Part 4 (1/2)
For this reason, together with others, country boys and girls generally mature later than those living in the city by several months, and even a year or two. Anything that tends to excite the emotions hastens p.u.b.erty. The excitements of city life, parties, b.a.l.l.s, theaters, even the compet.i.tion of students in school, and the various causes of excitement to the nervous system which occur in city life, have a tendency to hasten the occurrence of the change which awakens the s.e.xual activities of the system into life. Hence, these influences cannot but be considered prejudicial to the best interests of the individual, mentally, morally, and physically, since it is in every way desirable that a change which arouses the pa.s.sions and gives to them greater intensity should be delayed rather than hastened.
Influence of Diet on p.u.b.erty.--The dietary has a not unimportant influence in this respect. Stimulating food, such as pepper, vinegar, mustard, spices, and condiments generally, together with tea and coffee, and an excess of animal food, have a clearly appreciable influence in inducing the premature occurrence of p.u.b.erty. On this account, if on no other, should these articles be prohibited to children and youth, or used very sparingly. Those who advocate the large use of meat by children and youth have not studied this matter closely in all its bearings. While it is true that children and growing youth require an abundance of the nitrogenous elements of food which are found abundantly in beefsteak, mutton, fish, and other varieties of animal food, it is also true that in taking those articles of food they take along with the nutrient elements properties of a stimulating character, which exert a decidedly detrimental influence upon the susceptible systems of children and youth. At the same time, it is possible to obtain the same desirable nitrogenous elements in oatmeal, unbolted wheat flour, peas, beans, and other vegetable productions, which are wholly free from injurious properties. We are positive from numerous observations on this subject, that a cool, unstimulating, vegetable or farinaceous diet would deter the development of the s.e.xual organism for several months, and perhaps for a year or two.
While it might not be in all cases desirable to do this, it would at least be wise to adopt such measures in cases in which the child is unavoidably exposed to influences which have a tendency to hasten the change.
It is important to add in this connection a word of caution against the adoption of a dietary too abstemious in character. It is necessary that an abundance of good, wholesome food, rich in the elements of nutrition, should be taken regularly. There is no doubt that many young ladies have induced conditions of serious disease by actual starvation of the system. A young woman who attempts to live on strong tea or coffee, fine-flour bread, and sweet cake, is as certainly starving herself as though she were purposely attempting to commit suicide by means of starvation, and with as much certainty of the same result.
Brunettes Naturally Precocious.--It has been observed that in girls the occurrence of p.u.b.erty is earlier in brunettes than in blondes; and in general it makes its appearance earlier in persons of a nervous or nervo-bilious temperament than in persons of a lymphatic temperament or phlegmatic nature.
Certain nationalities and families are marked by the earlier occurrence of p.u.b.erty than in others. In Jews, the change is commonly a year or two in advance of other nationalities in this country. It also occurs somewhat sooner in negroes and creoles than in white persons, the African race seeming to retain something of the precocity occasioned by the tropical influence of its native clime.
Remarkable Precocity.--Cases occasionally occur in which p.u.b.erty makes its appearance at the age of three or four years. Indeed, a case has been reported in this country in which a female child possessed all the characteristics which are usually developed at p.u.b.erty, from birth.
In this case the regular periodical changes began at birth.
Premature Development Occasions Early Decay.--A fact which is of too great importance to allow to pa.s.s unnoticed, is that whatever occasions early or premature s.e.xual development, also occasions premature decay.
Females in whom p.u.b.erty occurs at the age of ten or twelve, by the time their age is doubled, are shriveled and wrinkled with age. At the time when they should be in their prime of health and beauty, they are prematurely old and broken. Those women who mature late retain their beauty and their strength many years after their precocious sisters have become old, decrepit, and broken down. Thus, the matrons of thirty and forty years in colder climates are much more attractive in appearance than the maidens of sixteen; while quite the reverse is true in this and other countries where s.e.xual development is unduly hastened.
Early p.u.b.erty a Cause for Anxiety.--The unnaturally early appearance of p.u.b.erty is a just cause for apprehension, since it usually indicates an inherent weakness of the const.i.tution. When there are reasons for fearing its occurrence, active measures should be taken to occasion delay if possible. We call especial attention to this point, since there are many who erroneously suppose the early occurrence of p.u.b.erty to be a sign of superior vigor.
