Puberty is that period in the life of a girl when her procreative organism has reached the development necessary to function as required by Nature for the conception of a new being. Undoubtedly, Nature had primarily intended that when this stage was reached she should have attained full bodily growth, and be prepared to do her full duty as a member of the human family.

It is likewise the period of her life - and this is most important - when her parents are no longer responsible before God for her action, and she herself must assume full responsibility for her thoughts, desires and acts.

Unfortunately, in all too many instances, the laws governing the development of the body have not kept pace with those giving life and activity to the creative functions, and at this age it is possible for almost any girl to conceive, three or five years before her physical structure is fully developed.

Because of this anomaly the physical body is that of a girl who should be happy with her dolls or in the companionship of other boys and girls, while the mind and desires are those of a fully developed woman.

When a girl has reached this stage of life we find it difficult to keep her innocent in thought and free from acts which might be wholly to her detriment in later life. On this account, the period during puberty is most dangerous. Every care must be exercised by the mother or guardian to avoid any misstep that might lead the girl astray and ruin her chances for happiness.

A few months before the beginning of puberty we have a girl wholly carefree and happy, and undisturbed by any feeling of self-consciousness in the companionship of boys. She takes part in their games and sports with carefree abandon, possibly failing to recognize, at least consciously, that there is a difference between the sexes. Then, almost imperceptibly a change takes place. A transformation of her entire being is in process. Her mental attitude changes, with surprising suddenness, from that of a boyish girl, into that of a woman, and here is the danger: she is torn between the feelings of the boyish girl and that of the awakening woman.

With the awakening of sex activity (biological urge and longing for affection), life appears totally different from what it seemed but a short time before; bewilderment and painful self-consciousness takes the place of the former instinctive activity.

The girl may be likened to the uncouth youth, who is aware that there is a correct way to enter a room filled with people, but unable to properly proceed; the greater his effort to appear self-possessed and self-confident, the more likely he is to act awkwardly and ungainly. The girl is fully conscious that the former indiscriminate carefree association with those of the opposite sex can no longer be continued, but she is uninformed as to just what is the proper thing to do and how to go about it.

Long before this period in the girl's life the wise mother will have informed her daughter of just what to expect; when and in what manner to expect it and what should be done to meet the situation. Happy and fortunate is the mother who has not failed her daughter and allowed her to obtain such information from associates or older persons ignorant of the true facts, for to such misleading information can be traced much of the sorrow and misery responsible for the suffering of so many women.

The paralyzing effect this unexpected phenomenon has on her mind makes her incapable of clear thinking. In her ignorance, she assumes that her experience is unique and that even if she were to confide in her parents, and tell them of the condition, they probably would misunderstand and misjudge. Thrown on her own resources, she reasons from past experience; she remembers that whenever there was a flow of blood for any reason the first thing to look for was a cloth and COLD water. She secures the cold water, applies it until the flow ceases, and by this very act often lays the foundation for future illness.

Had she been instructed in the anatomy, physiology and natural functions of the creative organism and told that at a certain period of her life the ovaries prepare the ovum or human egg; that preceding the passing of this ovum from the ovary discharging to the uterus via the Fallopian tubes, where it may be impregnated and become a human, there is a flow of mucous and blood preparing the passage; that this blood will be discharged from the vagina - had she been fully informed to expect this at some time or another and how to proceed when the condition made its appearance, she would have been prepared for this "dark," though altogether natural, period of her life.

Moreover, almost any mother can anticipate this event by certain almost unmistakable "signs" that manifest in the behavior of her daughter; actions all clearly indicative of what is to be expected. The symptoms most often manifesting are the various mental peculiarities, since the physiological foundation of menstruation rests in the nervous system. This affects the entire nervous system and reflects on the mental reactions by erratic activity. The appetite frequently becomes irregular, or, as is often the case, there may be a craving for certain foods clearly not conducive to health and well-being. Often there is great languor, backache, pain in various parts of the body, chills, headache, morbidity, perversity of action and irritability.

