file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #cagij-;h4htm or #cagij-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu b_/#cagij_/pg#cagij-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#ca gij_/cagij-;h4zip7 ,,family ,,limitation by ,,margaret ,h4 ,,sanger ,revised ,sixth ,edition #aiag ,,introduction4 ,there is no need for any one to explain to the working men and women in ,america what this pamphlet is written for or why it is necessary that they should have this information4 ,they know better than ,i could tell them1 so ,i shall not try4 ,i have tried to give the knowledge of the best ,french and ,dutch physicians translated into the simplest ,english1 that all may easily understand4 ,there are various and numerous mechanical means of prevention which ,i have not mentioned here1 mainly because ,i have not come into personal contact with those who have used them or could recommend them as entirely satisfactory4 ,i feel there is sufficient information given here1 which1 if followed1 will prevent a woman from becoming pregnant unless she desires to do so4 ,if a woman is too indolent to wash and cleanse herself1 and the man too selfish to consider the consequences of the act1 then it will be difficult to find a preventive to keep the woman from becoming pregnant4 ,of course1 it is troublesome to get up to douche1 it is also a nuisance to have to trouble about the date of the menstrual period4 ,it seems inartistic and sordid to insert a pessary or a suppository in anticipation of the sexual act4 ,but it is far more sordid to find yourself several years later burdened down with half a dozen unwanted children1 helpless1 starved1 shoddily clothed1 dragging at your skirt1 yourself a dragged out shadow of the woman you once were4 ,don't be over sentimental in this important phase of hygiene4 ,the inevitable fact is that unless you prevent the male sperm from entering the womb1 you are going to become pregnant4 ,women of the working class1 especially wage workers1 should not have more than two children at most4 ,the average working man can support no more and the average working woman can take care of no more in decent fashion4 ,it has been my experience that more children are not really wanted1 but that the women are compelled to have them either from lack of foresight or through ignorance of the hygiene of preventing conception4 ,it is only the workers who are ignorant of the knowledge of how to prevent bringing children in the world to fill jails and hospitals1 factories and mills1 insane asylums and premature graves4 ,the working women can use direct action by refusing to supply the market with children to be exploited1 by refusing to populate the earth with slaves4 ,it is also the one most direct method for you working women to help yourself today4 ,pass on this information to your neighbor and comrade workers4 ,write out any of the following information which you are sure will help her1 and pass it along where it is needed4 ,spread this important knowledge6 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,small ,family ,system3 ,is it ,injurious or ,immoral8 by ,dr4 ,c4 ,v4 ,drysdale4 ,b4 ,w4 ,huebsch1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,the ,problem of ,race-,regeneration1 by ,havelock ,ellis1 ,moffat1 ,yard ,co41 ,new ,york ,city4 ,the ,task of ,social ,hygiene1 by ,havelock ,ellis4 ,houghton ,mifflin ,co41 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,the ,limitation of ,offspring by the ,prevention of ,conception1 by ,dr4 ,wm4 ,j4 ,robinson1 ,critic ,guide ,co41 ,new ,york ,city4 ,what ,every ,girl ,should ,know by ,margaret ,sanger4 ,paper cover1 #be cents4 ,cloth cover1 #ej cents4 ,what ,every ,mother ,should ,know by ,margaret ,sanger4 ,paper cover1 #be cents4 ,cloth cover1 #ej cents4 ,the above are obtainable from ,max ,maisel1 #dbd ,grand ,street1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,the ,birth ,control ,review ,edited by ,margaret ,sanger4 ,one ,dollar a ,year #ajd ,fifth ,ave41 ,new ,york ,city4 ,a ,,nurse',s ,,advice ,,to ,,women4 ,every woman who is desirous of preventing conception will follow this advice3 ,don't wait to see if you do not menstruate 7monthly sickness7 but make it your duty to see that you do4 ,if you are due to be sick on the eighth of ,august1 do not wait until the eighth to see1 but begin as early as the fourth to take a good laxative for the bowels1 and continue this each night until the eighth4 ,if there is the slightest possibility that the male fluid has entered the vagina1 take on these same nights before retiring1 five or ten grains of quinine1 with a hot drink4 ,the quinine in capsule form is considered fresher1 but if this is taken do not use alcoholic drinks directly after1 as it hardens the capsules1 thus delaying the action of the quinine4 ,by taking the above