Self-abuse (Masturbation).—This is a cause of many of the diseases of women, also men. Small girls learn the practice from larger ones, and through ignorance continue it often to maturity without knowing that it is bringing upon them a physical and moral injury.
If mothers instructed their daughters on this subject there would be fewer broken lives.
Symptoms.—The main symptoms are wakefulness, restless nights, headache, indolence, melancholy, indisposition to study, forgetfulness, despondency, weakness in the back and private organs, no confidence in one's own abilities, a desire for seclusion from society; whites, hysterics, and inability to look any one in the face. Sometimes the muscles are relaxed, limbs tremble, the skin is sallow and dry, with pain in the womb.
REMARKS. Write to Mrs. Pinkham in perfect confidence, and she will tell you exactly what to do. Delay is dangerous in this matter.
CHAPTER XIII.
DYSPEPSIA, CONSTIPATION, GENERAL DEBILITY, SLEEPLESSNESS.
Dyspepsia, Acute.—Acute dyspepsia is usually caused by some improper diet, as the eating of an unusual article of food or of a larger amount than necessary. Such articles of diet as cucumbers, unripe or overripe fruit, an excessive amount of sweets, rich salads, heavy puddings, etc., may so irritate the stomach that an acute attack of dyspepsia follows.
Nature Often Cures.—Nature often makes a prompt cure in these cases by causing a sharp attack of vomiting or diarrhœa. If a cure is not made in this way, then we can imitate nature by giving an emetic, or by taking a laxative, in order to rid the body of the indigestible material as soon as possible.
Treatment.—If there is much pain in the stomach, a mustard plaster should be placed directly over the pit of the stomach, or cloths wrung out in hot water. For the next day following the attack the diet should be restricted to milk, or poached eggs on toast, or something of this kind.