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- OR CHANGE OF LIFE |
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Discourses to Women on Medical Subjects by Anna M. Longshore Potts published by the author in London, 1887 |
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| Age varies | THE change of life is an important climax, and it is a period through which every menstrual woman must pass, if her life is spared to reach it. After from thirty to thirty-five years of ovulation and child-bearing, there comes a time of rest for her own system; the ovaries cease to perform their usual functions, and the uterus diminishes in size; and, like the fruit- trees in the orchard, she ceases to bear. But her existence is maintained for other purposes; for woman has a variable mission - her sphere of usefulness is not limited to one work, however important that one may be. This interesting change may take place at different ages, according to the constitution and other conditions; in some it will be as early as at thirty-eight, in others not until fifty, and both classes may be in apparent health. And cases have come to our notice in which the change took place at the very early age of twenty-five, and others as late as fifty-six, for which no cause could be assigned as far as the general health would indicate. |
| Irregular periods | The usual symptoms accompanying this change are a diminution of the monthly discharge, which may still occur at regular periods, but from month to month the flow becomes less profuse, until the quantity diminishes to a mere stain, then ceases altogether; while in another case there may be no perceptible change in the quantity of the discharge, but the period of its occurrence is characterized by its irregularity, varying from four to six weeks, or even from two to three months, and changing from time to time, so that there are no means of judging when the periods will arrive. Neither of these conditions require any medical advice or treatment, while in other cases the discharge at this time of life becomes very profuse, amounting sometimes to a haemorrhage, though perhaps not at every period; still, when it does occur to an alarming extent, medical assistance may be required. |
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Flashes of heat, followed by perspiration, then a chill, are some of the accompanying symptoms of the change of life; they may commence at any stage, from the first, before any other symptoms are noticed, or not until the catamenial flow has become irregular or more scanty than usual. These very uncomfortable flashes may continue for two years, or for ten, and they sometimes increase in their severity and frequency for two or more years after the menses have ceased to appear; but much of this disturbance may be corrected. by due attention to the general health of the system, for it arises from imperfect circulation: the superficial capillary blood-vessels becoming distended, the face and neck are momentarily flushed to a deep red or almost purple color, while previously to and after the attack they may be ashy pale;. A gentle course of medical treatment, to increase the action of the liver, kidneys, and skin, will often prove efficient, while in some cases a more radical course is required. |
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threaten |
In consequence of this modification of the circulation, the change of life, during the transition of the system from an active ovarian state to the quiet condition of a nonovulating girl; is often attended by serious developments of morbid conditions in other parts of the body, which may prove very serious and difficult to control. The ovaries, uterus, and mammary glands are all implicated in the functions of maternity, and when they relinquish their united duties, the latent forces are directed to the development of morbid conditions which have been lying dormant in the system, but which are now made to germinate into active operation; and if there should be an inherited cancer germ, it will now be aroused into activity; also, if the rudimentary conditions have remained for years in the form of a small tumour in the mammary gland, on the lip, neck, or womb, now is the most probable time for its development; or if there is any trace of insanity, erysipelas, or tuberculosis of the lungs or intestines, this is the time most liable for their development ; also for ovarian and uterine tumors, paralysis, and apoplexy. Hence great care should be observed to avoid the excitement of any of these unfortunate conditions, by proper attention to all of the rules of health relating to food, dress, and exercise in the open air; all mental, religious, social, and domestic excitement should be avoided. |