precautions you will prevent the ovum from making its nest in the lining of the womb4 ,women of intelligence who refuse to have children until they are ready for them1 keep definite track of the date of their menstrual periods4 ,a calendar should be kept1 on which can be marked the date of the last menstruation1 as well as the date when the next period should occur4 ,women must learn to know their own bodies1 and watch and know definitely how regular or irregular they are3 if the period comes regularly every twenty-eight days 7normal7 or every thirty days as is in the case of many young girls4 ,mark it accordingly on your private calendar2 do not leave it to memory or guess work4 ,only ignorance and indifference will cause one to be careless in this most important matter4 ,a very good laxative 7though it is a patent medicine7 is ,beechams ,pills4 ,two of these taken night and morning1 four days before menstruation1 will give a good cleansing of the bowels1 and assist with the menstrual flow4 ,castor oil is also a good laxative4 ,the ,american ,physicians may object to this advice because ,beechams ,pills are a patent medicine4 ,but until they are willing to give open advice on this subject1 we must resort to such as the least harmful1 until such time as they do4 ,if a woman will give herself attention ,,before the menstrual period arrives1 she will almost never have any trouble1 but if she neglects herself and waits to see if she comes around1 she is likely to have difficulty4 ,if the action of quinine has not expelled the semen from the uterus1 and a week has elapsed with no signs of the menstrual flow1 then it is safe to assume conception has taken place4 ,any attempt to interfere with the development of the fertilized ovum is called an abortion4 ,no one can doubt that there are times where an abortion is justifiable but they will become unnecessary when care is taken to prevent conception4 ,this is the only cure for abortions4 ,there is current among people an idea that conception can take place only at certain times of the month4 ,for instance3 ten days after the menstrual period1 and four or five days before the next period4 ,this is not to be relied upon at all1 for it has been proven again and again that a woman can conceive at any time in the month4 ,do not depend upon this belief1 for there is no reliable foundation for it4 ,there is also the knowledge that nursing after child-birth prevents the return of the menstrual flow for several months and conception does not take place4 ,it is well not to depend upon this too much1 especially after the fifth or sixth month1 for often a woman becomes pregnant again without having seen anything or without her realizing that she has become pregnant4 ,she thus finds herself with one at the breast and another in the womb4 ,use some preventative4 ,again1 it is believed that conception cannot take place if the woman lies upon her left side at the time of the act4 ,it makes no difference which side she lies upon2 she can become pregnant if the semen is not prevented from entering the womb4 ,perhaps the commonest preventive excepting the use of the condom is coitus interrupts1 or withdrawal of the penis from the vagina shortly before the action of the semen4 ,no one can doubt that this is a perfectly safe method2 and it is not considered so dangerous to the man as some authorities have formerly viewed it1 but it requires a man of the strongest willpower to be certain that he has withdrawn before any of the semen has been deposited in the vagina4 ,it is very difficult to determine exactly whether this has been done4 ,the greatest objection to this is the evil effect upon the woman's nervous condition4 ,if she has not completed her desire1 she is under a highly nervous tension1 her whole being is perhaps on the verge of satisfaction4 ,she is then left in this dissatisfied state4 ,this does her injury4 ,a mutual and satisfied sexual act is of great benefit to the average woman1 the magnetism of it is health giving4 ,when it is not desired on the part of the woman and she has no response1 it should not take place4 ,this is an act of prostitution and is degrading to the woman's finer sensibility1 all the marriage certificates on earth to the contrary notwithstanding4 ,withdrawal on the part of the man should be substituted by some other means that does not injure the woman4 ,,douches ,,and ,,their ,,importance4 ,the most important part which every woman should learn in the methods of preventing conception1 is to cleanse herself thoroughly by means of the vaginal douche4 ,after the sexual act go as quickly as possible to the bath room and prepare a douche4 ,lie down upon the back in the bath tub4 ,hang the filled douche bag high over the tub1 and let the water flow freely into the vagina1 to wash out the male sperm which was deposited during