In his book, Sex Knowledge for Men, the author treated the subject of prevention of venereal disease very thoroughly. Men need this knowledge. As men will indulge in illicit relations, we must teach them to guard themselves against venereal infection. We must do it not only for their own sake, but for the sake of their wives and children. For, infection in the man may mean infection in his wife and children. But as women readers of this book are not likely to indulge in promiscuous relations with strangers, a detailed discussion of the subject would be out of place.
I will merely say, that where the woman has a suspicion that her husband is in an infectious state, she should abstain from relations with him until she is sure that he is safe. But where for some reason a suspicions intercourse is indulged in, the woman should use an antiseptic douche before and after intercourse. Where it is inconvenient to use a douche both before and after, a douche after will have to suffice, but it is much safer and surer to use the douche both before and after. When you use a douche there is always some of the solution left in the vagina and that destroys wholly or in part the infective germs.
The following makes an effective douche: Dissolve a tablet of bichloride (they come on the market of the weight of about 7½ grains) in two quarts of water—hot, lukewarm or cold. Use before intercourse a small amount—about a pint or half a pint, and use the balance after intercourse. Instead of the bichloride you may use a tablespoonful of carbolic acid, or two tablets of chinosol, or a tablespoonful of lysol, or two tablespoonfuls of boric acid.
Instead of the douche an antiseptic jelly in a collapsible tin tube with a long nozzle may be used.
But besides the venereal sources of infection the woman must guard against the non-venereal sources. Do not ever, if you can avoid it, use a public toilet. If you are forced to use it, protect yourself by putting some paper over the seat.
Do not use a public drinking cup. If you have to use one, keep your lips away from the rim. One can learn to drink without touching the rim of the glass or cup with the lips.
Do not under any circumstances use a public towel. The roller towel is a menace to health and should be forbidden in every part of the country.
If you have to sleep in a hotel or in a strange bed, make sure that the linen is clean and fresh. Never sleep on bed linen which has been used by a stranger.
Never use a public brush or comb.
Be sure that your dentist is a careful, up-to-date man, and sterilizes his instruments carefully. Many a case of syphilis has been transmitted by a dentist's instrument. A syphilitic who goes to a dentist to be treated generally conceals his disease, and if the dentist is not in the habit of sterilizing his instruments after each patient, disaster may result.
Be sure that your manicurist is not syphilitic, or at least that her hands are healthy, clean and free from any eruption.
And, last but not least, do not indulge in promiscuous kissing. This is a particularly important injunction for young girls. This is a real peril and there are thousands of cases of syphilis that are known to have been contracted directly from kissing. People suffering with syphilis often have little white sores (mucous patches) on their lips, tongue and inside of cheeks. These sores are very infectious, and by kissing the disease is readily transmitted. Kissing games have been responsible in more than one case for the spread of syphilis to many persons. I have now under treatment a girl of nineteen who contracted syphilis on her summer vacation from having kissed a man once. Avoid promiscuous kissing! It is a bad practice for more than one reason.
I will merely say, that where the woman has a suspicion that her husband is in an infectious state, she should abstain from relations with him until she is sure that he is safe. But where for some reason a suspicions intercourse is indulged in, the woman should use an antiseptic douche before and after intercourse. Where it is inconvenient to use a douche both before and after, a douche after will have to suffice, but it is much safer and surer to use the douche both before and after. When you use a douche there is always some of the solution left in the vagina and that destroys wholly or in part the infective germs.
The following makes an effective douche: Dissolve a tablet of bichloride (they come on the market of the weight of about 7½ grains) in two quarts of water—hot, lukewarm or cold. Use before intercourse a small amount—about a pint or half a pint, and use the balance after intercourse. Instead of the bichloride you may use a tablespoonful of carbolic acid, or two tablets of chinosol, or a tablespoonful of lysol, or two tablespoonfuls of boric acid.
Instead of the douche an antiseptic jelly in a collapsible tin tube with a long nozzle may be used.
But besides the venereal sources of infection the woman must guard against the non-venereal sources. Do not ever, if you can avoid it, use a public toilet. If you are forced to use it, protect yourself by putting some paper over the seat.
Do not use a public drinking cup. If you have to use one, keep your lips away from the rim. One can learn to drink without touching the rim of the glass or cup with the lips.
Do not under any circumstances use a public towel. The roller towel is a menace to health and should be forbidden in every part of the country.
If you have to sleep in a hotel or in a strange bed, make sure that the linen is clean and fresh. Never sleep on bed linen which has been used by a stranger.
Never use a public brush or comb.
Be sure that your dentist is a careful, up-to-date man, and sterilizes his instruments carefully. Many a case of syphilis has been transmitted by a dentist's instrument. A syphilitic who goes to a dentist to be treated generally conceals his disease, and if the dentist is not in the habit of sterilizing his instruments after each patient, disaster may result.
Be sure that your manicurist is not syphilitic, or at least that her hands are healthy, clean and free from any eruption.
And, last but not least, do not indulge in promiscuous kissing. This is a particularly important injunction for young girls. This is a real peril and there are thousands of cases of syphilis that are known to have been contracted directly from kissing. People suffering with syphilis often have little white sores (mucous patches) on their lips, tongue and inside of cheeks. These sores are very infectious, and by kissing the disease is readily transmitted. Kissing games have been responsible in more than one case for the spread of syphilis to many persons. I have now under treatment a girl of nineteen who contracted syphilis on her summer vacation from having kissed a man once. Avoid promiscuous kissing! It is a bad practice for more than one reason.
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