance, the friends of the parties assembled to
determine on the terms of separation, when it was suggested, by one of
those who happened to be more rational than the rest, that before they
proceeded to such an extremity, their family physician should be
consulted. We were accordingly sent for. After an attentive hearing of
both parties, and an examination of the parts, we were satisfied that
there was not the slightest ground for either to be charged with want
of fidelity, and we assured the parties that this was the case, and
were fortunate enough to cause all further proceedings to be
suspended.”

Footnote 37:

Le premier serment que se firent deux êtres de chair, ce fut au pied
d’un rocher, qui tombait en poussiere; ils attestèrent de leur
constance un ciel qui n’est pas un instant le même: tout passait en
eux, et autour d’eux; et ils croyaient leurs cœurs affranchis de
vicissitudes. O enfans! toujours enfans.

DIDEROT; _Jacques et son Maitre_.

Footnote 38:

Some German poet, whose name has escaped me, says,

“Tapfer ist de Lowensieger,
Tapfer is der Weltbezwinger,
Tapferer, wer sich selbst bezwang!”

“Brave is the lion-victor,
Brave the conqueror of a world,
Braver he who controls himself!”

It is a noble sentiment, and very appropriate to the present
discussion.

Footnote 39:

The author of these pages having resided many years in France, where
this preventive has been used with infallible and invariable success,
can vouch for its efficacy, healthiness and certainty. While there, he
was importuned to take the agency for its disposal in the United
States. But aware of the extreme sensitiveness, verging upon
mawkishness, with which the agitation of a question of this nature
would be viewed; the misapprehension to which it might give rise, and
the difficulty of presenting it to the consideration of the public, it
was not without some reluctance that he was induced to take the
exclusive agency for its sale in this country. The numerous
testimonials, however, of its efficacy, and the warm expressions of
gratitude and thankfulness he has received since taking the agency,
have convinced him that this invaluable preventive has been
appreciated.

Its efficacy is beyond question, as in Europe, among the higher
classes especially, it is universally used, and of late among all
classes. Thousands of married persons have for years used it with
invariable success. Instances are related by the author from whom we
have liberally quoted, exactly similar to hundreds which have come to
the knowledge of the writer of these pages. The principle upon which
it prevents conception, is to neutralize the fecundating properties in
semen, and it preserves and conduces to the health of the female, by
eradicating all predisposition to sexual weakness, fluor albus, or
whites, the falling of the womb, &c., and restores and maintains that
elasticity and firmness of the generative functions (appertaining only
to a young female) for many years. The French, who are scrupulously
observant of themselves in these particulars, and who retain their
health, vivacity, and capacity to receive and impart enjoyment, to a
remarkable age, would not for worlds abstain from the use of M.
Desomeaux’s Preventive to Conception, merely from its effects in
preserving their youth to an old age, and would not permit a sexual
act to transpire without its use. When used under these circumstances,
the directions are somewhat varied. It is well known that the French
always have intervals of three, four, or more years, between the birth
of children, depending upon either the health of the wife, or
inclination or judgment of parents. In cases of malformation,
deformity of pelvis, low state of health, its use is indispensable. In
obtaining this celebrated preventive, it is advisable in all cases to
communicate directly with him, the sole agent of the United States,
for the disposal of “_M. Desomeaux’s Preventive to Conception_.” The
packages can be forwarded to all parts of the United States. Letters
must be postpaid, and addressed to Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, Box “1224,” N.
Y. Office 129 Liberty street, N. Y. Price of packages Ten Dollars.

Footnote 40:

In France, and on the Continent of Europe generally, a covering (used
by the male), called a _baudruche_ (known as the French Secret), is
used with success, with the view of preventing pregnancy. Its
intention, however, and for which, perhaps, it is specially adapted,
is to obviate the penalty incurred by prostitution, and thereby guard
against the contraction of syphilis. But as the object of the author
is not to facilitate, but, on the contrary, effectually to prevent the
degrading intercourse the consequences of which are sought to be
avoided, in adverting to it therefore, he has only in view its
adaptation to prevent conception. If made of proper material and
texture, it can, to a certain extent, be relied upon. Deeming this
latter consideration of essential importance, and having been applied
to in regard to it, he has imported them made of the only material of
which they should be composed. Address Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, Box
“1224,” N. Y. City, who will send them by mail to any part of the
United States. Price $5 a dozen.

Footnote 41:

“This, of course, must be rather a matter of conjecture and
approximation, than of accurate calculation.”

Footnote 42:

“Any young man who will carefully note and compare his sensations,
will become convinced, that temperance positively forbids such
indulgence, at any rate, more than twice a week; and that he trifles
with his constitution who neglects the prohibition. How immeasurably
important that parents should communicate to their sons, but
especially to their daughters, facts like these! It is true that much
depends upon habit, as some individuals can indulge even daily without
apparently sustaining any physical injury; but such a frequency may
not be compatible with the well-being of both parties, and should
therefore not be encouraged.”

Footnote 43:

The writer, under the circumstances just mentioned, in the course of
his practice as Professor of the Diseases of Women, has been called
upon to effect miscarriages, and in all cases, it has proved perfectly
safe, recovery following in about three days. When necessary to be
attended to, the earlier the better, but in no case, if properly
effected, with ordinary care on the part of the patient, is it
attended with any danger. A skilful and practised obstetrician will
impart no pain.

Footnote 44:

_Anodyne Clyster._—A gill of new milk, or thin starch, or the same
quantity of any of the mucilaginous substances composing Simple and
Emollient Clysters, which consist of milk and water in equal parts:
flax-seed tea; infusion of quince-seed; barley water; mucilage of gum
Arabic, or slippery elm; thin starch. From half a pint to a pint of
either of these should be administered a little more than milk warm,
with the addition of one or two teaspoonfuls of laudanum, for adults.
In general, a patient will bear three times the quantity of laudanum
administered in this way, than would be a proper dose when taken into
the stomach: so that, when to procure rest, twenty-five drops would be
given in a draught, seventy-five may be administered in a clyster, and
the sickness, and other ill consequences, which some persons complain
of after laudanum has been taken into the stomach, seldom follow when
administered by clyster.

Footnote 45:

If faintness occurs from the loss of blood by flooding, a little
brandy, with two-thirds cold water, should be given in frequent and
small quantities at a time. Nothing so speedily restores the strength
in such cases.

Footnote 46:

As in most cases the predisposition to miscarry arises from a very
weakened or diseased state of the uterus, or general debility of the
system, which is mostly caused by one period of pregnancy followed by
miscarriage, too closely succeeding another with the same results, it
is obvious that the prevention of pregnancy by the use of M.
Desomeaux’s “_Preventive of Pregnancy_,” (treated of in the preceding
pages,) for about two years or so, or until health and strength are
restored, is the proper remedy; thereby enabling the system to correct
the predisposition, by improving the tone and vigour of the uterus.
The writer can vouch that by the use of this “Preventive,” many women
who had before constantly miscarried, at particular periods, entirely
recovered, and gave birth to full grown and healthy children, after
trying all other means without avail.

Footnote 47:

Interdiction of marriage is not necessary, all that is required is
that _pregnancy should be prevented_; this, thanks to M. Desomeaux’s
discovery can be attained by the use of his “Preventive to Pregnancy.”

Footnote 48:

This is true when it is a right presentation (the head), or when the
duration and severity of labor may not induce convulsions.

Footnote 49:

That barrenness, in most cases, arises from some defect or
obstruction, susceptible of cure, the fact, that those who for a
number of years have had no children, when once becoming pregnant—the
defect or obstruction being eradicated—have children in close
succession, may be adduced as almost conclusive proof.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.