tions, and occupations, they shall unconsciously be guided to exercise those powers, 

 all ripe for development, which, in the absence of systematic use, never influence 

 conduct. 



Remember that the long period of immaturity means power to progress. During 

 immaturity there is plasticity; new habits can be formed, new powers cultivated, 

 increased control of surroundings acquired. 



All this, when summed up, represents what we call 



EXPERIENCE, 



or ability to use the lessons of the past to benefit the future. Consequently we find 

 that where animals take a longer period to attain maturity their lives are longer. 

 so that they can utilize what they learn, as well as enjoy their greater powers of 

 adapting themselves to more varied conditions. 



COMPARE A GUINEA-PIG WITH A HORSE. 



The limited capacities of a guinea-pig necessitate a very short antenatal life 

 (seven weeks) ; in seven months it is mature and can reproduce its kind, but its life 

 rarely extends to seven years, neither does it at any period of life or in any genera- 

 tion develop beyond the stage attained by countless generations of its ancestors. 



The horse, on the other hand, possesses so much more elaborate a nervous system, 

 so much more capacity for training, that an antenatal period sevenfold as long is 

 essential to " laying down " its outlines and six years is necessary to its develop- 

 ment; BUT a horse can be trained in many useful habits and can remain of service 

 for twenty-five or thirty years. 



To a far higher degree, mankind 



POSSESSES UNREALIZED CAPACITY FOR PROGRESS, 



if the quality of the stock is maintained, if the conditions of normal growth be 

 respected, and if due opportunity be offered for the exercise of powers latent in brain 

 and body. It has been well said that, where, from absence of judicious training in 

 youth, 



LIBERTY, LUXURY, AND LICENCE CHARACTERIZE MATURITY, 



vital bankruptcy is the inevitable result. 



Leaving on one side the influences of a child's forefathers, the health of an 

 expectant mother has of late years assumed an importance too long overlooked. It 

 is during these months that her " weak spots " are likely to show ; their appearance 

 must on no account be neglected. Errors in diet, exercise, clothing, sleeping, or 

 surroundings must be corrected. Not that there are special laws of health for this 

 period, but, in almost every case, 



SPECIAL APPLICATION OF ORDINARY RULES OF LIFE 



is needed. The future of the infant may be threatened by premature birth, by 

 infection with what are known as " racial poisons " (syphilis, alcohol, or lead), or its 

 vitality may be lowered by the defective nutrition of the mother. 



The grievous results to the offspring of syphilitic infection eat like a canker at 

 the root of our national life; they could and should be known by all potential 

 parents. The disastrous effects of antenatal poisoning with alcohol have been veri- 

 fied past dispute. They appear as children grow up in the form of epilepsy, warped 

 minds and stunted bodies, mental instability which predisposes to crimes of violence, 

 insanity, and, what is almost worse, feeble mindedness. Chronic alcoholism, too, is 

 a frequent cause of marked malformation in the offspring, although many cases 

 occur in which no history of alcoholism can be traced. Nevertheless, 



IN THE OPINION OF THE BEST AUTHORITIES 



alcohol in even small quantities has an evil influence upon antenatal life, and should 

 be as religiously eschewed by the nursing as by the expectant mother. 



10 



