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.
41. “This, of course, must be rather a matter of conjecture and approximation, than of accurate calculation.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
48. This is true when it is a right presentation (the head), or when the duration and severity of labor may not induce convulsions.
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.