SEEING so many of you daily imposed upon by those who profess to be acquainted with prolapsus uteri, or falling of the womb, and knowing that two-thirds of the married ladies are very ignorant, as regards the structure of their own bodies, and therefore the more easily imposed upon, I will endeavor to give a full description and explanation of the living animal, which we call physiology. It is a beautiful study, and we read of King David’s admiration, after viewing the structure of his own body; he exclaims in rapture, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” I am sorry this important study is excluded from our schools. The reader may ask—what are the component parts of the living animal, the heart, brain, eyes, ears, muscles, bones, and the many other parts—how do they act, and what are their uses?

FORMATION OF THE CHEST.

The chest is formed by the back bone behind, the breast bone in front, and the ribs, which go from the back bone to the breast bone. Seven of the ribs are long, and five short; the five lower are the short ribs, and they are united to the breast bone by an elastic cartilage; by this construction, the chest is made flexible.

Now that I have explained the formation of the lungs, we will look in and see what it contains—the lungs and heart.

The lungs are wedge-shaped—the small ends being up under the collar bone, while the base, or larger part, is at the bottom, turned down heavily in the midriff. The lungs are attached to the wind-pipe, and larger air vessels and blood vessels, these likewise being connected to the back bone with cartilages. The lungs float downward into the midriff, and against the ribs or the side of the chest, every time the air is drawn into the chest. They are divided into two parts, on each side of the chest, something like a sponge, full of cells; the most correct resemblance of these cells, or vacancies, would be, in my opinion, a thick branch of some shrub, very full of the minutest berries you can conceive of, and without leaves; you must imagine the shrub as hollow, through all its branches and twigs, until quite into the cells; then cut the extremity of all the twigs, until you bring it to a wedge shape, and weave something like a spider web, to cover the cells, so that nothing but the air or blood can pass through, to be renewed.

The heart is in front, between the two tubes of the lungs. It is likewise wedge-shaped, the base, or larger end being up, while the small end points downward, slanting into the left chest; it occupies one-third more room in the left chest than in the right, measuring from the centre of the breast bone, under which the heart is placed, towards the middle of the breast bone.

This important organ is little known, and I wish to explain its offices and revolutions, in a comprehensive manner, that all may understand it.

We have three different kinds of blood vessels; the largest vein is called vena cavÆ; the smaller veins are called capillaries and arteries; every time you prick yourself, you open a capillary vein. On the right side is the vena cavÆ, one part descending and the other ascending, but both meeting on the right side; this brings all the contaminated blood from all parts of the body; from thence it empties into the right ventricle, then to the right auricle, pushes on to the pulmonary artery, through the lungs, to be purified, returns with velocity to the left auricle, and then to the left ventricle. There are thousands and tens of thousands little arteries, that carry the blood to all parts of the body.

I will quote a report from Dr. Edwards. He had been speaking of the wonderful distribution of the blood, in the little arteries, when he added:

“Along on the lines of these little tubes or canals, (the arteries,) through which the blood with all its treasures flows, God has provided a vast multitude of little organs, or waiters, whose office is each one to take out of the blood, as it comes along, that kind and quantity of nourishment which it needs, for its own support, and also for the support of that part of the body which is committed particularly to its care. And, although exceedingly minute and delicate, they are endowed by their Creator with the wonderful power of doing this, and also of abstaining from, or of expelling and throwing back into the common mass, what is unsuitable, or what they do not want, to be carried to some other place where it may be needed; or, if it is not needed anywhere, and is good for nothing, to be thrown out of the body as a nuisance.

“Now let us follow these little organs, as they fly upward, to carry support to the hair, to make it grow. But, as they proceed upward, the ears will want serum—the eyes will want something for the eye-balls, and the organs about the eye will take that and work it up into the eyes, and cause them to grow; then proceed on to your joints, and along the bones, muscles and nerves; the joints want strength—it is a fluid called synovia, in physiology; then proceed to your finger nails.”

So you see the whole system is supported by the blood; all these vessels or supports go to every organ in the body, and are called secretions; if these secretions are obstructed by disease, they cannot perform their regular routine, or office, and the parts will gradually become infirm. The blood carries little atoms, or particles, to make all parts of the body grow, and which, you may perceive, are necessary to replace the atoms which are worn off by friction, in our motion, as there is a constant waste in every part of the body, or system.

