It must be kept in mind that the entire apparatus of the body is accommodating a changed condition, and though that condition is a natural one, it requires perfect health for its successful accomplishment. This means a perfect physical and mental condition,—a condition that is dependent upon good digestion, good muscles, healthy nerves, clean bowels, and so on. The slightest deviation from absolute health tends to change the character of the body excretions, the quality of the blood, etc. If the excretions are not properly eliminated, the blood becomes impure, and so we sometimes get itching of the body
surfaces, especially of the abdomen and genitals; neuralgias, especially of the exposed nerves of the face and head; insomnia and nervousness. These are all amenable to cure, which again means, as a rule, correct diet and proper exercise as the principal remedial agencies.
Undue Nervousness During Pregnancy.—This is very largely a matter of will power. Some women simply will not exert any effort in their own behalf. They are perverse, obstinate, and unreasonable. The measures which ordinarily effect a cure, they refuse to employ. It is useless to argue with them; drugs should never be employed; censure and affection are apparently wasted on them; they cannot even be shamed into obedience. The maternal duty they owe to the unborn child does not seem to appeal to them. We do not know of any way to handle these women and to our mind they are wholly unfit to bring children into the world. Fortunately these women are few in number. The maternal instinct will, and does, guide most women into making sincere efforts to restrain any undue nervous tendency, and to be obedient and willing to follow instructions. There is nothing so beneficial in these cases as an absolutely regulated, congenial, daily routine, so diversified as to occupy their whole time and thought to the exclusion of any introspective possibility. Frequent short changes to the country or seashore to break the monotony, give good results in most of these cases. The domestic atmosphere must also be congenial and the husband should appreciate his responsibility in this respect.
Women of this type should have their attention drawn to the following facts in this connection: While the most recent investigations of heredity prove that a woman cannot affect the potential possibilities of her child, she can seriously affect its physical vitality. The following illustration may render our meaning clear: suppose your child had the inborn qualities necessary to attain a 100 per cent. record of achievement in the struggle of life; anything you may or may not do cannot affect these qualities—the child will still have the ability to achieve 100 per cent. Inasmuch, however, as a mother can affect the health or physical qualities of her
child she is directly responsible, through her conduct, as to whether her child will ever attain the 100 per cent. record, or if it does, she is responsible for the character of its comfort, its health, its enjoyment, all through its life's struggle toward the 100 per cent. achievement record. She may so compromise its physical efficiency that it will succumb to disease as a consequence of the ill health with which its mother unjustly endowed it, even though it possess the ability to attain the 100 per cent. if it lived.
We often see brilliant children who are nervous and physically unfit, and we see others of more ordinary mental achievement who are healthy and robust animals. The one is the offspring of parents possessing unusual mental qualities but who are physically unable or unwilling to render justice to their progeny; the other parents may be less gifted mentally, but they are healthy and they are willing to give their best in conduct and in blood to their babies. Many of these brilliant children never achieve their potential greatness because they fall by the wayside owing to physical inability, while the healthy little animals achieve a greater degree of success because of the physical vitality which carries them through. To achieve a moderate success and enjoy good health is a better eugenic ideal than the promise of a possible genius never attained because of continuous physical inefficiency.
The nervous and willful mother should therefore consider how much depends upon her conduct. It cannot be too frequently reiterated and emphasized that every mother should do her utmost to guard and retain her good health. Good health means blood of the best quality and this is essential to the nourishment of the child. To keep in good health does not mean to obey in one respect and fail in other essentials. It means that you must obey every rule laid down by your physician, willingly and freely in your own interest and in the interest of your unborn babe. In no other way may you hope to creditably carry out the eugenic ideal that "the fit only shall be born."
Headache.—This is a symptom of great importance.
If it occurs frequently, without apparent cause, the physician should be consulted at once, as it may indicate a diseased condition of the kidneys, and necessitate immediate treatment. Headaches may, of course, be caused in many ways and most frequently they do not have any serious significance, but they must always be brought to the attention of the physician. As a rule they are caused by errors of diet,—too much sugar, candy, for instance, late and indigestible suppers, indiscriminate eating of rich edibles, etc.,—or they may be products of nervous excitement (too little rest), as shopping expeditions, strenuous social engagements, late hours, etc.
Acidity of the Stomach, and So-Called Heartburn.—These are sometimes in the early months of pregnancy annoying troubles. The following simple means will relieve temporarily: A half-teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda or baking soda in a glass of water or Vichy water; or a half teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in Vichy, or plain water; or a tablespoonful of pure glycerine. The best remedy is one tablespoonful of Philip's Milk of Magnesia taken every night for some time just before retiring.