the act4 ,do not be afraid to assist the cleansing by introducing the first finger with the tube and washing out the semen from the folds of the membrane4 ,one can soon learn to tell by the feeling when it is sufficiently clean4 ,it is said1 that the ,french women are the most thorough douchers in the world1 which helps greatly in keeping the organs in a clean and healthy condition1 as well as preventing the male sperm from reaching the womb to mate with the ovum4 ,following are some of the solutions to be used for the douche1 which1 when carefully used will kill the male sperm or prevent its entering the womb3 ,lysol--is a brown oily liquid which added to water forms a clear soapy solution4 ,one teaspoonful of ,lysol to #b quarts of water 7warm7 makes a good solution for douching4 ,mix into a pitcher or vessel before placing it in the bag4 ,bi-chloride--,get the tablets blue or white from the druggist2 the blue are less dangerous to have about because of the color4 ,always mix this solution thoroughly in a glass or pitcher before turning it into the bag4 ,never drop the tablet directly into the bag4 ,one tablet to two quarts of water makes a splendid solution for preventive purposes4 ,potassium ,permanganate--,this also makes a good solution1 especially where there is a vaginal discharge4 ,the special objection to this is that it stains the skin and clothing4 ,this can be purchased in crystal form1 and one teaspoonful dissolved in two quarts of water is the proper strength4 ,chinosol is highly recommended as a vaginal douche1 as being less injurious to the membranes than bi-chloride4 ,salt solution--,mix four tablespoons of table salt in one quart of warm or cold water and dissolve thoroughly4 ,this is good and cheap4 ,vinegar solution--,many peasants in ,europe use vinegar as an antiseptic almost exclusively4 ,one glassful to two quarts of water is the strength usually desired4 ,cider vinegar is preferred4 ,douche afterward with clear water4 ,cold water douche--,this will sometimes remove the semen quite effectively without the aid of an antiseptic4 ,but as the semen can hide itself away in the wrinkled lining of the vaginal cavity1 the cold water will only impede its progress for a time4 ,as soon as the warmth of the body revives its activity1 the semen continues on its journey to meet the ovum4 ,every woman should possess a good two quart rubber douche bag called fountain syringe4 ,hang it high enough to insure a steady direct flow4 ,bulb syringes1 such as the whirling spray syringes1 have been found satisfactory by many women for the purpose of injecting antiseptic solutions4 ,directions with syringe4 ,illustration3 ,fountain ,syringe4 ,some women use the douche before the sexual act as a preventive4 ,if this is done1 any astringent such as boric acid1 alum1 citric acid1 hydro-chlorate of quinine used in the solution will do4 ,only a pint of solution is needed for this purpose1 following the act a larger douche is used as a cleanser4 ,this can also be allowed with the regular antiseptic douche4 ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,condom ,,or ,,cots4 ,there is little doubt that a thorough douching of the genital passage with an antiseptic solution performed by skilled hands immediately after the sexual act would destroy the male sperm1 and nothing else would be necessary4 ,but there is always the possibility that the sperm has entered the womb before the solution can reach it4 ,it is safer therefore to prevent the possibility of the contact of the semen and the ovum1 by the interposition of a wall between them4 ,one of the best is the condom or rubber cot4 ,these are made of soft tissues which envelope the male organ 7penis7 completely and serve to catch the semen at the time of the act4 ,in this way the sperm does not enter the vagina4 ,the condoms are obtainable at all drug stores at various prices4 ,from two dollars a dozen for the skin gut tissues to one fifty a dozen for the rubber tissue4 ,these are seamless1 thin and elastic and yet tough2 if properly adjusted will not break4 ,fear of breaking is the main objection to their use4 ,if space has not been allowed for expansion of the penis1 at the time the semen is expelled1 the tissue is likely to split and the sperm finds its way into the uterus4 ,the woman becomes pregnant without being conscious of it4 ,if on the other hand care is given to the adjustment of the condom1 not fitting it too close1 it will act as one of the best protectors against both conception and venereal disease4 ,care must be exercised in withdrawing the penis after the act1 not to allow the condom to peel off1 thereby allowing the semen to pass into the vagina4 ,it is desirable to discard the condom after it has been used once4 ,but as this is not always done1 care must be taken to wash the condom in an antiseptic solution