Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].
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of Sir W. Arbuthnot Lane,{S2} that one of the chief charac- teristics of the chronically constipated woman is the complete loss of sexual desire, and that the resultant complications and degenerative symptoms are responsible for a large number of marital catastrophes, it must be admitted that constipation (or intestinal stasis), whether frequent or chronic, may be fatal to married happiness as to individual health. In any case, it is particularly dangerous to both the general and genital fitness of women ; therefore the natural remedial measures of pelvic exercise should be most warmly welcomed and widely employed. For pelvic exercise can and does cure constipation. It does so in various ways : first, by reflex action of the rectal walls, set in motion by the vibra- tions of the adjacent pelvic floor.* And also through the abdominal gymnastics of the pelvic zone, for these exercise the abdominal walls, giving them tone, as well as the muscles which form the rear boundary of the peritoneal cavity and the muscles of the major pelvis. The particular rhythmic character of the alternate contractions and relaxations recommended in our system acts as a gentle massage on the whole contents of the intestines, and especially on the intestinal muscles, and this is extremely stimulating to intestinal and rectal action. Exercise No. 19 (combined alternate suspension and flexion) has a similar effect, not only by the rhythmic action of many important muscles and muscular groups, but also through suction and pump action, especially if the legs below the knee are not held at full length, but drawn up as close to the abdomen as possible, in the phase of flexion. There remains only the duty of emphasising the value of exercising the pelvic zone in order to promote circulation in * Although the subject is too important to be dismissed in a footnote, I may take this opportunity of pointing out that this reflex action—follow- ing the stimulus to vagina and uterus in coitus and the movements of the perineal muscles—may cause spasmodic contractions of both bladder and lower bowel during or immediately after the sexual act. Not only because of this risk, but also for the merely mechanical conditions of the local organs (distension, pressure), it is urgently advisable to attend to the relief of both bladder and bowels before erotic stimulation becomes acute ! This may sound " sordid " and " basely material," but the results, if neglected, may be much more so !