Antique Womens Health Book | Physical Life of Woman E1416 | buy Gilded Age | Quack Medicine | Heredity Disease Deformities Marriage Childbirth

Antique Physical Life of Woman book.

Antique c1879 The Physical Life of Woman book Advice to the Maiden Wife and Mother. From The Gilded Age, the author is George H Napheys MD. The contents alone are indeed amazing and include everything in Victorian society as to one should conduct themselves, from puberty, love, marriage, pregnancy and later in life. Front cartouche denoting Knowledge is Safety. In VG condition, with minimal wear. Cover board corners crisp with a tiny white spot on the lower right board, text block tight, 430 clean pages, the title page having just a bit of foxing, and the hinge papers holding well. Back endpage has a few folds. Gilt title and black imprinting on the cover boards and spine. A small amount of spine wear from shelving, nothing detracting, but mentioned for accuracy. It was probably kept in a cabinet all these years. What an insight into Victorian social norms. Also included is a period Victorian Trade Card for the month of May (in French) with a little lass holding a birds nest, and a little bow placing a garland of flowers on her head. Did you know...our books were used on The Gilded Age TV Series! Use Etsy's KLARNA at checkout for IMMEDIATE SHIPPING and 4 interest free payments! Follow us to preview new Items.

Contents:

Part I. THE MAIDEN
Puberty: what it means--age when it arrives--causes that hasten it--causes that delay it--brunettes mature early--the signs of puberty--its dangers--spinal disease--green sickness--hysterics--secret bad habits--hygiene of puberty--diet--exercise--clothing--precautions during the monthly changes--what to do when the changes are delayed--when they are painful--the age of nubility.

Love: its powers in life--what it is--it is buy necessary and it is eternal--of second marriages and of divorce--courtship--love at first sight--how to choose a husband--shall cousins marry?--marriage between different races and different nations--the age of a husband--his temperament--his moral and mental character--words of warning--signs of character on the body--the engagement--concerning long engagements--the right time of year to marry--the right time in the month to marry-the wedding tour.

Part II. THE WIFE
Hints to Young Wives: the wedding night-should husband and wife sleep together or apart?--the most healthful bed--the dignity and propriety of the sexual instinct--the proper indulgence and the restraints of sexual desire--marital relations, when they should be suspended--when they are painful--barrenness, its causes and its cures--advice to wives who desire children--the limitation of offspring--when it is proper--justifiable means--injurious means--the crime of abortion--the nature of conception--signs of conception--how to retain the affections of a husband.

Inheritance: The varieties of inheritance--the legacy of beauty--the complexion--what physical qualities each parent bestows--the inheritance of fertility and longevity--even deformities sometimes transmitted--how to have beautiful children--talent and genius may be transmitted--the physical traits of fathers in daughters, and of mothers in sons--examples--influence of education on inherited qualities--transmission of disease--of mutilations--how to avoid inherited ill tendencies--the excess of women--how to have boys or girls at will--twins and triplets.
Pregnancy: Veneration for the pregnant woman--signs of pregnancy--quickening--mental changes--miscarriage, its causes, symptoms, and prevention--mother's marks--what makes them?--how to avoid them--education of the child in the womb--are double pregnancies possible?--instances of double children--can a child cry in the womb?--is it a son or daughter?--the duration of pregnancy--how to calculate when the confinement will come--care of health during pregnancy--the food, clothing, exercise, bathing, ventilation, and sleep--effect on health of body and mind--relations of husband and wife during pregnancy.

The Confinement: Preparations for childbirth--the signs of approaching labor--the symptoms of actual labor--attention is required during labor--to the other--to the child--to have labor without pain--the risks of childbed--weight and length of newborn children--the duration of labor--stillborn children--imprudence after childbirth--to preserve the form after childbirth.

Part III. THE MOTHER.
Nursing: The duties and privileges of a mother--hindrances to nursing, and when it is improper--rules for nursing--influence of diet on the mother's milk--influence of pregnancy on the milk--the mothers mind and her infant--striking examples--position of the mother while nursing--qualities of a good nursing mother--excess and deficiency of the milk--wet-nursing by virgins, aged women, and men--rules for care of health while nursing--relations of husband and wife at this time--overnursing and the signs of it--directions for mothers who cannot nurse their own children--how to select a wet nurse.

Part IV. THE CHILD.
The Care of Infancy: The causes of infant mortality--Bringing up by hand--weaning, when and how to do it--teething--vaccination and revaccination--the food of infants and children--concerning sleep in early life--the clothing of children, its pattern, amount and quality--bathing, ventilation, and exercise in early childhood--on learning to walk--the advantages of games and plays--on training the sight and hearing.

