3. Antiseptic Syringing.—­This is generally successful, but not entirely reliable by itself, because seminal fluid may enter the womb during connection.  This method is unreliable unless applied immediately after each connection, and syringing at that time is inconvenient and unromantic.

4. Douche Can.—­This is better than syringing in some ways, because the irrigation can be so arranged as to let the lotion flow into the vagina faster than it can flow out—­hence distension of walls of vagina and thorough cleansing.  But the arrangement of a runaway for outflowing lotion is inconvenient in most households.

5. Quinine Pessaries, etc.—­By themselves these are unreliable, no matter what the makers claim on the label.  There is usually not enough quinine in them; or if there is enough, it proves irritating.

6. Solid-Ring Check Pessary.—­These are reliable only when carefully adjusted over the mouth of the womb, and many women find it very difficult to adjust this kind of pessary correctly; hence numbers of failures.

7. Vaseline and Soap-and-Water.—­Using vaseline beforehand, and urinating and using soap-and-water immediately after each connection, is a fairly safe way of avoiding conception and infection.  But the vaseline needs to be inserted fairly high up—­if possible over the mouth of the womb, and the subsequent washing needs to be very thoroughly done (internally and externally).  This method is commonly used by Continental women, but it is not entirely reliable by itself.

8. Gold Spring Check Pessary.—­This is an instrument, the arms of which spread out inside the womb, and the gold spring keeps the mouth of the womb open, thus facilitating infection and conception.  It is claimed as a “preventive”; it is really an abortifacient, and cannot be too strongly condemned, as causing septic miscarriage (authentic records of this are available).  A woman can neither insert nor remove this instrument herself.

9. Safe Period.—­It is often supposed that sexual intercourse midway between the menses is unlikely to result in pregnancy.  There is no such “safe period.”

NOTE.—­The method of “self-control” is not referred to here, because one marital relationship per annum might lead to an annual child.  In the matter of limitation of offspring, therefore, “self-control” has no value.

APPENDIX II.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES.

Rubber Pessaries.—­Medical practitioners can obtain sets of occlusive rubber pessaries from Messrs. E. Lambert & Son, of 60, Queen’s Road, Dalston, E.8.  This firm has been manufacturing such articles in England since 1888, and now makes them in a wide range of sizes, and of special shape where required.

Bidets and Syringes.—­Syringes are easily procurable, but bidets in England at present are sometimes difficult to obtain.  Good strong enamel bidets can be obtained from Messrs. E. Lambert & Son, of 60, Queen’s Road, E.8., and they also keep the contraceptive suppositories made by Mr. Harman Freese in accordance with medical directions mentioned in Foreword.