Part 3
In Persia, and indeed in most Mahomedan countries where a plurality of wives is allowed, it is considered indecent to approach a woman for sexual intercourse during pregnancy, or when she is suckling her child. This custom is highly commendable, and if observed among Christians it would tend to promote the health of both the mother and her offspring, for Nature never intended that the nuptial act should be performed solely for the gratification of our passions. Nevertheless, I do not say that a moderate indulgence during pregnancy would be hurtful to a robust woman; though to a weak and nervous one it surely is. But after the child is born, sexual intercourse should cease until it is weaned, to insure its health. Many sucking children die in consequence of the sexual indulgences of their parents, and none are wholly unaffected thereby.
TIME AND MANNER OF IMPREGNATION.
We have stated elsewhere that there are certain times during the month when it is impossible for a woman to be impregnated by sexual connection. This is a fact that may be relied upon with the utmost certainty, and we will discuss it more in detail. The Vesicles of the Ovary are constantly growing and ripening, as we have shown. Once in four weeks one or more of them is ready to leave its cell. Inflammation commences—which is called the Menstrual Flow—the Vesicle then begins to enlarge, and by the time the flow ceases, it bursts open, when the Ovum or Egg within escapes and is taken up by some very curious little membranes and drawn into the Fallopian Tube. It passes through this tube into the Womb, and it is generally two days, and often longer, in making the passage. Meantime a thin, delicate membrane, called the Decidua, forms in the Womb, and is ready to receive the Egg and detain it there, otherwise it would pass out and be lost. This membrane will generally last about a week, when it gradually loosens and passes out, taking the Egg along with it. If, however, the Egg be impregnated—in other words, if the female have connection with a man, and the Semen comes in contact with the Egg during this period, the Decidua from that moment begins to grow fast to the Womb, and becomes one of the coverings that protect the new being during the fœtal state.
It will thus be understood that during the first twenty-four hours after the Menstrual Flow has ceased, there is very little danger of impregnation, and in some females this time might be extended to two or three days with safety. The Zoospermes of the Semen will live for twenty-four hours within the Womb, and it is possible for the Egg to be impregnated by them the moment it leaves the Fallopian Tube. We therefore state the probable time that impregnation cannot take place to be twenty-four hours, allowing the second twenty-four hours for the possibility of there being living Semen in the Womb. After the Decidua and Egg have passed out of the Womb, which is from ten to sixteen days after the Menstrual Flow has ceased, impregnation, or conception, is then utterly impossible until after another monthly turn is over, and so on. French women are famous for a clear understanding of all the phenomena attending impregnation, and they generally avoid it at pleasure. They know exactly when the Decidua and Egg leaves them—they watch for it, and it is said many of them search for it and take it away violently. At all events, there are multitudes of the class called grisettes—females who are content to live and cohabit with any decent man who offers them a support—who never get into the family way at all. Their secret is supposed to be a physiological knowledge, or art, which enables them to destroy the Decidua, or membrane which keeps the Egg from passing out of the Womb. We confess we cannot understand how so delicate an operation can be performed by a woman upon her own person; but the thing is not impossible.
Married people who desire to avoid having children might generally attain their object by refraining from sexual intercourse for a week or ten days after the cessation of the Menstrual Flow; or, they might follow the precaution recommended in our chapter on Prevention during that period. It is supposed that conception takes place within seven days after the monthly turn nineteen times out of twenty. But to be on the safe side, you should wait longer—even to sixteen days—unless you can discover when the Decidua and Egg pass off. There are certain symptoms connected with this expulsion of the Egg which may be detected. A thin, colorless, watery fluid comes from the Vagina, and is often so abundant as to wet the external parts. This will continue for some hours, and will be followed by a grayish-white clot about the size of a pea. The discharge of this clot is frequently accompanied by slight pains and bearing down of the Womb. This is the Decidua and Egg. When a woman can discover, with certainty, the passage of this clot, she is then safe from impregnation until after her next monthly turn.