The Management of Some Diseases of Childhood: How to recognize and treat croup--head colds--fits--nose-bleed--worms--bet-wetting--looseness of the bowels--indigestion--hints on home government--is the race physically weaker?

Part V. HEALTH IN MARRIAGE.
Diseases Incident to Pregnancy: Morning sickness--pain in the abdomen--varicose veins--piles--diarrhea--constipation--cough--wakefulness.
Diseases incident to Childbed and Nursing: Puerperal mania--white-flowing--milk-leg--inward weakness--various causes of weakness--tight lacing one of them--their treatment--gathered breasts--cracked nipples.

Part VI. THE SINGLE LIFE.
Advantages and Drawbacks of.

Part VII. THE CHANGE OF LIFE.
Diseases and Hygiene of: what it is--age when it comes--signs and symptoms--effects on the character--those who suffer most--diseases and discomforts attending--precautions and remedies.

Here are some excerpts taken with an optical reader (do excuse any typographical errors).

THE WEDDING NIGHT.
We now enter upon the consideration of the second great period in the life of woman. The Maiden becomes a Wife. She is born into a new world. She assumes new relationships, the sweetest, and, at the same time, the most natural of which she is capable.
The great object of the conjugal union is the transmission of life — a duty necessary in order to repair the constant ravages of death, and thus perpetuate the race. In the fulfillment of the sublime obligation, woman plays the more prominent part, as she is the source and depository of the future being. It is of moment, therefore, that she should not be altogether ignorant of the nature and responsibilities of her position. Ignorance here means suffering, disease, and sometimes death. Let us then interrogate science in regard to these matters, among the most interesting of all human concerns.

The initiation into marriage, like its full fruition, maternity, is attended with more or less suffering. Much, however, may be done to avert and to lessen the pain which waits upon the first step in this new life. For this purpose regard must be had to the selection of the day. We have said that a time about midway between the monthly recurring periods is best fitted for the consummation of marriage. As this is a season of sterility, it recommends itself on this account, in the interest of both the mother and offspring. The first nuptial relations should be fruitless, in order that the indispositions possibly arising from them shall have time to subside before the appearance of the disturbances incident to pregnancy. One profound change should not too quickly succeed the other. About the tenth day after menstruation should, therefore, be chosen for the marriage ceremony
It sometimes happens that marriage is consummated with difficulty. To overcome this, care, management, and forbearance should always be employed, and anything like precipitation and violence avoided. Only the consequences of unrestrained impetuosity are to be feared. In those rare cases in which greater resistance is experienced than can be overcome by gentle means, the existence of a condition contrary to nature may be suspected. Violence can then only be productive of injury, and is not without danger. Medical art should be appealed to, as it alone can afford assistance in such an emergency.

Although the first conjugal approaches are ordinarily accompanied by slight flooding, a loss of blood does not always occur. Its absence proves nothing. The appearance of blood was formerly regarded as a test of virginity. The Israelites, Arabs, and others carefully preserved and triumphantly exhibited the evidence of it as an infallible sign of the virtue of the bride. They were in error. Its presence is as destitute of signification as its absence, for it is now well known that widows, and wives long separated from their husbands, often have a like experience. The temperament is not without its influence. In those of lymphatic temperament, pale blondes, who often suffer from local discharge and weakness, the parts being relaxed, there is less pain and little or no hemorrhage. In brunettes, who have never had any such trouble, the case is reversed. The use of baths, unguents, fee, by the young wife, however serviceable it might prove, is obviously impracticable. This great change sometimes, also, produces swelling and inflammation of the glands of the neck.
Marital relations ordinarily continue during the first few weeks to be more or less gainful. General constitutional disturbance and disorders of the nervous system often result. These troubles are all increased by the stupid custom of hurrying the bride from place to place, at a time when the bodily quiet and mental calmness and serenity desirable to her should be the only objects in view. Too frequent indulgence at this period is a fruitful source of various inflammatory diseases, and often occasions temporary sterility and ill-health. The old custom requiring a three days' separation after the first nuptial approach, was a wise one, securing to the young wife the soothing and restoring influence of rest. Nothing was lost by it, and much gained.

In a little while, however, all irritation should subside, and no suffering or distress of any kind, whether general r local, should attend upon the performance of this important function. The presence of suffering now becomes indicative of disease. Of this we will speak hereafter.

