118 PLAIN FACTS FOE OLD AND YOUNG 



of ten and fifteen years, varying considerably in differ- 

 ent climates. In this country, and in other countries of 

 about the same latitude, puberty usually occurs at the 

 age of fourteen or fourteen and one-half years in fe- 

 males, and a few months later in males. In cooler 

 climates, as in Norway and Siberia, the change is de- 

 layed to the age of eighteen or nineteen years. In 

 tropical climates it is hastened, occurring as early as 

 nine or ten years. In warm climates it is no uncom- 

 mon thing for a girl to be a mother at twelve ; and it is 

 stated that one of the wives of Mahomet was a mother 

 at ten. 



Other causes besides climate tend to hasten the oc- 

 currence of this change, as habits, temperament, con- 

 stitutional tendency, education, and idiosyncrasy. 



Causes Which Delay Puberty.— Habits of vigor- 

 ous physical exercise tend to delay puberty. 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 puberty. The 

 excitements of city life, parties, balls, theaters, even 

 the competition 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 sexual 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 passions and gives to them greater intensity, should 

 be delayed rather than hastened. 



Influence of Diet on Puberty.— The dietary has a 

 not unimportant influence in this respect. Stimulating 