The manner in which the Egg of the female is impregnated by the male Semen is curious and interesting. In its first state, while in the Ovary, there may be seen within it a little dot called the Germinal Vesicle. When the Egg is fully ripe, and just as it leaves the Ovary, this little dot is by some unknown process expelled, leaving an open passage to the very centre. The Egg is then ready for impregnation; for, on passing into the Womb, if the male Semen come in contact with it, one of the animalculæ instantly darts into this open passage and buries itself. All these curious operations of Nature have been discovered by the use of the Microscope, and they are not only very interesting, but are of great importance to mankind.
It will be seen from these explanations of the principles of Impregnation, that a healthy woman may conceive under almost any circumstances—that the idea that a first and only connection would not impregnate is erroneous—that the most brutal violation may cause conception—in short, that if a female were rendered senseless by drugs, or by a blow upon the head, this would not prevent the impregnation of the Egg if the time were propitious.
Sexual enjoyment of the female during connection may hasten the accomplishment of the desired end in various ways, but it is by no means necessary to impregnation or conception. Indeed, there are many females of cold temperament who seldom experience any very pleasing sensations during connection, and some who have no sexual desires at all. I knew a case in Hartford, Connecticut, many years ago, where a wealthy gentleman desired offspring. He had lost his Penis when quite a young man; but yet he was able, at times, to discharge Semen from the urinary passage. He was married after the loss of his private member, and lived with his wife—a very worthy woman—ten years, never dreaming that he could ever become a father. One day a physician banteringly told him of a similar case in Vienna, where the man had actually become a father by the use of a small glass syringe, with which he injected his Semen into the Vagina. It was a singular coincidence that this Hartford gentleman afterwards became the father of two interesting little ones. He had doubtless used the Syringe!
There is a class of amorous women who cannot be impregnated at all. They are afflicted with a sort of disease called Nymphomania, or insatiable passion for venery. Such cases are rare, but still they occur. A young lady patient of mine, in describing this disease, said that she had the most irresistible disposition to lasciviousness imaginable; that when alone she could not desist from rubbing the parts until she became exhausted and sunk down in perspiration: she slept well, but as soon as she was awake the same propensity recurred. Another lady (married) who consulted me, said she had always been brought up virtuously, and had hitherto been well disposed; but now a man could scarcely pass her without her experiencing those sensations which were alone her husband’s right.
Nymphomania is attended with obscenity, restlessness, and delirium. The patients delight to talk obscenely, and solicit men to satisfy their desires, both by words and gestures. It is generally caused by masturbation, or undue irritation of the private parts when very young; and the usual treatment is to keep them well syringed out with castile soap and water, and wear a bag of powdered camphor on the back of the neck. Camphor taken internally is also good. A very little camphor introduced into the water with which you wash the part will likewise act favorably.
Young females troubled with Nymphomania, who thereby bring themselves into disgrace, are more to be pitied than despised: for it requires a great degree of moral firmness for them to resist both the promptings of Nature and those of licentious men at the same moment. Parents and guardians should act accordingly.
CAUSES WHICH DETERMINE THE SEX OF A CHILD.