before drying it and placing it away for further use4 ,the condom is one of the most commonly known preventatives in the ,united ,states4 ,it has another value quite apart from prevention in decreasing the tendency in the male to arrive at the climax in the sexual act before the female4 ,there are few men and women so perfectly mated that the climax of the act is reached together4 ,it is usual for the male to arrive at this stage earlier than the female1 with the consequence that he is further incapacitated to satisfy her desire for some time after4 ,during this time the woman is in a highly nervous condition1 and it is the opinion of the best medical authorities that a continuous condition of this unsatisfied state brings on or causes disease of her generative organs1 besides giving her a perfect horror and repulsion for the sexual act4 ,thousands of well meaning men ask the advice of physicians as to the cause of the sexual coldness and indifference of their wives4 ,nine times out of ten it is the fault of the man1 who through ignorance and selfishness and inconsiderateness1 has satisfied his own desire and promptly gone off to sleep4 ,the woman in self defense has learned to protect herself from the long hours of sleepless nights and nervous tension by refusing to become interested4 ,the condom will often help in this difficulty4 ,there are many girls who have had no education on this subject1 no idea of the physiology of the act1 who upon any contact of the semen have a disgust and repulsion1 from which it takes some time to recover4 ,much depends upon the education of the girl1 but more depends upon the attitude of the man toward the relation4 ,,the ,,pessary ,,and ,,the ,,sponge4 ,another form of prevention is the pessary 7see cut74 ,this is one of the most common preventive articles used in ,france as well as among the women of the middle and upper class in ,america4 ,at one time the cost of these ranged up to seven dollars1 as they were imported into this country from ,france4 ,today they are manufactured in this country1 and may be had from fifty cents up to two dollars4 ,the ,mizpath is the name of one of the best and costs one dollar and a half at any reliable drug store4 ,they come in three sizes--large1 medium and small4 ,it is well to get the medium size1 as the small ones are only for very small boned women and easily get out of place4 ,illustration3 ,french ,pessary--slightly different from the ,american4 ,in my estimation a well fitted pessary is the surest method of absolutely preventing conception4 ,i have known hundreds of women who have used it for years with the most satisfactory results4 ,the trouble is women are afraid of their own bodies1 and are of course ignorant of their physical construction4 ,they are silly in thinking the pessary can go up too far1 or that it could get lost1 etc41 etc41 and therefore discard it4 ,it can not get into the womb1 neither can it get lost4 ,the only thing it can do is to come out4 ,and even that will give warning by the discomfort of the bulky feeling it causes1 when it is out of place4 ,follow the directions given with each box1 and learn to adjust it correctly2 one can soon feel that it is on right4 ,after the pessary has been placed into the vagina deeply1 it can be fitted well over the neck of the womb4 ,one can feel it is fitted by pressing the finger around the soft part of the pessary1 which should completely cover the mouth of the womb4 ,if it is properly adjusted there will be no discomfort1 the man will be unconscious that anything is used1 and no germ or semen can enter the womb4 ,illustration3 a--womb2 b--pessary covering mouth of womb2 c--vagina2 d--bladder4 ,if the woman should fall asleep directly after no harm can happen1 and it is not necessary to take a douche until the following morning4 ,take part or about a quart of an antiseptic douche ,,before the pessary is removed2 after removing it continue the douche and cleanse thoroughly4 ,illustration3 ,finger touching mouth of womb4 a--womb2 b--mouth of womb4 ,wash the pessary in clear cold water1 dry well and place away in the box4 ,one should last two years1 if cared for4 ,i recommend the use of the pessary as the most convenient1 the cheapest and the safest4 ,any nurse or doctor will teach one how to adjust it2 then women can teach each other4 ,it is not advisable to wear the pessary all the time4 ,take it out after using1 and wear it only when needed4 ,a little experience will teach one that to place it is a simple matter4 ,,sponges4 ,sponges can also be had at the drug store4 ,they have a tap attached to them to be conveniently removed4 ,they should be soaked in an antiseptic solution for a few minutes before coitus and then introduced into the vagina far up as they can be placed4 ,some physicians have recommended the use of the cotton plug1 instead