smaller amount of oil should be
used, never more than two ounces, usually one ounce is all that is
required. When the oil treatment is under way, whatever the age of the
patient, laxative drugs should not be given."

CHAPTER XXIII

CONSTIPATION IN WOMEN

Chief Cause of Constipation in Women--Constipation a Cause of
Domestic Unhappiness--The Requirements of Good Health--The Cost
of Constipation--Constipation and Social Exigencies--One of the
Important Duties of Mothers--Constipation and Diseases of
Women--Constipation is Always Harmful--Constipation and
Pregnancy--Explanation of Incomplete Constipation--Causes of
Constipation--Negligence--Lack of Exercise--Lack of Water--Lack
of Bulk in the Food Taken--Abuse of Cathartic Drugs and
Aperient Waters--Overeating--Treatment of Constipation in
Women.

It has been stated that constipation is almost universal among the women
of America. It is a fact that very few American women enjoy, to a
reasonable degree, a permanently satisfactory bowel condition.
Constipation is an acquired habit and unquestionably negligence is the
primary and the chief cause of it. The negligence, no doubt, begins at a
very early age; it is at least an established habit before any
intelligent, consecutive effort is made to remedy it. Inasmuch as women
are the mothers of the race, and as their part in the scheme of life
_is_ the supreme one; and as constipation has been shown to be a
serious, far-reaching, significant disease, a very sincere and
persistent crusade should be made to educate women as to its importance.
For a less altruistic purpose, tremendous popular movements have been
carried to success. For a less service rendered to the race names have
achieved renown. In addition to the symptoms stated in the preceding
paper, the condition which we now desire to emphasize is the effect of
the constant self-poisoning on the general health and its effect upon a
woman's reproductive efficiency.

The poison being constantly absorbed, means general bad health, bad
health to a degree depending upon the degree of constipation which is
the cause of the poisoning. It may be simply that the woman does not
wholly enjoy good health, or that she is completely incapacitated
because of chronic bad health, or any degree of indifferent health
between these two extremes.

If the degree of poison is sufficient to cause habitual poor health, its
effect upo