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leads to insanity |
Many at this time of life become deeply impressed with the importance of spiritual culture, they become greatly interested in church matters, and permitting themselves to be influenced by the earnest appeals of their pastors, they are actuated to overtax the mind, the mental powers yield to excessive labour This may be one phase of insanity, or the unfortunate marriage of a son or daughter may induce matemal grief, and cause the mind to yield, and all interest in life to be abandoned ; or loss of property may have a similar effect. |
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Fortify the body |
A woman at this time of life should strive against such results by a watchful care to avoid all occasions giving rise to anxious thoughts on any subjects; and she should endeavour to fortify her physical system against the inroads of disease by proper diet, rest, and retirement; and if there is any appearance of disease, it should have judicious attention and proper remedies; all possible healthful conditions should be induced, and all hurtful ones, such as overwork and indulgence in rich foods containing fat-making elements avoided. |
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False pregnancy |
At this climax, adipose tissuue develops in some constitutions to such an extent that weight increases in the course of one year to the amount of from thirty to seventy-five pounds above the natural standard. In some cases the abdomen alone enlarges, and a woman, if married, not infrequently mistakes her condition to be that of pregnancy, and her opinion is sanctioned by some of her knowing friends, or by her physician; she makes all necessary arrangements for an heir, but as time progresses, and the possible period has passed, she discovers, to her great disappointment and embarrassment, that the enlargement is due to an accumulation of fat upon the intestines, and increased by flatulency. All this will disappear in time, and reflect upon the parties a suspicion that more knowledge was required to be gained of the real state of such cases before a diagnosis couud be justly relied upon. |
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If a woman passes safely over this change, which is fraught with so many peculiar symptoms and liabilities, which engross the mind with fearful forebodings, and often with disastrous consequences to life and happiness, she may then hope for a period of twenty-five or thirty years of a more undisturbed and peaceful existence than all her former life has yielded her. |
| At this point, despite remaining in the Change of Life chapter, Anna gets carried away by what is largely a terrible warning against early marriage and the horrors of repeated "gestations". Despite her evidently feminist leanings, she does not go so far as to recommend staying single, which in this era would have been socially and financially foolish in the extreme, but it is noticeable that her happy ending scenario is couched in terms of what should happen to "Mother" rather than what will. | |
| Annoyances
of
girlhood lead to naively early marriage |
The mental and physical vicissitudes that attend a woman from childhood to old age, are numerous and not always of the most pleasant character ; the thousand annoyances of girlhood, during schooldays and years of compelled obedience to the opinions and dictates of parents and guardians, often make the girl wish these years had flown that she might stand as a responsible person, and do what her own will dictates; and the longings of the young heart for proffered love and congenial companionship induce her to accept an early offer of marriage, believing that in the wedded state her happiness must be increased, that to have a husband to love her more than all others in the world, to be mistress of a house and home, to have the satisfaction of being in possession of carpets and curtains all her own, will complete her joy. And after she has settled down into a matron, perhaps when quite too young she confidentially declares to her young lady friends that marriage is the only balm for restless nerves, and that her present state of happiness should convince them all of the great impropriety of doubting it; she praises her liberty, her possessions, her husband's love and constant solicitude for her - exhorting them with, " Get married, girls! and be as happy as I." |
| First
child born.
