the
prescription of a safe general rule. It is no more an imputation than the
rule that people had better not be left without oversight in presence of
large sums of other folks' money. The close personal proximity of the sexes
is greatly undesirable before marriage. Kisses and caresses are most
properly the monopoly of wives. Such indulgences have a direct and powerful
physiological effect. Nay, they often lead to the most fatal results.

10. IGNORANCE BEFORE MARRIAGE.--At some time before marriage those who are
to enter into it ought to be made acquainted with some of the plainest
common-sense limitations which should govern their new relations to each
other. Ignorance in such matters has caused an infinite amount of disgust,
pain, and unhappiness. It is not necessary to specify particulars here: see
other portions of this work.

* * * * *

{269}

Impregnation.

[Illustration: A HEALTHY MOTHER.]

1. CONCEPTION OR IMPREGNATION.--Conception or impregnation takes place by
the union of the male sperm and female sperm. Whether this is accomplished
in the ovaries, the oviducts or the uterus, is still a question of
discussion and investigation by physiologists.

2. PASSING OFF THE OVUM.--"With many woman," says Dr. Stockham in her
Tokology, "the ovum passes off within twenty-four or forty-eight hours
after menstruation begins. Some, by careful observation, are able to know
with certainty when this takes place. It is often accompanied with malaise,
nervousness, headache or actual uterine pain. A minute substance like the
white of an egg; with a fleck of blood in it, can frequently be seen upon
the clothing. Ladies who have noticed this phenomenon testify to its
recurring very regularly upon the same day after menstruation. Some
delicate women have observed it as late as the fourteenth day."

3. CALCULATIONS.--Conception is more liable to take place either
immediately before or immediately after the period, and, on that account it
is usual when calculating the date at which to expect labor, to count from
the day of disappearance of the last period. The easiest way to make a
calculation is to count back three months from the date of the last period
and add seven days; thus we might say that the date was the 18th of July;
counting back brings us to the 18th of April, and adding the seven days
will bring us to the 25th day of April, the expected time.

4. EVIDENCE OF CONCEPTION.--Very ma