the attacks, consists in the avoidance of all forms of alcohol, the use of a diet rich in vegetables, except peas, beans, and oatmeal, with meats sparingly and but once daily. Sweets must be reduced to the minimum, but cereals and breadstuffs are generally allowable, except hot bread. All fried articles of food, all smoked or salted meats, smoked or salted fish, pastry, griddle cakes, gravies, spices and seasoning, except red pepper and salt, and all indigestibles are strictly forbidden, including Welsh rarebit, etc. Fruit may be generally eaten, but not strawberries nor bananas. Large quantities of pure water should be taken between meals-at least three pints daily. Mineral waters offer no particular advantage. CHAPTER I Health and Purity Duties of Parents-Abuse of the Sexual Function-False Teachings-Criminal Neglect-Secure the Child's Confidence—The Best Corrections—Marriage Relations. EVERY individual should know how to care for the sexual organs as well as those of any other part of the body, providing that the instruction be given by the proper person and at the proper time and place. Such information should be imparted to children by parents, guardians, or physicians at an early age and, if this is neglected through ignorance or false modesty, erroneous ideas of the nature and purpose of the sexual function will very surely be supplied later by ignorant and probably evil-minded persons with correspondingly bad results. There is no other responsibility in the whole range of parental duties which is so commonly shirked and with such deplorable consequences. When the subject is shorn of the morbid and seductive mystery with which custom has foolishly surrounded it in the past, and considered in the same spirit with which we study the hygiene of the digestion and other natural functions, it will be found possible to give instruction about the sexual function in a natural way and without exciting unhealthy and morbid curiosity. |