LETTER X.. Management in Pregnancy.

MANAGEMENT IN PREGNANCY.

Of Solar light—Its Effects on Life and Health—Air and Exercise—Rules of Management.

Among the life agents, solar light is one of the most important.

Anciently the sun was considered as a deity. In most countries it was called the “Supreme Being,” the “Father of Light,” “Jupiter,” “Jehovah,” the “Creator of all living matter,” the “residence of the Most High.”

All nations, in all periods of time, have been impressed with the magnificence and power of the great center of the solar system.

That the sun’s light has a powerful influence on the living body, every one will readily admit. Knowing the reviving influence of a moderate degree of solar heat, the ancients had terraces on their house-tops, called solaria, in which, to use their own expression, they took a solar air-bath.

According to physiological experiments, it has been shown, that if tadpoles be nourished with proper food, and at the same time exposed to the constantly renewed contact of air, so that their respiration may be fully carried on while they remain in their fish-like condition, and, at the same time, be entirely deprived of light, their growth continues, but their metamorphosis into the condition of air-breathing animals is arrested, and they remain in the condition of a large tadpole.

The rapidity with which water-flies, insects, etc., of pools, undergo their transformation, is found to be much influenced by the amount of light to which they are exposed.

If equal numbers of the eggs of the silk-worm be preserved in a dark room, and exposed to common daylight, a much larger portion of the larva are hatched from the latter than the former.

A great variety of facts might be given in proof, that light exercises an important influence over the processes of development in animal life.

“Those who live in mines, or dark caves,” says Dr. Andrew Combe, “and who are rarely exposed to the light of day, present a pale, relaxed, sallowness of skin, which contrasts with the ruddy freshness of country people and others living much in the open air.”

Every one knows how much paler and more delicate those are who remain mostly, or entirely, within doors. The inhabitants of villages, towns, and cities, may often be known by the lighter color and delicacy of skin, which arises from their occupation being more in the shade than that of the country people.

The extreme paleness and depression of the poor population resident in the dark lanes of crowded cities, medical observers have often noticed, as a striking exemplification of the effects of a want of light.

Light is also well known to have a great influence in preventing deformity.

Those who are confined much within doors, or that are brought up in cellars, mines, and the dark places of cities, where the sun can never come, have much oftener deformity of body than such as have free access to the light.

Among those nations that wear but little or no clothing, thus leaving the system more to the influence of light, it is well known that there is a remarkable freedom from this form of disease.

Rickets is much more common in the dark, dirty parts of cities, than elsewhere.

There is, however, of course, in all these instances, other agencies concerned, than mere light. The effects are more or less modified by a variety of causes, as, for instance, the want of a due circulation of pure air in dark and confined places produces debility of the body, which always tends to deformity and disease. But it is demonstrably true, that the want of light is one of the most prominent among the many causes of bodily deformity.

In curing diseases, and the general management of the sick, light, too, is an important agency.

It is said by Sir A. Wilie, who was long at the head of the medical staff in the Russian army, that the cures of disease on the dark side of an extensive barrack at St. Petersburg, have been uniformly, for many years, in the proportion of three to one, to those on the side exposed to strong light.

In one of the London hospitals, with long range of frontage, looking nearly due north and south, it has been said by observers, that a residence in the south wards is much more conducive to the welfare of the patients, than in those on the north side of the building.

Light is a very important matter as regards the health of the eyes.

We find nowhere so much disease of these important organs, as among the poor people who inhabit the dark, filthy, and illy-ventilated portions of large cities.

This is true of infants, who are, more than others, kept within doors. It is, indeed, said, that in a certain dark alley of the city of Boston, infants are not unfrequently born blind.

Fish that live in the pools of the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky, we are told, have no sight.

Thus, my friends, I have spoken at length on the subject of light; almost more than was necessary, perhaps, you will say. But it is a matter which has not been much spoken of; and this, if there is need, is my excuse.

What practical lessons are we to gather from facts like these?

Shall ladies darken their parlors and sitting-rooms, thus making them more like dungeons than pleasant apartments for use?

Shall they practice reading, sewing, and the like exercises in rooms so poorly lighted that a person coming from the open air can scarcely discern one object from another?

Shall they remain in-doors as much of the time as is possible, lest the light should render their skin of a somewhat less delicate hue?

Shall they, when they must needs come out for a walk, wear a thick, heavy, and perhaps three-double vail, in order to preserve that delicacy, of which women too often appear to be so fond?

Shall they go on thus keeping up this so-called beauty and delicateness, even if it be at the expense of ennui, debility, nervousness, and general ill health?

Or, on the other hand, shall they go often and freely into the open air, walking miles every day; or what is perhaps better, engage in active, and, if possible, out-door pursuits, a part of each day?

In the one case, health is, as a general thing, easy to obtain; in the other, impossible.

As children know by instinct, and physiologists by scientific facts, human beings must go often into the open light of day, in order to insure firm and enduring bodily health.

Nor are the good effects of light less important on the feelings, habits, and mental manifestations of the individual.

AIR AND EXERCISE.

Would that I could now impress upon your minds, in some good degree, the importance of AIR and EXERCISE in pregnancy.

See how well the Indian women get along with child-bearing; and you know they are active in their habits, and go a great deal in the open air.

How well, too, the poor, laboring people, the Irish and the Germans, get along in having children; and are not they obliged to work? Labor! verily thou art a blessing which we poor mortals do but poorly prize!

I must say to you, then, in my humble way, to all of you who are pregnant, DO NOT FAIL TO WORK. Work regularly—not too much at a time, but little and often, avoiding all extremes. Go out, too, EVERY DAY, and get the fresh air and light of heaven. So will you be rewarded for every thing you do.