Life is wonderful but wiser girls do not follow her into early marriage. |
In one year's time a child is born, and such pains as accompanied this she had never before believed that woman could endure; but the child is come, a little son, and she is grateful that her life is spared. Out of love for her husband, she gives the boy his name, and she soon forgets, or does so partially, the ordeal through which she lately passed; so, when her young friends see her and the little son, she again declares there is no way to live happily but in the married state; her comforts, her doting husband, her darling child, make home a heaven, and earth a paradise. Again, she earnestly entreats that they will try to comprehend the blessings in store for them under like conditions, and marry early, as she has done ; but these young girls fear some clouds may come, let the sky be at present never so clear , they suspect there may be thorns among the roses, so do not decide to take a similar step until they have seen more of life's experiences. |
| Second
child born
the perfect complement no more needed |
In two years time another offspring comes to bless the happy, hopeful wife, this new accession to the family circle is earlier than she expected, although she intended sometime to have a little daughter, and now it too has come. The husband, in his gratitude for this new blessing, calls the baby by the name of his clear wife, and she is highly complimented and happy, her cup of bliss is now brimful, and she playfully appeals to her young friends not to wait, but to marry and have the blessings of home, husband and little ones, and be blessed as she is, with just the full complement - no less, no more would suit, just a son and daughter, just all they wished for. |
| Now
five children
and she is distressed no sleep, dead baby hard teething, worn carpets, husband inattentive Do not marry young! "Life is real
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But in eighteen months another comes; it was very unexpected, in fact quite an accident. She now has but little to say upon the subject, and in two more years gestation must be again endured, and also labour pains. And consequent concomitants which mothers know about; and then, in a marvellously short time, another child comes to them, and soon the number is increased to five. Then her remarks assume a different tone ; now she says she is distressed, for she has not had one good night's rest since her first boy was born, there has always been an infant in her arms, or one expected. The children all cut their teeth with difficulty, all had the measles, the whooping cough went hard with them, and one she lost, which brought to her heart an anguish and suffering she had newer known before, and to which all other pains were as nothing. Now she feels her rooms are small and quite too few in number, her carpets are worn, and her curtains torn; husband is not so pleasant as he used to be, he speaks in a hasty manner when she most needs his sympathy, and he is often away from home, or too much engaged to talk to her, for the great expense of the family demands his time and thought. She wrings her hands, presses her palms to her throbbing temples, and weeps as she begs her young friends to pause and consider before they leave their homes at so early an age; for marriage and matrimony are not a romance, but an experience which the young cannot know, except as they watch the progress of such as have ventured to accept the claims and to learn by practical trial that " Life is real, life is earnest." |
| 10,
12, 15 children
No justice in God's dispensation BUT
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And many thus pass on until ten, twelve, or even fifteen children have been born, with an accumulation of troubles to correspond, and at times they have been discouraged, and almost, or quite, insane, and they have felt that there was no justice in Gods dispensation if woman was assigned a life of pain, sorrow, and ceaseless toil, and if that was to be the whole of woman's pleasure here or earth. But after these years have passed, and the climax of her womanhood has been reached, when there are no more children to be born, no more teeth to come, no more measles or whooping-cough, and no more babies deaths to break her heart. |
| An
idyllic life should
now follow. |
Now the numerous sons are grown up to fill useful and important posts, daughters are married, and " Mother " is left alone again to the renewed love of her husband. The house has been enlarged, new curtains and carpets take the place of what had worn away; and the husband, through all these years, has worked with one great aim in view, that when the wife and he shall have come to the middle age of life they shall have a home flee from debt, and with all the comforts he can get to make their last years the most joyful of all their wedded life. Now his love for her may occupy his heart and mind, though at one time business cares had quite suppressed it, and the twenty years to come may be like the harvest-home of their existence, the most quiet and contented time; and now it is that such enjoy themselves. Now they have leisure to read, think and tallk on subjects congenial to their age and development; now is the time for them to lay aside the more worldly cares, and to let the intellect have opportunity to grasp w hat may be learned in social life, or from public lectures; and money-making and hard labor should now be transferred to younger people, while the elders enjoy the full fruition of their past lives of labor and anxiety. Where parents arrive thus far on life's journey, they should occupy almost the position of household gods, and all should be done to give them every possible ease and comfort in their declining years. " Mother " should now have the easy chair, while the daughter occupies the harder one; the first ripe grapes and other dainties should be brought for her, and the earliest flowers should decorate her room; for every little thoughtful act and kind attention is due to her who has endured so much for the comfort of her children, and now is the time for her to be recompensed for her life of self-sacrifice by the fondest love and greatest care. " Mothers " words should have a weight which no other words can carry in the way of advice and counsel, for the lessons she can impart have been gained from life's experience, and they should be treasured by her girls as " apples of gold in pictures of silver." And when her strength of body and mind begins to wane, and her faculties to decline, she must not be thought a trouble or expense, but her girls should prove to her beyond a doubt that the greatest pleasure that they enjoy is to make her happy, from whose existence theirs was gained, and by whose care it was sustained through helpless, dependent childhood. |