Volume 1
The household physician : a family guide to the preservation of health and to the domestic treatment of ailments and disease, with chapters on food and drugs and first aid in accidents and injuries / by J. McGregor-Robertson ; with an introduction by John G. McKendrick.
- M'Gregor-Robertson, J. (Joseph), 1858-1925
- Date:
- 1899
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The household physician : a family guide to the preservation of health and to the domestic treatment of ailments and disease, with chapters on food and drugs and first aid in accidents and injuries / by J. McGregor-Robertson ; with an introduction by John G. McKendrick. Source: Wellcome Collection.
555/602 (page 483)
![CONCEPTION. reason and common - sense that special care should be taken while the illness lasts, and for a brief period both before it and after it, to main- tain good bodily health, and to guard against everything likely toatiect it. Thus common-sense would suggest that exposure to cold, to damp, to draughts, and such like should be avoided. Thus during the period mere jumping out of a warm bed and placing the bare feet on a cold floor or wax-cloth has often been the cause of serious illness. Wet clothing and wet feet are specially hurtful. If women would not permit the familiarity of the process to make them for- fretful, it would not be necessary to insist on O ^ . these obvious precautions. It requires very little thought, moreover, to make one perceive that, at a time when so much bodily energy is directed to one function, and when so great a drain on the system is present, less, considerably less, than the usual amount of exertion ought to be undei’- taken. Indeed, during the days that the illness lasts, much more rest than is customary ought to be indulged in, no work requiring any strain should be undertaken, fatigue should be care- fully avoided, the ordinai’y duties should be lightened, and some rest and quiet taken dur- ing the day. This is not always possible; but every endeavour ought to be made, even when the usual day’s duties must be performed, to make them as light as possible, and to under- take no exertion that can be avoided. If this is so with even necessary duties, it is excessive foolishness for a woman to expose herself to undue excitement during the period, specially the excitement of a round of pleasure or gaiety. Social gatherings, dances, games implying physi- cal exertion, such as lawn-tennis, boating, riding or walking excursions—all these should be re- frained from at such a time. Those who are in charge of houses ought not to leave the illness out of account in arranging their domestic con- cerns. The dreaded “spring cleaning”and the in- evitable “ washing day” ought to give way when necessary, and mistresses ought not to forget that some days of apparently slovenly and half- hearted work may have a reason other than than that of idleness or carelessness, and ought when needful to lighten the burden of work to their servants accordingly. Those who have the care of young girls, wliether their own daugh- ters or not, do not fulfil their duty to them unless they exercise supervision over them suffi- cient to prevent them by their ignorance incur- ring needless risks. Warm clothing is particularly needed during the period. Of the kind of clothing enough has already been said, but the desirability of some flannel clothing may again be urged. As regards food not much sjiecial direction ought to be required. In the sections on Food full ex])lanations are entered into regarding the quantity and quality of foods necessary for the maintenance of vigorous bodily health, and the relation of these to work is discussed. But it is plain that when special demands are made on the system, as they are at each recurring menstrual period, special care needs to be taken that a due quantity of nourishment is supplied. At such a time any deficiency in quantity of food or any error in kind will become most evident and most hurtful. Often at this period women are less inclined for food when it is most needed, and are too prone to quiet any ajipetite that is ])resent with cups of tea, which, while they re- fresh and stimulate for the moment, supply no real nutriment. Plain, simple, easily-digested food of the ordinary kind at regular intervals is very necessai'y. At the same time too plentiful or too rich feeding is also injurious. Eich dishes, pastries, &c., are not to be encouraged. It is also too common to attempt to relieve the feeling of depression or exhaustion by stimu- lants. They cannot supply the place of appro- priate nourishment, and are apt to lead to bad habits. It is always those who do not take fit nourishment that are most prone to turn to stimulants, and it is always they wdio are most injuriously affected by alcohol, since it quickens the waste going on in the body without afford- ing any material to supply it. As a general rule the use of stimulants is to be condemned. The circumstances that make them useful are considered in discussing scanty and excessive menstruation in the latter part of this section. The question of exercise for girls is as impor- tant as for boys, and is discussed elsewhere. It is only necessaiy to say here that, during an illness, as much rest should be taken as pos- sible, and for a day or two after the period also. Active exercise during that time is the greatest possible mistake. Bathing is to be avoided during the illness, and in particular cold bathing. PREGNANCY AND ITS MANAGEMENT. Conception.—Every four weeks, as has been stilted, in the adult woman an ovum becomes ripe and is discharged from the ovary. It is caught by the extremity of the fidlopian tube and passed down the tube towards the womb. If the changes arising from conce]Dtion do not](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28124674_0001_0555.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