Now let me return to the heart. It is not larger than a man’s fist, and is strong and muscular. It is, as I said before, situated slanting, or obliquely; both sides of the heart fill in the same instant, and then contract, shrink, and compresses, with as much force as a strong man could press it with his hand. Such is the admirable circulation of the blood, that this revolution goes regular, one hundred thousand times in twenty-four hours.

How can we but admire the creation of such a beautiful machine! Then consider how much resistance this poor heart has to overcome, in sending blood to all parts of the body, and the many obstructions in its way, which causes it to stop its motion, or it will quiver and throb, according as it is repulsed by those obstructions. How many there are who say, “My heart is diseased—the physician says so.” Now, my friends, not in one case of ten is the heart diseased; but it is obstructed in its revolutions, by not being able to send the blood through these little vessels, to all parts of the body; they are crooked, and the least impediment must necessarily cause agitation, or stop this great propeller.

There is a strong partition between the right and left sides of the heart, so that the right auricle and right ventricle, with their blood, brought back from the veins, can have nothing to do with the blood in the left auricle and left ventricle; it is, indeed, as if there were two hearts, placed side by side, and pressed closely together. We know not how the heart is kept in motion, nor can the wisest anatomist or physiologist in the world tell us; we know that the lungs have something to do in the case, and, when once set a-going, we can form some idea of what keeps it in motion—but, after all, the real causes of the continued movement of either the heart or lungs, has ever been a great mystery, and may possibly always remain so.

Our bones, nerves, and muscles receive life and nourishment from the blood; then how necessary it should be pure and clean. As the blood is made from our food, we should be careful as to the quality and quantity, eating only what is conducive to health, which surely will promote happiness. Strong spices, hot bread, rich pies and cakes, salt pork and beef, are injurious eating at all hours of the day, especially at bed time, and is contrary to the laws of nature. Some may laugh, and say, “Why, I eat half a mince pie, and half a dozen pickles, every night, and yet I am well.” You may tantalize your digestive organs for a while, but remember, your gratifying your unnatural appetite, will be repaid by years of pain and distress. Be rational beings; eat to live, and not live to eat.

Mothers, as a general thing, feed their children too often; even if you nourish your child with the breast, it should be regular—not twenty times a day, and all night. This is very wrong; you bring your little ones up gluttons, and, as soon as they are weaned, they will be continually crying for something to eat—never satisfied. Always be regular in eating your own meals, and giving the same to your children, if you wish them to be healthy; as a general rule, give them food according to your own judgment—not too much. I think many a poor child has been murdered, by an over fond mother giving it all it wanted, and not using that judgment which was required, because the child cried. O! mothers, be firm, wise, and prudent, in raising those tender plants; remember, if the digestive organs are too weak, the child will fall into fits. Let a child eat mashed potatoes; all vegetables are better, and give more nourishment, than cakes and pies; a little lean meat, is healthy for a child. In our food, we all want a change; but let all be well cooked, well baked, and plainly seasoned.

Now let me go back, and say a little in regard to the nerves and bones. The nerves derive their support from the blood, but not entirely, for the nerves may be weakened by other causes; still they depend on the blood, in a measure, for support. For instance, a lady may fall and break her back bone, or spine; now this is the seat of the nerves; they all branch out from the spine, and, of course, all the nerves are affected; perhaps the pain would be most severe at the extremity of the nerves. Many able and eminent physicians have been baffled, in procuring ease to their patients, as there was no pain where the parts were injured, but at the extremity of the nerves.

The digestive organs depend entirely upon the nerves for support; therefore, never irritate the spine by blistering, as it injures every nerve. Everything that is applied to the spine—plasters, bathing, or drops, should be of a cooling nature, and at the same time strengthening, and never irritating, as it only makes you worse; I never saw any good effect derived from it. If you want to irritate, draw from the spine, by putting blisters on the thighs or legs, not to the spine or head; let your motive be, in all cases, to draw downward.

How do the joints derive support from the blood? It is the secretion we call in physiology, synovia. It serves the same purpose as the grease which men use for wheels, to prevent their making a noise; so, when this secretion is obstructed, or the circulation irregular, the ligaments and muscles find no support, and consequently they become stiff and inactive; call it rheumatism, if you like, or weak joints. Sometimes the bones become crooked and deformed, which is often caused by mercury, or by scrofula, which creates heat, and absorbs all the nourishment from them. Sometimes the muscles become stiff; in all such cases, cleanse the blood, and rub in hemlock tincture; you will find, in this book, very good bathing drops.

THE DIAPHRAGM.

