Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-05
When the Little DarIings Should
Begin to Think of Marrying.
Eminent Physicians Name the Proper
Age and Point Out the Evils of
Early Wedlock.
They Should be Women Physically, Mentally
and Morally, Before They Become Wives.
From Twenty to Twenty Five.
(Copyrighted.)

III HeaAtA prevails AmerlCdu IL
is the unanimous testimony Of medical men who
are eminent specialists in the ills TO which
temininity is peculiarly liable, that in cities at
least ftty-fve per cent. OF all women are suf-
ferers from ailments OF that class. In the pro-
duction of this most deplorable state of things
the principle factors are too little exercise and
fresh air, improper diet. injurious modes of
dress, excessive fatigue of the lower extremities
as from long continued dancing or shopping.
and, above all. marriage at early and unsuitas
BILE ages. The evils attributed to the lat
named cause are most noticeable in communities
where there is q marked tendency TO such mar
riages, which are most frequent among some OF
the foreign elements of our population.
young physician residing in Western city
dressed the following letter on this subject to
several OF the most eminent American specialists
in the treatment of women:
MY DEAR DoCToR-As you are, doubtless,
aware, the population OF our city is composed
principally Of the working classes, great ma
jority of whom are foreign born or of foreign
parentage. The tendency among these people
is toward very early marriages, and 1 am often
consulted by parents with regard TO the advis-
ability and the results to health of the marriage
of daughters sixteen or seventeen, or even four
teen or fifteen, years of age. l always discour-
age such marriages. but as my advice is usually
disregerded often wish that had some em1n-
ent authority to quote directly on this subject.
therefore take the liberty of asking you to
oblige me with your views. Respectfully yours,
X
Knowing that the replies received to the above
would possess intense interest for every feminine
reader, since-no matter how artfully they may
try to conceal the fact nor how yehemently the
"strong- minded class of females may deny it
the subject of marriage occupies the lions
share of every young woman's thoughts, have
persuaded the doctor, in the interests of human
ity, to permit me to give them wider circula-
tion than they could possibly have in his hands.
and they will accordingly be found appended
below GEoFFREY WILLISToN CHRI slime.
DR.. William T. Lusk, with whose letter have
headed the list of answers, is one of the best
known American physicians identified with this
subject. For years he has filed the chair of
professor of obstetrics and diseases of women
in Bellevue hospital medical college, New
science has long been regarded as a standard
treatise, and has been translated into many
languages. He writes as follows:
BELLEVUE HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE,
NEW YORK, April q, 1880.
MY DEAR DoCToR-Too eayly marriages are, in
my opinion, to be deplored, as every int lligent
physician knows perfectly well, very young girls
are scantily developed, and therefore can lily
bear the duties and pangs of maternity which
are necessarily attended in such cases with very
heavy mortality. All the dangers and risks to
which mothers are unavoidably subjected are
very greatly increased. Girls married at
early age too often become haggard old women
before they are thirty. They lose their comeli-
ness and attractiveness, and become peevish,
fretful invalids. As q consequence their hus-
bands attention and affection often center else
where. Marriage at too early an age on the part
and many applications for divorce. These are
the principal factors in the Indictment against
early marriages. Yours very truly,
DR.. A. F. A. King is widely known through
out this country and Europe as a distinguished
teacher and writer. He holds the professorship
of obstetrics and diseases of women in the med
ical department of the Colu nbian university at
Washington, besides filing the same chair in
the medical department of the university Of
Vermont. His Manual of Obstetrics is re-
garded everywhere a standard text book on
the subject. The letter which I append from him
is enthusiastically direct ana to the purpose.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY,
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 1. 1890. }
DEAR DoCroR-In reply to your request for my
version on the subject of the proper age for girls
to marry, would say that there is no absolute
rule that can be laid down for all women. This
is because SO much depends upon the station and
hereditary tendency of each individual. 1 must
say, however, that personally am in favor of
early marriage. but by that mean at the age of
about seventeen or eighteen years, certainly not
sixteen, fifteen or younger. To strong, mus
cular girl leading an active life out-of-doors in
the pure country air, and not overtaxed by over
iouable dissipation, ETC., early marriage
would not be so injurious as to one
no fresh air and exercise, her nervous system
exhausted by severe study and society diver
sions, ''and her Vitality lowered by dancing in
impure atmosphere of over-heated rooms. Too
early marriages tend to iniure the health and
strength and shorten the lives of women as well
as to produce feeble, degenersted and short
lived offspring. Girls coming from, or whose
parents were born or raised in very hot climate
Like that of the Oriental countries for example
age than those born in our country of American
parents. With kind regards l am very truly
yours, A. F. A. KING.
DR.. F. q. Davenport, professor of gynaecology
in the medical department OF Harvard univer-
sty, is as well qualified to write on the subject
under discussion as any man can be. His work
on gynaecology has received the hearty common
dation Of medical men ana medical journals gen
orally throughout both hemispheres. He sends |
the following letter:
No. 5 PAX SQUARE, Boston, April %, 1890.
Ny DEAR DoCToR-In reply to your letter OF |
inquiry as to what is the best age for girls to |
marry, would say that in my opinion they GER
tainly should not do SO before they are eighteen
years of age, and that in many cases twenty |
would be much better. From twenty to twenty |
three, even twenty-five, are the best years. |
This is so because up to eighteen or twenty years
of age girl is still growing and she needs first |
to be thoroughly developed herself before |
undertaking the duties and responsibilities |
velopment is completed without detriment to her I
own health and that of her offspring. If woman /
waits until twenty before marrying she will !
rule, endure the cares of maternity better, have /
healthier children and preserve her own health |
and youth much longer. This is the main srgu-
ment in my opinion, though there are other
minor considerations which would also have
F. H. DAVENPORT.
=
of women in the college Of physicians and sur
geons, New York, is an officer and member OF
more learned sOcieties-American and foreign
devoted 10 this branch of medicine than perhaps
any other American physician. His deservedly
high reputation as brilliant and reliable writer
upon all subjects connected with his speciality /
gives peculiar weight to his views expressed /
below:
coo MADISON AVENUE,
New YORK, April %, 1890.
DEAR DocroR-In my opinion It Is great
mistake and a practice very much to be repre-
hended for girls to marry before they have at
tanned the age Of eighteen years. The state
ment admits of no controversy that prior to ar
irving at that age they not fully .matured |
On physical grounds, therefore, 1 should select
an age between eighteen and twenty two years
as the one at which it would be fTisest and best
for girls to NARY. Tours very truly,
T. GAILLARD THOMAS.
Dr.. VIM. Goodefl, professor Of genecology in
the university OF Pennsylvania, located in Phil
delphia has hadR very wide experience.in the
practice Of his speciality, and has made many |
valuable additions to its literature He express |
ses his views below in no uncertain madner:
1s1s Spruce STREET, PHILADELPHIA, Pa,
April g. 1890.
nv DKAE DocroR-I object TO early marriages,
because the character cannot possibly have be-
come formed, and because the body cannot have |
attained its full and complete development
Hence it must therefore follow. as 3 nat |
ural and unavoidable sequence, that |
such marriages are usually very un-
happy ones and are almost invariably I'M l
healthy ones for the wife's health is pretty GER
tain to give way very early Girls marrying
- II