MATERNAL IMPRESSIONS. 221 



one sustained by mother and child. Modern 

 psychology has fully demonstrated that one life ^ cla * ion ^ 

 may influence another independently of the ordi- Child, 

 nary means of physical communication. As we 

 shall see in the succeeding chapter, in the light of 

 the new psychology it is easy to account for the 

 complete registering of all the mother's conditions 

 in her offspring. 



The order of prenatal training through 

 maternal impressions is plainly indicated by the 

 order of the embryonic development. The phys- 



r j ^ u ^u ^ The Order of 



ical organism forms first, and the brain areas that Training, 

 control the mentality later. The principal require- 

 ments of the embryo in its early development are 

 nutrition and freedom; it will require these 

 throughout the entire period of gestation also, but 

 if they are wanting during the first four or five 

 months arrested growth or physical deformity is 

 apt to result. The mental conditions of the mother 

 are potential during the entire period of gesta- 

 tion, but they are especially so during the latter 

 part of the period. Therefore, if special stress is 

 to be placed upon the physical and mental training 

 at different periods, the physical should be first, 

 the mental second and the moral last. 



As a general proposition, I would urge the pros- 

 pective mother to continue throughout gestation Hygienic Living 

 the physical, mental and moral training indicated Required. 

 in the preceding chapters. In addition, now that 

 she has to eat and breathe for two, she should be 

 doubly careful in the selection and preparation of 

 her food, and in breathing only pure air. Vigor- 

 ous, pleasant exercise, long walks and drives with 

 agreeable company are most beneficial. The 