Now that I have explained the circulation of the blood, and showed you the contents of the chest, I will proceed to the midriff. The contents of the chest are separated from the abdomen, by a floating curtain, called the midriff, or diaphragm. The midriff is the floor of the lungs; the right and left portions are loose, and float upward into the chest every time we breathe out the air in the chest; on breathing, or drawing in the air, the midriff of a person in health, forms a floor to the lungs and heart, and it descends until it is drawn tight, flat and stiff, across the body. The arrangement of the midriff is such, as always to form a strong support to the heart and lungs, as it floats below the lungs, every time we empty the air out from the chest.

The midriff is united, or fastened to the back bone, breast bone, and the middle of the ribs; therefore, we say the right and left portions float upward into the chest. How often is this part strained, and then called consumption! I allow there may be a cough, and tightness across the chest; but the real cause is, the lungs have lost their support, and consequently they wither and decay, unless you can strengthen the floor or support, that is, the ligaments; the symptoms are, you are unable to draw a long breath; if you go up stairs, your breath becomes short.

How many of you have had relations or some female friend, whom you considered near dying of consumption, but fortunately became pregnant; and she, to your astonishment, enjoyed better health than for years previous. But how could it be so? Why, this is the cause: as soon as the foetus rose from the vagina, it supported the midriff, and pushed up the floor of the lungs, and the poor patient found instant relief; she could breathe freely, could walk easily, her cough ceased, and her sleep was calm. But alas! as soon as parturition takes place, her symptoms all return, and, as no one understands her case, she must die, through ignorance.

Young men very often sprain their midriff, by lifting, or in wrestling, and frequently die of consumption, when, by a little care and judicious treatment, they might be saved. In the first place, your lungs hang on your wind-pipe, air vessels, and blood vessels; now, if so, they want a support, and the midriff is this support; but if it is gone, do not be surprised if you decap a blood vessel, and thereby spit blood from that cause; but be not frightened to death by this, as it will, in many cases, relieve you and be beneficial in the end.

THE GULLET.

The gullet is the food pipe; it passes through the chest, from the back part of the mouth, along the back bone; its shape is tolerably regular, until it passes the contents of the chest; then it opens into a spacious apartment, called the stomach; it lies across the body, leaning to the left side; it is more like a bag, than anything I can describe; it is very close to the diaphragm, and one would suppose the diaphragm rested on it. The stomach of an adult, will hold from one to three pints.

THE LIVER.

This is the largest gland in the human body. It lies on the right side, under the right breast; the gall bladder is attached to the liver, and there is also a communication with the stomach; the gall bladder is the size of your thumb, and is called secretion, or bile; if we have too much, it overflows, and causes jaundice, sick headache, gall-stones, and many other diseases, which cannot be cured, unless you commence by cleansing your blood. As the liver is a gland it can be diseased in various ways; it can be ulcerated, and may contain grubs, or worms.

THE ABDOMEN.

This contains the intestines, and commences from the stomach; that part the ancients used to call the second stomach, is now termed duodenum; this turns downward and backward, toward the right side, there it turns again to the left, and I may say, zig-zags, until it joins the larger intestines; both ends of the large intestines, are tied to the back bone, to keep them from floating; the lower end passes through the basket of the hips, to the end of the back bone, to keep it in its right place; this forms the back passage, and the end of the back bone is called the rectum. The bowels move; and if so, how often you injure yourself by not obeying the calls of nature to evacuate them; you put it off to some more convenient time; but nature will not be baffled with impunity—you must suffer for your omission the next day, or day after; the head is afflicted, and you go to your closet, force and strain to accomplish what you refused nature at the suitable time; as the intestines float, will you not cause debility and disease? Yes, surely you will; then, of course, you have recourse to physic, and this makes you worse, as the intestines become coated. Now for the results; as I said before, the large intestines pass through the basket of the hips; they are straight along the bone, when in a healthy condition, but by this forcing and straining, they become drawn down, in a wrinkled condition, and there is no action; thence arises costiveness, constipation, piles, ulcers, fistulas, and numerous other diseases, which assail these parts, through neglecting the calls of nature. And here I would observe, in regard to your children, be watchful; I have been told by girls from six to twelve years old, how they have been so costive, that they would have to force themselves to such a degree, that every object around them appeared black. O! what poor miserable beings will they be all their lives, through a mother’s neglect. Never let a young child sit too long on a vessel or chair; it weakens the intestines, and brings on general debility. I have known many to die in fits, and to have the relaxation of the fundament, merely by sitting too long on a stool chair.

THE KIDNEYS.