ON THE INDULGENCE AND THE RESTRAINT OF SEXUAL DESIRE.
The act of generation is a voluntary one. But nature has so placed it under the empire of pleasure, that the voice of discretion is no longer heard, and the will is often led captive. Hence it is well, for hygienic reasons, to consider its laws.

The too frequent repetition of the reproductive act is known to be followed by consequences injurious to the general health. Too rigid continence is not unattended, in many constitutions, with danger, for the victory over passion may be dearly bought. Science recommends the adoption of a wise mean between two extremies equally destructive. By following her counsel, w(;man may escape from the hysterical and other disorders which often wait as well upon excess as upon too great denial of that passion, which claims satisfaction as a natural right.

As men have made laws upon all subjects, we need not be surprised to learn that they have legislated upon this. History informs us that the legislators of ancient times have not failed to occupy themselves with this grave question of conjugal economy. The ordinances of Solon required that the married should acquit themselves of their duties at least three times a month ; those of Zoroaster prescribed once a week. Mahomet ordained that any wife neglected by her husband longer than a week could demand and obtain a divorce. It is not, however, in these and other enactments which might be quoted, that guidance is to be sought. The principles derived from nature and experience are more valuable than human laws, however venerable, for these too often serve only to reflect the profound ignorance of their makers.

Moderation should here prevail. Health is thus preserved and strengthened, and the gratification doubled. The art of seasoning pleasures in general consists in being avaricious with them. To abstain from enjoyment is the philosophy of the sage, the epicurism of reason.

Proper self-denial in the gratification of the wants of physical love is a source of good, not only to the individual practising it, but to the community, as we shall show hereafter. It may be practiced for one's own advantage only, or for the benefit of another. The latter is in the end more conducive to self-interest than the former. A double profit grows therefrom : gratitude and sympathy returned, and increase of appetite and power of future enjoyment. The love which first united any pair soon becomes extinguished though excess of indulgence, and sometimes terminates in the pain of a surfeit. Earnest love, satisfying with small gratifications, is a more copious source of pleasure than that frequently quenched by full gratification.

THE EFFECTS OF THE MOTHER ON MILK:
But the fact which it is most important to know is that nervous agitation may so alter the quality of the milk as to make it poisonous. A fretful temper, fits of anger, grief, anxiety of mind, fear and sudden terror, not only lessen the quality of the milk, but render it thin and unhealthful, inducing disturbances of the child's bowels, diarrhea, griping, and fever. Intense mental emotion may even so alter the milk as to cause the death of the child. A physician states in the London Lancet, that having removed a small tumor from behind the ear of a mother, all went on well until she fell into a violent passion. The child being suckled soon afterwards, died in convulsions. Professor Carpenter records in his Physiology two other fatal in- stances ; in one, the infant, put to the breast immediately after the receipt of distressing news by the mother, died in her arms in the presence of the messenger of the ill- tidings ; in the other, the infant was seized with convulsions on the right side and paralysis on the left, on sucking directly after the mother had met with an agitating occurrence. Another case of similar character may be mentioned. A woman while nursing became violently excited on account of a loss she had just met with from a theft. She gave her child the breast while in an intense passion. The child first refused it, but subsequently nursed when severe vomiting occurred. In the course of some hours the child took the other breast, was attacked at once with violent convulsions, and died in spite of all that could be done for it.

TO PRESERVE THE MOTHER'S FORM AFTER CHILDBIRTH:
This is a matter of great anxiety with many women ; and it is proper that it should be, for a flabby, pendulous abdomen is not only destructive to grace of movement and harmony of outline, but is a positive inconvenience.

To avoid it, be careful not to leave the bed too early. If the walls of the abdomen are much relaxed, the bed should be kept from two to three weeks. Gentle frictions daily with spirits and water will give tone to the muscles. But the most important point is to wear for several months a well-fitting bandage — not a towel pinned around the person, but a body-case of strong linen, cut bias, set- ting snugly to the form, but not exerting unpleasant pres- sure. The pattern for this has already been given.

Goodness, there are all kinds of Victorian health tidbits inside, as well as how men and women should interact. Often a young man or woman's only guide to how to conduct oneself was found by reading these type of books. It was just so important that Victorians conduct themselves accordingly and not appear a deviate.

Size is 5 x 7.5 inches. It truly is an exceptional insight into Victorian life, a one-of-a-kind conversation coffee table and library book.

Do use the zoom feature to see details better. If you would like this sent USPS Priority Mail, convo us, and we can change the postage. We estimate postage as best as we can; however, Etsys postage calculator can often be a little off, so keep in mind that postage overages are always cheerfully refunded after checkout. Combined shipping.
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