of the sponge1 to be soaked in a solution of three per cent carbolic and glycerine1 before the act4 ,the male sperm is destroyed by the weakest solution of carbolic acid4 ,some of the peasants in ,europe use the cotton plug soaked in vinegar for the same purpose and find it satisfactory4 ,in this country a boric acid solution has been used for the same purpose and with satisfactory results4 ,of course this requires a saturated solution1 as1 for instance1 one teaspoonful of the powder to a cup of water stirred until dissolved4 ,sponges and plugs can be recommended as perfectly safe1 if followed by an antiseptic douche before the removal of the plug or sponge1 thus preventing the sperm from entering the womb4 ,the problem is3 to kill the male sperm upon entering the vagina1 or to wash it out or to kill it directly afterwards4 ,a weak solution of alum may also be used for cotton plugs and sponges1 also carbolated vaseline on plugs4 ,,vaginal ,,suppositories4 ,suppositories are becoming more generally used in ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 than any other method of prevention4 ,these may be found at any reliable pharmacy4 ,the majority of them are made from cocoa butter or gelatine1 which makes it necessary that they be deposited in the vagina several minutes before the act1 in order for them to melt4 ,special ingredients negate the effect of the male seed4 ,vaginal ,suppository ,acid citric1 #f grains ,acid boracic1 #a dram ,cocoa butter1 #ij grains ,make into #ab suppositories4 ,another suppository1 which is the same as the well-known ,aseptikon1 is the following3 ,salicylic acid1 #b grains ,boric acid1 #aj grains ,quin1 purol 7alkal71 #a grain ,chinosol1 #b grains ,cocoa butter1 #ij grains ,m4 f4 supos1 glob ,no4 #a 7,introduce into vagina three minutes before act47 ,still another found reliable is3 ,boric acid1 #aj grains ,salicylic acid1 #b grains ,quinine bisulphate1 #c grains ,cocoa butter1 #fj grains ,practically all vaginal suppositories act as preventives but the most commonly used is the ,aseptikon1 manufactured by the ,chinosol ,company4 ,they are to be secured at any reliable druggist's upon demand4 ,they should be kept in a cool place4 ,they are not poisonous and cause no injury to the membranes4 ,they are distributed into a box costing #he cents4 ,the prescription quoted above can be made up more cheaply however4 ,it is interesting to note that in the rural districts in ,france the peasant women make up their preventive suppositories themselves1 placing them carefully away in glass jars4 ,this is one of the recipes which has been used3 ,gelatine1 #a part ,water1 #b parts ,glycerine1 #e parts ,bisulphate of ,quinine--one-half a part ,make this into a paste4 ,allow to spread out and solidify1 then cut into pieces of #b grammes each1 wrap separately and put in a cool place 7air-tight74 ,i have given in the foregoing pages the most commonly known means of prevention4 ,personally ,i recommend every woman to use a well fitted pessary and learn to adjust it4 ,carbozine ,tablets1 obtainable from ,the ,carbozine ,laboratory1 #caba ,south ,broadway1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 are highly recommended as an antiseptic and cleanser by farmer's wives and others residing in rural districts4 ,a highly recommended suppository1 similar to those made and used successfully in ,germany for over twenty years1 is now obtainable from the ,alotan ,manufacturing ,company1 #b ,rector ,street1 ,new ,york ,city1 at the rate of one dozen for sixty cents and two dozen for one dollar4 ,condoms1 pessaries1 syringes1 douche bags1 and other rubber articles are obtainable from ,riker-,hegeman ,drug ,company1 #ae ,west #cdth ,st41 ,new ,york ,city4 ,birth control1 or family limitation1 has been recommended by some of the leading physicians of the ,united ,states and ,europe4 ,the movement can no longer be set back by setting up the false cry of obscenity4 ,it has already been incorporated into the private moral code of millions of the most influential families in every civilized country4 ,it will shortly win full acceptation and sanction by public morality as well4 ,in cases of women suffering from serious ailments1 such as ,bright's disease1 heart disease1 insanities1 melancholia1 idiocy1 consumption1 and syphilis1 all a physician is allowed to do is to tide these women through their pregnancies if possible4 ,even though the life of the woman is positively endangered1 he cannot relieve her without calling a colleague in consultation4 ,therefore1 the mortality of mothers suffering from these diseases and their infants is very high1 and premature births common4 ,to conserve the lives of these mothers and to prevent the birth of diseased or defective children are factors emphasizing the crying need of a sound and sane educational campaign for birth control4