The kidneys are not in the box of the hips, but above it, in the small of the back, on each side of the back bone. Their office is to separate the salt, earth, and surplus water, from the blood; there is a chamber to each kidney, into which the water is first poured; from each of these chambers, there is a pipe, or tube, that passes downward to the bladder; this tube is called, in physiology, the ureter. The kidneys seem to be a sort of sieve, or filter, with this difference, however: while a sieve permits only the finest and best part to pass through it, the kidneys filter out the worse, or coarser parts; these are carried to the bladder, whence they are conveyed immediately out of the system. In a natural and healthy state, the proper time when the bowels should be evacuated, is indicated by nature; should the water be retained, and the voice of nature disobeyed, the effects are these: as in the bowels, it will lessen the action of the bladder and kidneys, and what you retain, does more injury than you can possibly imagine; your kidneys become coated by retention—thence come gravel, stone, stoppage of the urine, and various other diseases of the kidneys and bladder.

Never trifle with nature. What pain and suffering might be averted, if all would obey the first call of nature! By retention of the urine, a bad odor arises from the body; what you retain in the bladder, is emitted from the pores in a measure, and your perspiration is very offensive. Mothers ought to instruct their children in regard to this important call of nature. I have found, in my practice, a great number who habituated themselves to retain the water in the bladder all day, that is, from morning to bed time; and what miserable looking objects they were; their countenances were sallow, and the skin dry and withered, although young in years.

The kidney may be ulcerated, and contain grubs, as well as the liver, it being likewise a gland, but much smaller than the liver. You can injure the kidneys by food, as all water or liquids go immediately to the kidneys; sweet spices and all acids should be avoided, as they coat the kidneys, and cause the gravel; the ureter, or pipe which takes the water to the bladder, finally gets filled and obstructed, so the water cannot pass thence.

BASKET OF THE HIPS.

The bony walls of the hips are very strong and solid. The only part that is movable, is the lower end of the back bone, in front; behind the cross bone is the bladder, next comes the womb, and behind this is the back passage.

THE WOMB AND ITS APPENDAGES.

The womb is pear-shaped—the large end being uppermost, and the small end, or mouth, downward, and connected with the neck of the vagina. It hangs on four crotchets, or hooks, which are the upper ligaments to support it; it is also supported by muscles, and from the crown of your head to the ends of your fingers and toes, there are small fibres connected with it. I would say to all, be careful not to stretch or reach the arm higher than its natural limits; a child from seven years old and upwards, to fifteen, may injure these supporters by jumping, and swinging at the length of their arms; so the squaws of the Iroquois tribe assure me, and I have seen a large number of the most distressing cases of this kind.

THE OVARIES.

The ovaries are on each side of the womb, and are a great support to it; ovaries signify egg vessels, and egg, in physiology, means ovum. The egg is the beginning of our specie, or animal life; thence the germ, or seed. The ovaries are two balls, the size of a small egg, connected with the womb by a pipe, or tube, called the fallopian tube; this tube, or passage, carries the ovum to the womb. When menstruation takes place, the ripening and expulsion of the egg is affected by a real inflammation, similar to what may be seen when you run a nail, or piece of wood, into your flesh, when there will arise an inflammation which will cause it to fester, and then it is easily removed from the flesh; it is this periodical irritation, which causes a sympathetic inflammation; at the beginning of the month, the inflammation is slight, but about the time the egg is expelled from the vesicles, the inflammation reaches its height; in order to give relief, the vessels pour out an abundance of blood, and frequently mucous, according to the healthy condition of the ovaries. The ovaries are placed very low in the groins, advancing into the pelvis. In case of malformation, the menses never appear, and impregnation is impossible; but I have known females to become mothers at the age of fifteen, and they never saw their menses; no doubt, if they had not married, it would have come about in its own time. But here I would remark, it is frequently colorless in weak, scrofulous constitutions, and often these obstructions are in the fallopian tube, and falling of the womb is the principal cause. The periodical discharge of the blood, I may say, is often from the uterus, through the vagina, and sometimes from the vagina alone. Menstruation commences between the ages of fourteen and eighteen; I have, however, in my practice, found several cases where they appeared at the age of ten years; but this is not a general rule, and such cases rarely occur. Usually, the earlier the menses appear, the sooner they disappear; but, as a general rule, the menses ought not to depart until at the age of forty-eight or fifty, and I have known them to continue to fifty-five, and those females were perfectly well.

