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FUNCTION OF GENERATION. 139
ture, and thus fits it for the mature accomplishment of
its final object.
And in woman, while the organic action of the ovaries
goes on, in the production, ripening, and throwing off
of germs ; if there is no expenditure of nervous force
in sexual pleasure, no fecundation of the ovum, and con
sequently no evolution of the foetus, her vital force is also
expended in mental and physical development, and in
fitting her for the functions of love and maternity, for
which she is not well prepared until the accumulation
and action of this force has brought to her a certain de
gree of maturity. The early germs in woman seem
less fitted for fecundation than those which appear later;
as if nature did not quite succeed in her first efforts,
but did better when she had gained strength by exer
cise, and skill by practice. In the same way, the zoosperms,
which are produced by the male in the first
years of puberty, appear to have less power in the pro
duction of a healthy offspring. And the worst result
may be anticipated, where the two are joined together.
If the young girl is to have children at all, it should be
by a strong, mature man ; and if a youth is to engender,
it ought to be with a vigorous woman ; so that the
strength of one may make up
other.
I give this as my opinion, based upon
for the weakness of the
such observa
tions as I have been able to make. It is what seems to
me to be trae of our race in its present condition of civil
ized discordance and disease. It may be that in a truer
condition of existence, a fuller development may exist at
puberty, so that the procreative function may properly
begin as soon as the organs are capable of consummat-