230 PRENATAL CULTURE. 



acquire, seem susceptible to maternal impressions 

 during the first six months of gestation. To be 

 sure the y are susceptible throughout the entire 

 period and therefore should receive careful train- 

 ing, but since they develop before the intellectual 

 faculties and moral sentiments, it is possible to 

 influence them at an earlier period. 



No specific rule is applicable to all cases 

 for the training of these or any other powers. In 

 some the propensities need cultivating, in others 

 they need to be restrained ; therefore the prenatal 

 training required in any given case is determined 

 by the disposition of the parents and the conditions 

 of the mother. 



In all cases the alimentative appetite should be 

 kept normal, only plain, non-stimulating foods be- 

 Appetites and j n g used. This is especially important, if there 

 are reasons to fear an inherent appetite for nar- 

 cotics. If the mother has a special longing for any 

 particular article of diet, it is best to gratify it 

 at once, as its gratification is not nearly so apt to 

 produce an abnormal desire in the child, as is the 

 continual longing for it. This fact will be readily 

 understood by psychologists. 



The suggestions given in a former chapter, 

 touching upon the cultivation and restraining of 

 energy, of self control and the acquiring instinct, 

 are P articularl 7 applicable to this period. A 

 mother who is much overworked is apt to give 

 birth to a child greatly deficient in energy and 

 force of character. The same results might be 

 produced by a life of idleness and indolence. If 

 she has cause to fear that her child will be want- 

 ing in courage and energy, she should exercise 



