ONAN ESCHEWED - Rick Grunder

72 MAURICEAU, A. M. [pseud.?] THE MARRIED WOMAN'S PRIVATE MEDICAL
COMPANION, Embracing the Treatment of Menstruation, or Monthly Turns, During
Their Stoppage, Irregularity, or Entire Suppression. PREGNANCY, and How it May be
Determined; with the Treatment of its Various Diseases. Discovery to PREVENT
PREGNANCY; the Great and Important Necessity Where Malformation or Inability
Exists to Give Birth. To Prevent Miscarriage or Abortion. When Proper and Necessary
to Effect Miscarriage. When Attended with Entire Safety. Causes and Mode of Cure of
Barrenness or Sterility. By Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, Professor of Diseases of Women.
Office, 129 Liberty street. New York: 1848.
15 cm. xiii, 238 pp. Orig. black blind-decorated cloth, discretely devoid of any
lettering. Medium foxing and slight wear to extremities, but a very good,
attractive copy. $275
BACKGROUND ITEM; no mention of masturbation noticed. Second of many
editions or printings, published yearly from 1847-55 and many times thereafter,
renewed in modern times by an Arno Press reprint in 1974. Even though the
author gives his name and address, I have to wonder if he borrowed the surname
from the famous gynecological author François Mauriceau (1637-1709). One
bookseller (Resource Books, East Granby, Connecticut) states that "A. M.
Mauriceau is widely believed to be the pseudonym of Madame Restell, a New
York provider of contraception and abortions, who used this book to advertise
her products and services - including various elixers and condoms, or 'French
Secrets,' available by mail for $5.00 a dozen."
A curious footnote on page 144 constitutes an early American mention of
condoms, which the writer has been persuaded to offer for sale . . .
In France, and on the Continent of Europe generally, a covering (used by the
male), called a baudruche (known as the French Secret), is used with success, with
the view of preventing pregnancy. Its intention, however, and for which,
perhaps, it is specially adapted, is to obviate the penalty incurred by prostitution,
and thereby guard against the contraction of syphilis. But as the object of the
author is not to facilitate, but, on the contrary, effectually to prevent the
degrading intercourse the consequences of which are sought to be avoided, in
adverting to it therefore, he has only in view its adaptation to prevent
conception. If made of proper material and texture it can, to a certain extent, be
relied upon. Deeming thi[s] latter consideration of essential importance, and
having been applied to in regard to it, he has imported them made of the only
material of which they should be composed. Address Dr. A. M. Mauriceau, Box
'1224,' N[.]Y. City, who will send them by mail to any part of the United States.
Price $5 a dozen.
A much longer footnote on the preceding pages (142-43) promotes another birth
control product for $10, "M. Desomeaux's Preventive to Conception." It's nature
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