One of the Important Duties of Mothers.—The immediate lesson to be learnt from the facts just recounted is to instruct mothers in their duty toward their daughters. If each mother would retain the confidence of her daughter sufficient to instruct her in the duties which are important, how much needless suffering would be saved. To know as a matter of fact whether the daughter's bowels are in good condition will appeal to all who read this as being of very great importance. It is not only necessary to know if they have a movement every day, it is necessary to know the character of the daily movement; whether it is hard and dry and necessitates straining,—the evil consequences of which, in young girls, is very serious indeed,—or if it is habitually loose and suggestive of what has been described as incomplete constipation.
If the mothers of America would consecrate themselves to this simple task, who could tell in mere words the effect it would have on the race yet unborn? There are problems of scientific intent, and of fancy names, that engage the attention of philanthropically inclined ladies, and which are emblazoned on the society columns of the daily press, of much less importance to the human family than the homely duty we ask mothers to devote themselves to.
Constipation and Diseases of Women.—Constipation is present in a very large majority of the cases of diseases of women. It may be caused by disease of the womb, or it may cause disease of the womb. There is no question about the bad effect constipation has upon all diseases of this type. In many cases it is absolutely impossible to effect a cure without first curing the accompanying constipation.
We seldom appreciate how severe a degree of constipation a growing girl will submit to without seeking relief. Some of the worst cases of constipation that have been known, have been in girls between the ages of sixteen and twenty. The mechanical effects of such a condition can well be imagined. The constant, severe straining, necessary to evacuate the bowel, has, in very many instances, produced congestion and displacement of the womb and ovaries. It is not observed at this time, or if observed it is not understood, and thus is laid the foundation for years of neurasthenia, helplessness, and disease.
The more we investigate the ramifications of constipation the more we learn of its seriousness and of its significance.
Constipation is Always Harmful.—There is no period in life when constipation can be borne with impunity. Youth, with its virility and vitality, will endure its consequences with an apparent negation, so far as positive or specific results are concerned, but it is only an apparent impunity. There is always a certain amount of strength built up, held in reserve as a heritage of youth, which will withstand a certain amount of physical license, but if this reserve is assailed by an unnecessary imposition, and is successfully undermined, there will be infinitely less reserve to call upon in the legitimate battle of life. Life is too real, too concentrated, too strenuous, and health is too precious to be wilfully wasted in any form of self-abuse.
Constipation and Pregnancy.—Mothers will appreciate from the foregoing explanation why constipation is eugenically a crime during pregnancy. The evils which result from constipation mechanically, frequently have serious consequences by interfering with the circulation of the blood to the womb, by forcing the womb to assume wrong positions, by straining at stool, and by preventing the kidneys from functionating properly; these may render the life of the pregnant woman miserable, and may be the direct cause of a painful, prolonged, difficult labor. The evils which result from constipation because of the absorption of poisons by the bowel are of the gravest importance during pregnancy. These poisons affect the general health; the victim is tired, listless, and apathetic, and is thereby disinclined to exercise adequately; the appetite is poor; there are headaches, neuralgias, insomnia, nervousness, melancholia, and general mental and physical inertness. What hope may a pregnant woman entertain of having "an easy confinement," or of bringing a healthy child into the world under these circumstances? Who is to blame? Sometimes it is necessary to tell the unadorned truth,—the woman is to blame. No woman has a right to assume the responsibilities of maternity who has not had enough respect for herself to discontinue habits which caused this failing, or who has not had strength of will enough to begin its successful cure. Get busy,—do something,—it is never "too late," but do it now.
Before we take up the treatment of constipation in women, it is necessary to explain more fully the type of constipation which we referred to as "incomplete" constipation. There is a condition of the bowel, in which we find its wall coated with hard fecal matter. The size of the bowel may be dilated as a consequence. This condition may occupy part, or most, of the entire length of the large intestine. In the middle of this hard mass there is a small channel through which semi-liquid matter passes. When the bowel moves, it is this semi-liquid matter that passes out, and this constitutes the daily movement. We have consequently a condition in which we have a daily movement but not a complete emptying of the bowel. The character of the stools from such a bowel must necessarily be more or less of a semi-liquid consistency, because the intestine, being coated with a hard dried out layer of old fecal substance, is prevented from absorbing the liquid part of the fresh fecal mass passing through it. This condition may exist for a considerable time, but it will slowly undermine the health and vitality of any person in whom it exists. The symptoms which a patient in this condition complains of are,—a feeling of being tired and languid, no energy or vim, headache, loss of appetite, loss of flesh, neuralgic pains, nausea, vertigo (dizziness), insomnia, frequent colds, cold hands and feet, biliousness, sallow skin and muddy complexion, liver spots, coated tongue and a "bad breath," nervousness, melancholia, various abnormal conditions and diseases of the skin, pimples, blackheads, eruptions, eczema, piles, appendicitis, diseases of the intestinal wall as a result of the constipation, Bright's disease of the kidney, and many other morbid conditions. Any physician could name many symptoms, which were never properly understood but which are now known to be caused by the absorption of poisons resulting from inactivity of the bowels. Patients may not necessarily have all of the above symptoms; they may have a number of them, or they may have all of them, and they may have others not mentioned at all.
Treatment of Constipation in Women.—To effect a movement of the bowels in a patient who is a victim of constipation is not a cure. We can indefinitely cause bowel action by drugs, etc., but the condition will remain the same or worse. When habitual constipation exists there is an underlying condition affecting the entire system which indicates that something is radically wrong. It may be necessary to change the whole routine of the patient's life. It will certainly be necessary at the very beginning to inquire into the daily diet, exercise, and surroundings.
During the past ten years there has been born every few days a new medical "ism," a new religious cult. Why? Because human nature is an unstable equation. We are never satisfied with the old order of things and there will always be a following wherever there is a leader. These "isms" and cults do not survive. Some seem to thrive, others die a natural death. There is a law, as old as the hills, that you cannot get something for nothing in this world. We learn its bitter truth as the years pass, and when we get over the day dreams and the sentiment of youth we settle down to real work. If we desire to retain good health, or regain lost health, we must do something. No one can hand it to us on a silver plate, nor can anyone work a miracle in our behalf. We cannot buy health, we must deserve it.