Physiologists have given many absurd ideas on this subject, and almost all their theories have been exploded. In olden time it was believed that male children came from the right ovary of the mother, while females came from the left. Hence it was asserted that on whichever side she lay after connection, the ovary on that side would be impregnated. This plan of producing girls or boys at pleasure did not work, and was discarded even before the present minute knowledge of the principles of generation became known. The sex of an infant is not necessarily determined at its conception. In their unformed state, the Testes are within the body in about the same position as the Ovaries, and are similar to them in appearance. It is therefore possible that certain causes may influence the sex of the Fœtus after it has commenced its growth. As a general rule, however, the sex of a child is influenced by circumstances at the moment of conception. Both experiment and observation have shown that the most ardent and vigorous individual of the couple, whether it be the man or the woman, will cause the sex of the child. On the other hand, where both are nearly alike in this respect, other influences must govern, and hence some couples have children of both sexes. The relative ages of married people frequently has an influence, because, when both are young, the oldest of the two is usually the most vigorous, and hence, as before stated, sex follows the predominating parent. Some physicians lay it down as a rule, that an elderly or middle-aged man will be sure to get boys from a young woman, and _vice versa_. But the rule does not work in every case. There is such a difference of sexual desires in different people, that it is impossible for any one, except perhaps themselves, to judge which has the most robust sexual powers. Another cause of sex is supposed to be the relative amorousness of the couple after impregnation has taken place. Some women experience much pleasure in sexual connection until they become _enciente_, and then all their desires suddenly cease. In cases like this, where the connection is continued, the husband would be apt to influence the sex after conception, and then the offspring would be male. But should circumstances prevent their continued connection, she would, in nine cases out of ten, give birth to a female child. To sum up, amorous females generally breed female children, while those of a colder temperament breed boys. When both are moderate in their desires, children of both sexes are produced. When the female is unnaturally amorous, (and such cases frequently occur,) she seldom becomes impregnated at all. The following mode of influencing the sex of the child, some physiologists assert, is really effective, and it looks reasonable. When the woman is just over her monthly turn—say within two or three days—the husband may then try for a girl. After one or two connections, let him abstain for the next month or two, or even longer. He thus impregnates his wife at the moment of her greatest sexual vigor, and by abstinence he does not influence the sex of the child after conception. Should he desire a boy, let him keep up his connection for two weeks or more after his wife has got over her monthly turn, at the same time carefully practicing the precaution of withdrawal, described in other pages under the head “Modes of Preventing Conception.” At that period the wife will have partially exhausted her amative powers, when he can be almost certain that a boy will be the result of her impregnation.
A curious fact relative to the resemblance of children to their parents has been developed by observation. Where a man is absent from his wife during the period of gestation, the child is almost sure to resemble the mother. On the other hand, an amorous father, who keeps a constant connection with his wife during pregnancy, will cause the child to resemble him. If a woman should become pregnant by one man, and then cohabit constantly with another during her pregnancy, the child would bear a resemblance to the second man rather than to its father. This would surely be the case if she were fond of the latter’s caresses.
It often happens that a married couple will have “a run” of children of one sex, and then turn round and breed those of the opposite sex. This may be accounted for by the failing health, and consequent vigor, of the predominating parent. Thus if a woman begins to breed boys, and after having had several, turns round and breeds a number of girls, it is a pretty sure sign that the sexual vigor of her husband is on the wane, or that his bodily health is failing. Should girls come first in rotation, and boys afterwards, the mother’s generative vigor may be suspected of falling off. These are, however, mere suggestive ideas; though readers may understand from them the principle upon which Nature forms the two sexes. I have no doubt that a careful and practical study of the subject may sometimes enable parents to elect the sex of their offspring, on the principle we have explained; but there are so many curious phases in the phenomena of procreation, that any certainty on the subject is out of the question.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE FŒTUS.
The escape or expulsion of the Germinal Vesicle from the Ovum, or Egg, leaves, as we have already explained, a passage to its very centre, thus enabling the Zoospermes, or male animalculæ, to enter. If both are perfect and healthy, impregnation is then complete. The first change that now takes place is observed in the Vitellus, or yellow of the Egg, which at once forms itself into a mass of little globules; and it is a singular fact that these are always a fixed even number, generally beginning with four or six, and so multiplying or doubling—always, however, keeping the number even. If by chance they should end their self-arrangement by an odd number, a perfect being could not be formed—the impregnation would end either in an abortion or an unnatural growth in the Womb. It generally takes two or three days for the globules to arrange themselves, and meantime the Zoosperme, or male principle, remains dormant. The globules soon begin to form themselves either into Testicles or Ovaries, as the sex may be, of the future being. At the same time myriads of smaller globules break off from them and spread all round the Zoosperme, which is soon entirely covered or coated with them. They now grow together and form the skin. The Zoosperme is supposed to be the head and spine, and the globules, which thus form the skin, shut out our view from observing any further formations. The Testicles, or Ovaries, as the case may be, are now quite prominent, though we cannot yet determine the sex, even with the most powerful microscope, nor is there any form to the new being other than the original shape of the male animalculæ.
