MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE HUSBAND.
The principal anti-conceptional method is, of course, absolute continence maintained for a long period, and this is needed in some cases, when the wife is ill, for instance, or when she requires perfect repose. The wife who wishes to remain free by this means ought nevertheless to take great care as to cleanliness, and if the husband forget himself for a moment, she should immediately give herself energetic injections; but this may be too late.
Some physicians think that periodical abstention during menstruation and for a week before and after the period would suffice to prevent conception; but this cannot be trusted to. It is true that women are less apt to be impregnated at these times; but cases have been known of numbers of pregnancies taking place in spite of this precaution.
During the period of lactation the chances of pregnancy also are less; but there is no certainty in this case.
By the effort of the will and by practice, it is possible for certain men to practice connection frequently without expulsion of the male fluid; just as it is possible for civilised persons who are intelligent to keep back their tears even when deeply moved. This kind of special faculty of prevention has been called karezza (to be dealt with in full in the next pamphlet).
When the husband can employ no other method, he can always practise withdrawal out of the female passage before emitting; but it might suffice for the male fluid to moisten the exterior genital parts of the wife to cause impregnation.
This method is simple, without expense and requiring no preliminary preparation, but the wife should inject herself immediately with care if she suspects any negligence on the part of the husband. He too ought to wash himself thoroughly (pushing back the prepuce) before recommencing relations with his wife within 24 hours.
When the effort is not too violent for the man, and if the wife is more or less satisfied, this method is not injurious to the health. At any rate occasionally another method may be used.
When the male organ is covered by an indiarubber French Letter, condom, or Malthus sheath, a little bag with thin walls, there is no chance of the woman being impregnated if the bag be not torn. In all instrument-makers’ shops they are sold at from two to three shillings the dozen. One rather too large is to be preferred, for these bags contract if used more than once.
When the husband makes use of the French Letter, it must be unrolled, pushing it up not quite to the end, expressing with the hand the air bubbles which may remain in its cavity; the bottom may also be moistened inside with a little soapy water or saliva.
If, after using it, the French Letter be empty, it is evident that it must have been torn, in which case the wife should immediately use careful injections; but this may be too late.
One letter may suffice for several times; in this case, it must each time be carefully wiped off or washed and dried and inflated in order to remove the folds, and to see that it has not been torn; and lastly, it may be powdered with a little powder inside and outside. The best powder is that of lycopodium, which is obtainable at a cheap rate in druggist shops. After having powdered it, the French Letter may be opened by means of two fingers, and be rolled up again when required for further use.
The same French Letter should not be too often used, perhaps two weeks or six times, and it should not be too old, for in the lapse of time it loses its properties. Like all things made of indiarubber, it is well to keep it in a rather damp, cool place, and shield it from light or frost, it must not be touched by greasy substances, such as oil, fat, vaseline, paraffin, etc., nor with carbolic acid or other substances which act upon indiarubber.
There are also French Letters or condoms of gut, called Skin Letters, made from the cœcum of sheep. These are sold at higher prices, and are more durable and stronger than the indiarubber ones. They have the fault that they become somewhat hard after frequent use. They are not elastic, and therefore cannot be rolled up, so that they cannot be used if they are too narrow. Before use, it should be carefully examined against the light to see that it is not made of pieces glued together, which fall asunder as soon as the bag is moistened, and then it must be blown up gently to see that there are no holes in it. When good, it may be used for a month. Their employment is quite like that of indiarubber letters.
The French Letter is the only preventive which diminishes a great deal the chances of contracting venereal diseases.
When there is any chance of venereal contagion, it is necessary to wash the French Letter with a solution of corrosive sublimate (perchloride of mercury), one in 10,000 parts of water; then it should be dried and powdered. By using this solution immediately after connection, it is seen at once whether the French Letter has been torn; in this case, the man must wash himself, and the woman should use an injection with the same solution, not only to prevent contagion to both of themselves, but she also to prevent the birth of an infected infant.
When the husband is drunk, and his wife, fearing that a miserable child will be born, has no other preventive at hand, she can perhaps apply the French Letter as if caressing him, when he does not know what he is doing. At all events, she should always take care that one or two French Letters be ready for use.