2o8 THE POPULAR SCIEXCE MONTHLY. 



epilepsy, insanity, are often connected with irregularities or suppresion 

 of these important functions. 



In addition to the ill effects upon the bodily health which are pro- 

 duced directly by an excessive mental application, and a consequent 

 development of the nervous system at the expense of the nutritive 

 functions, it is alleged that remoter effects of an injurious character 

 are produced upon the entire nature, mental and bodily. The arrest 

 of development of the reproductive system discovers itself in the phys- 

 ical form and in the mental character. There is an imperfect devel- 

 opment ot the structure which Xature has provided in the female for 

 nursing her offspring. 



"Formerly," writes another American pLysician, Dr. IsT. Allen, "such an 

 organization was generally possessed by American women, and they found but 

 little difficulty in nursing their infants. It was only occasionally in case of 

 some defect in the organization, or where sickness of some kind had overtaken 

 the mother, that it became necessary to resort to the wet-nurse, or to feeding by 

 hand. And the English, the Scotch, the German, the Canadian, the French, 

 and the Irish women who are living in this country, generally nurse their chil- 

 dren ; the exceptions are rare. But how is it with our American women who 

 become mothers? It has been supposed by some that all, or nearly all of them, 

 could nurse their offspring just as well as not ; that the disposition only was 

 wanting, and that they did not care about having the trouble or confinement 

 necessarily attending it. But this is a great mistake. This very indifference or 

 aversion shows something wrong in the organization, as well as in the disposi- 

 tion ; if the physical system were all right, the mind and natural instincts 

 would generally be right also. While there may be here and there cases of this 

 kind, such an indisposition is not always found. It is a fact that large numbers 

 of our women are anxious to nurse their offspring, and make the attempt; they 

 persevere for a while — perhaps for weeks or months — and then fail. . . . There 

 is still another class that cannot nurse at all, having neither the organs nor 

 nourishment necessary to make a beginning." 



"Why should there be such a difference between American women 

 and those of foreign origin residing in the same locality, or between 

 them and their grandmothers? Dr. Allen goes on to ask. The answer 

 he finds in the undue demands made upon the brain and nervous sys- 

 tem, to the detriment of the organs of nutrition and secretion : 



" In consequence of the great neglect of physical exercise, and the contin- 

 uous application to study, together with various other influences, large numbers 

 of our American women have altogether an undue predominance of the nervous 

 temperament. If only here and there an individual were found with such an 

 organization, not much harm comparatively would result ; but when a majority, 

 or nearly a majority have it, the evil becomes one of no small magnitude." 



To the same effect writes Dr. Weir Mitchell, an eminent American 

 physiologist : 



"Worst of all, to my mind, most destructive in every way, is the American 

 view of female education. The time taken for the more serious instruction of 

 girls extends to the age of eighteen, and rarely over this. During these years 



