Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].

that region. But this supposition proves mainly mythical in the case of most of these exercises, however useful and beneficial they may be in other respects. In short, our exact present gains and achievements in physical culture for the genital functions of women are extremely meagre. The direct advantages we offer are microscopic compared with the enormous indirect benefits to women's genital and maternal functions through generalised physical culture—as already indicated. So it is not surpris- ing that in many cases justified enthusiasm at what has been done is being superseded by disappointment at what is still to be done. For, indeed, we must not only develop physical culture during pregnancy and after child-birth—building on the rudiments already to hand—but also emphasise the value of gymnastics—and especially of systematic gymnastic of the pelvic region—for the two cardinal functions of coitus and birth ; and, having obtained serious public recognition of this value, we must investigate and formulate the appro- priate exercises into a system. The neglect of special genital and maternal physical culture for women, though deeply to be deplored, is not so incomprehensible as may appear at first sight. It is worth while to consider the causes of this neglect, since the psycho- logical and mental factors are of crucial importance in this whole region of human conduct; especially as regards the act of coitus. The explanation of the neglect of systematic pelvic gymnastics in order to facilitate the act of birth is compara- tively simple. The only person who knows all the structures and processes involved in birth well enough to realise the benefits which special training might bring is the experienced, scientifically inclined and open-minded obstetrician. But among obstetricians of such quality there are only a few who take a theoretical interest in gymnastics, and hardly any in whom such interest extends to practical details. The neglect, or rather the repression, of all consideration of the importance of physical culture for coitus is on a