As I said before, the mouth of the womb is connected with the vagina, which signifies a tube, or passage. The vagina is a very thick wall, capable of dilating and contracting, to a very great extent; its length is from four, to five, six, and seven inches, and some anatomists have testified that it is, in some rare cases, even eight inches long; it is not strait—its curve is in front, next to the bladder, while the convex part is next to the rectum, or larger bowels. I explain this, as many are led into error, imagining the womb within an inch of the entrance.

Now, my friends, I have given you a plain description of your internal organs, and I hope you will overlook its deficiencies; I have given my descriptions as delicately as possible.

DISEASE OF THE WOMB.

I will endeavor to explain to you the diseases of the womb and ovaries. In the first place, you can injure the womb by miscarriages; but previous to this, perhaps the ligaments of the womb were weak, and the cause of the miscarriage might be attributed to that. No female should stand on the ends of her toes and reach, as it injures the womb; all tight lacing is injurious; by costiveness, you impair the womb; lifting, beyond your strength, should be avoided. Child-bearing, or violent labor in child-birth, retention of the after-birth—all combine to weaken every muscle and ligament of the womb, and bring on prolapsus uteri, or falling of the womb. I have known the womb to be caloused, in several cases; and as to its falling, as we say, it may be felt more on the rectum and ovaries, and there will, in these cases, be more pain in the sciatica joints, or hip bone, and it may press more on the lower part of the bowels; this is generally brought on by costiveness; long waists have done their work, as well as heavy petticoats; all these combine to press down the bowels and ligaments of the womb; all fall, or bear heavily on the ureter and fallopian tube, and bring on many distressing diseases, as leucorrhoea, or whites. I will here explain the cause of this running, as many are perfectly ignorant of it; in most cases, it is the weeping of the ovaries; when it is purely white, we call it weakness—as a sore or weak eye weeps, so do the ovaries; and when it changes color, green or yellow, and has a disagreeable smell, no doubt they are diseased—either ulcers in the ovaries, or womb, and the distillation is so acrid, that it causes itching and smarting in the vagina, and the lips of it are swelled. There have been, of late, several cases in my practice, in which the female has communicated the same disease to her husband—similar to the clap. But remember, I have known such cases among the most virtuous, and where there was not the least taint of any venereal disease in the system; I do not say but that their blood might be contaminated with humors; I seldom meet with a person, but has more or less humors to combat with. And how many have been injured by mercury, which poisons the blood. Girls may be troubled with the whites, at from three months to fourteen years of age. The womb can be ulcerated as well as the ovaries, and thence comes dropsy, cancers, and various other diseases; and by this pressing down, in fact, two-thirds die of consumption, because all the parts are pulled down, from the midriff, to the liver, intestines, kidneys, womb, and ovaries—there is no action—all is in a debilitated state. Now what can be done? In the first place, put waists on your petticoats; then obtain a cleansing syrup—you will find a recipe for one in the foregoing pages; then take a piece of leather, that will cover from the breasts to the pelvis, a quarter of a yard wide above, but narrower at the bottom, making a hole in it for the navel; spread it with strengthening plaster, a recipe for which will be found in this book; drink the following as a constant beverage: take five roots of sweet fern, a tablespoonful of dry tanzy, and boil in two quarts of water; then strain, and drink a tumbler half full twice during the day.

When the top of the womb falls forward, it infringes on the back part, and top of the bladder, and every few minutes you have a desire to evacuate the water; there is a sinking feeling at the stomach, and pain, or distress, in the bladder. Sometimes the womb will protrude in, and on the pelvis, and below, into the front passage; if there is no one near that understands my mode of treatment in this case, do it yourself; I learned it from a squaw, and have replaced ten thousand or more. In the first place, wash it well with cold water, and hold wet cloths to it; then lay on your back, and put it up carefully with your hand, holding or drawing in your breath; then apply a womb plaster. Never allow a male or female practitioner to plug your womb; it only destroys it, and causes ulcers, cancers, and a multitude of other diseases, in the womb.

ABORTION.

It seems to me, every female of common sense—letting alone christianity, would shudder at the expression of this word, if they really knew its definition, or could realize the extent of the crime. The Boston Scalpel defines the word “abortionism,” to be “the knowledge and practice of expelling from the womb the ovum, or foetus, ere it is matured.”