Changes which Occur at p.u.b.erty.--The changes which occur in the two s.e.xes at this period have been thus described:--
”In both s.e.xes, hair grows on the skin covering the _symphysis pubis_, around the s.e.xual organs, and in the axillae (armpits). In man, the chest and shoulders broaden, the larynx enlarges, and the voice becomes lower in pitch from the elongation of the vocal cords; hair grows upon the chin, upper lip, and cheeks, and often exists upon the general surface of the body more abundantly than in woman.” The s.e.xual organs undergo enlargement, and are more frequently excited. The t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es first begin the secretion of the seminal fluid.
”In woman, the pelvis and abdomen enlarge, but the whole frame remains more slender, the muscles and joints less prominent, the limbs more rounded and tapering [than in the male]. Locally, both external and internal organs undergo a considerable and rapid enlargement. The mammae enlarge, the ovarian vesicles become dilated, and there is established a periodical discharge of one or more ova, accompanied, in most cases, by a sanguineous fluid from the cavity of the uterus.”
These changes, so varied and extraordinary, often occur within a very short s.p.a.ce of time; and as they are liable to serious derangement, especially in the female, great care should be taken to secure for the individual the most favorable conditions until they are successfully effected. It is, however, a fact deserving of mention, that many of the ills which are developed at this particular period are quite as much the result of previous indiscretions and mismanagement as of any immediate cause. A few suggestions with regard to the proper treatment of individuals at this age may be in place.
1. Do not allow the boy or girl to be overworked, either mentally or physically. Great and important changes are occurring within the body, and nature should not be overtaxed.
2. Keep the mind occupied. While excessive labor should be avoided, idleness should be as carefully shunned. Some light, useful employment or harmless amus.e.m.e.nt--better some kind of work--should keep the mind fully occupied with wholesome subjects.
3. Abundant exercise out-of-doors is essential for both s.e.xes. Suns.h.i.+ne and fresh air are as necessary to the development of a human being as for the expanding of a flower bud.
4. Watch carefully the a.s.sociations of the youth. This should be done at all times, but especially just at the critical period in question, when the general physical disturbances occurring in the system react upon the mind and make it peculiarly susceptible to influences, especially those of an evil character.
5. None too much care can be exercised at this important epoch of human life, provided it is properly applied; but nothing could be more disastrous in its consequences than a weak solicitude which panders to every whim and gratifies every perverted appet.i.te. _Such_ care is a fatal error.
Menstruation.--The functional changes which occur in the female are much more marked than those of the male. As already intimated, the periodical development and discharge of an ovum by the female, which occurs after p.u.b.erty, is accompanied by the discharge of a b.l.o.o.d.y fluid, which is known as the _flowers_, _menses_, or _catamenia_. The accompanying symptoms together are termed the process of _menstruation_, or _being unwell_. This usually occurs, in the human female, once in about four weeks. In special cases, the interval may be a week less or a week longer; or the variation may be even greater.
Dalton describes the process as follows:--
”When the expected period is about to come on, the female is affected by a certain degree of discomfort and la.s.situde, a sense of weight in the pelvis, and more or less disinclination to society. These symptoms are in some cases slightly p.r.o.nounced, in others more troublesome. An unusual discharge of v.a.g.i.n.al mucus then begins to take place, which soon becomes yellowish or rusty brown in color, from the admixture of a certain proportion of blood; and by the second or third day, the discharge has the appearance of nearly pure blood. The unpleasant sensations which were at first manifest, then usually subside; and the discharge, after continuing for a certain period, begins to grow more scanty. Its color changes from a pure red to a brownish or rusty tinge, until it finally disappears altogether, and the female returns to her ordinary condition.”
The menstrual function continues active from p.u.b.erty to about the forty-fifth year, or during the period of fertility. When it finally disappears, the woman is no longer capable of bearing children. The time of disappearance is termed the ”change of life,” or _menopause_.
Exceptional cases occur in which this period is greatly hastened, arriving as early as the thirty-fifth year, or even earlier. Instances have also been observed in which menstruation continued as late as the sixtieth year, and even later; but such cases are very rare; and if procreation occurs, the progeny is feeble and senile.
With rare exceptions, the function is suspended during pregnancy, and usually, also, during the period of nursing.
Nature of Menstruation.--There has been a great amount of speculation concerning the cause and nature of the menstrual process. No entirely satisfactory conclusions have been reached, however, except that it is usually accompanied by the maturation and expulsion from the ovary of an ovum, which is termed ovulation. But menstruation may occur without ovulation, and, _vice versa_.
Menstruation is not peculiar to the human female, being represented in the higher animals by what is familiarly termed the ”rut.” This is not usually a b.l.o.o.d.y discharge, however, as in the human female, though such a discharge has been observed in the monkey.