After the formation of the skin and procreative organs, as stated, the little being again shows signs of life, and struggles in its Egg until it frees itself from all the membranous substances which surround it, and is enabled to turn round at its pleasure. Its movements are frequently rapid and lively, and they doubtless are necessary to the formations and changes which soon begin to take place. At the end of twelve days the Ovum is found to be enlarged to the size of a pea, and its whole organization may be seen with the naked eye. It is coated with two membranes, between which is a gelatinous substance, and the interior is filled with a fluid in which the fœtus swims about at pleasure. On a close examination, the mouth and eyes can be seen about the fifteenth day. The eyes first appear on the side of the head, and, as the Fœtus grows, they move round to their position. In ten days more we see the future being in form and size like a small ant. At the end of the first month it has increased to the size of a honey-bee, and the arms begin to grow—first appearing like small warts on the body. They sprout straight out, and are then folded together on the breast. At this time the head is as large as all the rest of the body, and the features can be distinguished. The legs have not yet appeared, but the lower extremities are like a tail. At two months the legs and feet appear, the toes being united similar to frogs’ feet. During the tenth week the eyes show their lids, the mouth becomes more prominent, and the ears may be seen. The heart is now fully developed, but as yet contains no blood. The brain shows its form and substance. The next change brings red blood to the larger veins and to the heart, and at the end of three months the shape and form of the future being is nearly perfect, weighing less than three ounces. The next process of Nature is the thickening of the skin, and so rapid now is the growth that within one month the Fœtus fully doubles in weight. During the fourth month the bones begin to ossify, the uterus rises in the abdomen, and we are then enabled to determine the sex. This change is what is usually called quickening, and it corresponds with the time of breaking the shell in birds. At the end of the fifth month the finger-nails appear, and fine silky hair begins to grow on the head. At seven months the being is generally perfect, the bones are firm and hard, and it weighs about three pounds. The intellectual faculties are not developed, however. The eighth and ninth months merely increase the size and strength of the child.
Our Engravings show the relative sizes and position of a Fœtus, as it lies in the Womb, at three several stages of gestation. They are original drawings from anatomical figures in wax in the New York Anatomical Museum.
The child, previous to birth, never takes nutriment in by its mouth, for that is always firmly closed until after birth. Its food during gestation is probably derived from the blood of its mother through the umbilical cord, or navel-string, which likewise supplies its veins and arteries until the very hour of birth. An artery and two veins pass through this cord. There is sometimes an impediment in the circulation of new-born infants, which is called the blue disease, and for which there is no remedy. In these cases the body is of a leaden blue color, and the child appears sleepy and inanimate. Such children usually die before they are a year old, though sometimes they live four or five years.
SEXUAL INDULGENCE.
Most men are of an amative disposition, and after the age of puberty have frequent desires to indulge in sexual intercourse. Some feel this desire so overpoweringly that everything else is forgone, all risks are run, and consequences madly braved, merely for the gratification of a momentary passion. Females, on the contrary, are seldom troubled with sexual desires; and among those who risk their reputation and their social existence in the gratification of illicit love, few are prompted to the act by the amative feeling. It is the idea that they are loved, and the wish to impart pleasure to the loved object, that overpowers their own judgment. When once a man has gained the love of a true female heart, it lies in his power to use her person at will. Very few of the weaker sex can withstand the promptings of disinterested affection; but their sexual passions seldom lead them astray.