When such symptoms are evident in the girl of ten to fourteen years of age the mother should be prepared with her sanitary cloths and napkins, and kindly inform the daughter that at the first symptom of the unusual, she is to come to her that she may be fully prepared for what is the greatest event in her life: the change from girlhood into womanhood; from innocence into responsibility.

Finally, when the expected symptoms appear, the girl should be induced to retire to her room and recline on a bed or couch. Common remedies, according to the symptoms manifesting, should be prescribed. If there are chills and slight feverishness, hot teas should be given until these symptoms disappear and the flow becomes normal, after which the girl should be allowed to remain quiet for several days.

If the inception of the menstrual flow of the girl is anticipated, properly prepared for, and correctly taken care of, the cause of future trouble will have ben eliminated. The menses, once naturally established, become a normal function of the female organism and seldom cause trouble.

How vastly different from the usual chain of events! We have in mind a case that will clearly illustrate this. A family of four, two boys and two girls; the mother an average American, who had been taught nothing when a girl and whose only knowledge was her own experience, taking it for granted that just as she had to learn the "hard way," so must her daughters.

The older of the two girls, at the age of thirteen and while romping and playing with her brothers and several neighborhood boys, suddenly became aware that conditions were not as usual with her. There appeared nothing unusual so far as her physical well-being was concerned but, as she expressed it, "something warm seemed to flow."

Almost unconsciously she placed her hand to the mouth of the vagina, and, on withdrawing, found it covered with blood. Naturally, she was dumbfounded and did not know what move to make. In this dilemma she turned to her companions who were as ignorant, and happily, as innocent as she. The concurrent conclusion arrived by the consultation was that the best thing to do was to secure a cloth and cold water; that possibly it was no more than an ordinary nosebleed with which they were familiar.

The cloth and cold water were secured and applied, with the result that the flow ceased and a chill set in, the child having been perspiring freely, due to exercise. When the time came for the next periodical flow, there was no indication of it, but instead a chill and swelling of the limbs. A physician was consulted. He suspected something out of the ordinary; questioned the girl until she informed him of the former occurrence. For many years thereafter this girl suffered severely as each monthly period, all due to the failure of the mother to properly instruct her. If the mother herself were ignorant then she should have taken the girl to the family physician for proper instructions.

Occurrences of this nature are well nigh universal, which certainly does not speak well for our twentieth century enlightenment and our boast of being intelligently informed on all important subjects. It is distinctly not an honor to us to be forced to admit that more than nine-tenths of our girls reach the age of puberty without the slightest knowledge of the phenomena of life before them.

Nor is it an honor to motherhood, that girls, because of their ignorance, should attempt to hide, for fear of unjust accusations, what every girl should look forward to with as great a pride as the young mean does to his first long trousers - an emblem of womanhood on her part; on his, a symbol of manhood.

Not all motherhood is based on ignorance. We have in mind a mother of the enlightened age; one blessed with several daughters who do her honor. She is not merely the human machine who prepares their food and looks after their clothing - she is also their companion. Just as these girls come to their mother with their studies, so do they go to her with their confessions, their problems and their questionings.

If Johnny Jones happens to display his wisdom of the world and gives expression to some remark they do not understand, they appeal to their mother for an interpretation. She, wise mother, instead of showing self-consciousness on her part and telling them to be ashamed to repeat "such a remark," tells them just what he did mean and then proceeds to give them a full explanation of it in language chaste and pure.

These girls never ask a companion for an explanation of a remark they do not understand. They wait until evening and then appeal to the mother, who, as will be universal in the good time coming, is also their confessor.

These girls have been instructed in biology, anatomy and physiology. They comprehend the mysteries of creation and have been told of the coming event when they will bid goodbye to childhood and enter girlhood.

One of the girls, complaining of flushes and a feeling of dizziness, was promptly kept home from school so she might rest. Upon informing the mother of the appearance of a discharge, she was shown how to apply the sanitary cloth; how to change it; and taught the correct method of bathing locally with warm water and sponging the entire body with tepid water once each day.

The next day, instead of being sent to school, she was allowed to stay at home and rest, thus freeing the mental and nervous system from the strain always resultant from forced study during this trying time.

This wise and knowing mother never allows her daughters to attend school during these periods, but tells them to rest, play games, have music and to generally enjoy themselves.

