s to make the
disinfectants less irritating and more efficacious, as well as adding a
fresh interest to the toilet performance. On this and other points
_personal instruction_ is far the best--provided you can find a good
instructor. Every man and every woman should seek an opportunity of
learning, from competent authority, precisely what to do in the matter of
prevention, and what it all means. Reading books is all very well, but
personal tuition as well is a great advantage.

SUMMARY.

Finally, the following briefly summarises the recommendations for women:--

1. _Before Intercourse, Wash and be Clean._--Insert soluble suppository,
and then place rubber pessary in position, concave side downwards. This
will slip up more easily if slightly soaped. No harm can possibly come
either to husband or wife from these appliances, and neither party will be
conscious of the presence of the occlusive rubber pessary (some other
kinds of rubber pessary have not these advantages). The pessary can be
inserted some hours before intercourse, and need not be removed till some
hours afterwards. _The rubber pessary should not be worn continuously._ If
you have mislaid the rubber pessary, a small sponge, a piece of clean
cotton-wool, or even a piece of soft tissue paper can be used. Native
women in different countries use seaweed, moss, sponge, etc., and Japanese
women use rice-paper. But these articles are not so clean or effective as
the occlusive rubber pessary. If sponge or cotton-wool is used, it should
be saturated in contraceptive lotion or smeared with contraceptive
ointment before insertion. But always remember--the rubber pessary is
cleanest and safest.

2. _After Intercourse._--Douche next morning (or earlier), remove rubber
pessary, wash and dry it and put it away slightly powdered. Where there is
any chance of venereal infection, the woman should urinate _immediately_
after _each_ connection, wash with soap and water, and then _at once
douche with weak and warm disinfecting lotion_. If medically directed, she
should also use a little calomel ointment for anointing parts that have
been touched in any way.

3. _Daily._--Cultivate in yourself and in the members of your household
habits of sexual cleanliness. _Wash and be clean._ Apply this to all the
openings of the body, but in particular to the vagina, urethra and anus,
which should all be cleansed night and morning. This practice is not
simply cleansing and refreshing, b