12.  NATURE’S METHOD.—­To such we reply that nature herself has provided to some extent, against overproduction.  It is well known that women, when nursing, rarely become pregnant, and for this reason, if for no other, women should nurse their own children, and continue the period until the child is at least nine months or a year old.  However, the nursing, if continued too long, weakens both the mother and the child.

13.  ANOTHER PROVISION OF NATURE.—­For a certain period between her monthly illness, every woman is sterile.  Conception may be avoided by refraining from coition except for this particular number of days, and there will be no evasion of natural intercourse, no resort to disgusting practices, and nothing degrading.

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PRENATAL INFLUENCES.

1.  DEFINITION.—­By prenatal influences we mean those temporary operations of the mind or physical conditions of the parents previous to birth, which stamp their impress upon the new life.

2.  THREE PERIODS.—­We may consider this subject as one which naturally divides itself into three periods:  the preparation which precedes conception, the mental, moral and physical conditions at the time of conjunction, and the environment and condition of the mother during the period of gestation.

3.  PROMINENT AUTHORITIES.—­A.E.  Newton says:  “Numerous facts indicate that offspring may be affected and their tendencies shaped by a great variety of influences, among which moods and influences more or less transient may be included.”

Dr. Stall says:  “Prenatal influences are both subtle and potent, and no amount of wealth or learning or influence can secure exemption from them.”

Dr. John Cowan says upon this subject:  “The fundamental principles of genius in reproduction are that, through the rightly directed wills of the father and mother, preceding and during antenatal life, the child’s form or body, character of mind and purity of soul are formed and established.  That in its plastic state, during antenatal life, like clay in the hands of the potter, it can be molded into absolutely any form of body and soul the parents may knowingly desire.”

4.  LIKE PARENTS, LIKE CHILDREN.—­It is folly to expect strong and vigorous children from weak and sickly parents, or virtuous offspring from impure ancestry.

Dr. James Foster Scott tells us that purity is, in fact, the crown of all real manliness; and the vigorous and robust, who by repression of evil have preserved their sexual potency, make the best husbands and fathers, and they are the direct benefactors for the race by begetting progeny who are not predisposed to sexual vitiation and bodily and mental degeneracy.

5.  BLOOD WILL TELL.—­Thus we see that prenatal influences greatly modify, if they do not wholly control, inherited tendencies.  Is it common sense to suppose that a child, begotten when the parents are exhausted from mental or physical overwork, can be as perfect as when the parents are overflowing with the buoyancy of life and health?  The practical farmer would not allow a domestic animal to come into his flock or herd under imperfect physical conditions.  He understands that while “blood will tell,” the temporary conditions of the animals will also tell in the perfections or imperfections of the offspring.