What is the result? The development of these girls is at its best; there is no nervous irritability; no irrational action; no morbidity; they are happy and carefree, and seldom are aware of the periodic flow, aside from the necessity of changing sanitary napkins, and keeping the body free from undesirable odors. Here, briefly, are the fruits of proper guidance by a normal, enlightened, twentieth century mother.

Our present day educational system is fundamentally wrong and destructive in its tendency. It is diametrically contrary to the laws governing normal boyhood and girlhood; laws that should be well understood by every physician and educator:

First: Boys during adolescence are extremely active and, to develop normally, must be continually occupied with exercises, recreations and studies, so that by the hour for retiring they are sufficiently tired to be ready for sleep. This routine will be a preventive for undesirable habits, or at least will modify them, and reduce the possibility of their becoming a menace to boyhood and the cause of weakness in later life.

Second: Since the physiologic base of menstruation stems from the nervous system, it is necessary, if the welfare of the girl is to be considered, that a directly opposite method of procedure be followed in her consideration. Instead of urging her to activity and intensive study, as we should do with boys, it is essential to as nearly as possible allow her complete rest during the four or five day menstruation period, nor dare we incite her to difficult mental activity either directly before or after the monthly period.

Our present system is to consider boys and girls during adolescence and puberty as exactly alike in their natures, desires, tendencies, mental capacities and physical endurance when, as previously stated, they are directly the opposite. The treatment accorded them must be diametrically different if good is to result.

This cannot be successfully contradicted. In the name of reason and common sense, how can we expect a healthy woman-hood and normal motherhood if we accord the girls in school the treatment we should prescribe only for the boys; a treatment which all too often completely shatters the nervous system, weakens the mentality, and breaks down the moral stamina?

At the time of the transition from girlhood to womanhood other radical changes take place. Instead of continuing her companionship with the boys as formerly, hugging and kissing them, and taking part in all their games, the normal girl withdraws within herself, she becomes shy and self-conscious, no longer the jolly good fellow and happy playmate.

The boys, unable to understand this change in her attitude, are inclined to ridicule her, making her the target for their jests and jibes; irritating her and creating in her an abnormal sensitiveness, possibly leading to permanent injury; all of this might be avoided were the girl properly instructed and told what to expect and how to meet the situation.

At this juncture her imagination also begins to unfold, as the creative nature asserts itself. She becomes conscious of strange desires within herself. Having, as yet, no real comprehension of love, she does possess, intuitively, a knowledge that there exists an indefinable something which would give her pleasure and a feeling of satisfaction; the womanly longing to be possesed. This feeling is intensified when in the presence of a male companion whom she respects. Whether she realizes it, or not, she is now approaching the brink of a dangerous period in her life, and unless she is fully prepared, she is liable to commit serious errors that may affect her entire life.

As an instance, if in company with a youth or man she likes, and who may not be thoroughly honorable, she may easily be aroused to desires which are as yet a mystery to her. These desires may become so strong as to cause her to comply with her companion's wishes and she, as a result of the indiscretion, enters the rank of unwilling, unconscious, and unhappy motherhood, though wholly innocent in thought or intent. Should this happen, society will discard and condemn her, when in truth, she is as innocent before God as the day she was born. Those whose duty it was to instruct, prepare and guard her, alone are guilty.

Besides instructing our girls in sexology, we must at the same time, enlighten them on the many and varied changes that will take place in their innermost beings and how to bravely meet and overcome any questionable tendencies by constant occupation, exercise, games, social intercourse, recreation, music, plays free from morbid or immoral suggestions, etc. If we will instruct them in all these details, as well as on how to avoid having the passions aroused beyond control, our duty will have been well performed and we need have little fear for their safety.

Here are some practical recommendations. In all too many instances, tuberculosis, anemia or Green sickness, and other serious ailments develop in the girl approaching, or entering, adolescence. Immediately on the appearance of any symptoms of weakness or illness, a reliable physician should be consulted. In many instances endocrine treatment is indicated. If this is recognized and the proper measures taken, much can be done to prevent a lifetime of weakness, illness and misery.
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