A CHAPTER FOR YOUNG WOMEN 471 



There is no doubt that many young women have 

 permanently injured their constitutions while at school 

 by excessive mental taxation during the catamenial 

 period, to which they were prompted by ambition to 

 excel, or were compelled by the ''cramming" system 

 too generally pursued in our schools, and particularly 

 in young ladies' seminaries. It is not to be supposed, 

 however, that the moderate amount of sound study 

 required by a correct system of teaching would be in- 

 jurious to a healthy young woman at any time, and we 

 have no doubt that a very large share of the injury 

 which has been attributed to overstudy during the 

 catamenia has been induced by other causes, such as 

 improper dress, exposure to taking cold, keeping late 

 hours, and improper diet. 



If there is any class of persons deserving of pity, it 

 is that large class of girls and young women who are 

 in every large city employed as clerks, seamstresses, 

 flower-makers, and in other taxing and confining occu- 

 pations. In order to keep their situations, they are 

 required to be on hand daily, being allowed no oppor- 

 tunity for rest at the menstrual period. In many cases, 

 too, they are compelled to remain upon their feet all 

 day behind a counter, or at a work table, even at peri- 

 ods when a recumbent position is actually demanded 

 by nature. There should be less delicacy in relation 

 to this subject on the part of young women, and more 

 consideration on the part of employers. Here is a field 

 for philanthropic effort which is well worthy the best 

 efforts of any person of influence who will engage in it. 



Custom of Indian Women.— The ease with which 

 Indian women perform the parturient act is proverbial. 

 They suffer scarcely at all from the pains of childbirth ; 

 and without doubt one reason of this is the preservation 