In this enlightened century, when the gospel is read and preached in every tongue, can it be possible that we find women so barbarous, as to destroy the immortal life which God has given. You may deprive the precious, unborn babe from coming into this beautiful world, but its spirit will return to God, who gave it, and arise in judgment against you. Many females at the present day, exclaim, (and it is a fashionable saying,) “I could have children, if I choosed, but I will not be annoyed with them, and my husband dislikes them.” How unlike the blessed Savior! He took children in his arms, and blessed them. What were your intentions, in taking upon you the duties of a wife? Surely, some motive must have prompted your ambition, or you did not take a realizing sense of its duties, as it was expressly commanded by God himself. After He had created Eve, He joined Adam and Eve together, and said, “Go forth and multiply!” He did not say, “gratify your carnal passions, and destroy the effects;” but He said, “replenish the earth.” The fruits of the womb are God’s reward, and He has chosen woman to bring forth at His command.

No time in the life of woman, can she feel to lift up her heart and voice, to praise God, with more fervor for his protecting care, and rejoice in His mercy, than after a safe delivery of a living babe. She forgets all her suffering, when she clasps the little innocent to her breast. In ancient times, miscarriage was thought to be a curse on the female, as it endangers her life, by bringing on hemorrhage, from the adhesion of the placenta. There is a difference between miscarriage and abortion: an exclusion of the foetus six, and sometimes seven weeks after the cessation of the menses, is termed miscarriage; between that and six months, an abortion; and between that and nine months, premature labor. Sometimes the fault lies in some deficiency on the part of the ovum. Abortion may be caused by the inability of the uterus to distend itself, beyond a certain limit; and this may be imputed to dress, nine cases out of ten.

Woman was designed by God, as I have said before, to bring forth; she is, by nature, a producer of her race, intended, by God, to feed and nourish, with her own blood, the foetus, and bring it into the world, an image of God himself, and of man.

Abortion is unnatural; and many lose their lives, directly after it, and few gain their strength, as it was previous to it. And all those preventatives, which are in fashion at the present day, to baffle the will of God, are an abomination in His all-seeing eye, and He will repay ten fold.

Kind and beloved woman! preserve thy purity, virtue, and chastity, and thy days will be many and pleasant upon the earth; and finally, thou shalt become a chosen angel in Heaven, to sing the praises of God and the Lamb!

MASTURBATION.

Masturbation, or self-pollution, has brought many to an untimely grave. It is held to with tenacity, because of the evenescent, fleeting, and animal pleasure derived therefrom. Mothers, how many of your children could you save, by timely care, while in their infant state! Teach them chastity; not to expose their bodies; not to allow the least exposure to sisters, and never to brothers—it contaminates the mind; never allow boys and girls to sleep together. Children never forget what they hear, as many suppose. How often do we find mothers, who have no respect for their children, frequently using the most obscene language in their presence, and sowing the seeds of impurity. St. Paul says, “Being evil yourselves, give good gifts to them that ask.” Your children depend on every word, look, and action; you can form them as you will—to virtue, or vice. You can rule the nation!

Never allow your children to sleep with strangers; however young, they may learn more of impurity in ten minutes, than you could teach them virtue in years. The reason why I speak to you of the necessity of having a watchful eye on your offspring, is that so many young men and women, whom I have been called to visit, in consumption, and some in a deranged state, have confessed to me, that they had contracted an intimacy with a play-mate, who had taught them the act of self-pollution, and, to their sorrow, had practiced the same for years, till they had no control of themselves; this brought involuntary emissions, and thence come leucorrhoea, falling of the womb, and frequently insanity; the greatest number, as a general rule, end in consumption. Doctors are too delicate to mention the cause of this disease, and treat the case, directly opposite to what it should be, as all the internal organs are debilitated.

I will relate a very distressing case, which I hope will be a warning to mothers and daughters:

A daughter of one of the first families of Springfield, Massachusetts, a few years ago, was pronounced by all the physicians of that city, to be in a consumption. I was called on, by a friend of the family, and requested to visit the young lady, at her special request, immediately. I lost no time, but went instantly, and what a pitiful object I beheld! A living skeleton—a fearful picture of self-pollution! I desired all to quit the apartment, and this poor child confessed her weakness; she was willing to die, she said, if she could atone for the trouble and expense she had brought on her parents. Now what was to be done. I well knew her debility was too great to depend on tonics, and to save her, I must gain her confidence and love. I left her, and returned soon after, got her permission to divulge the secret to her mother, and lost no time, in order to save her from death. She must have her genital organ cut out; the operation should take place instantly, as involuntary emissions would soon carry her off, her debility was so great. But thanks be to God, she is still living, in the far west; but never can she enjoy the blessings of married life.

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