r").--This prevents both conception
and infection (excepting in parts not covered by the sheath), but sheaths
are apt to break, and sometimes a man infects himself whilst removing the
sheath. Sheaths impose an impermeable medium between husband and wife,
destroy contact, and may thereby prevent the joy of sexual intercourse. In
some cases both husband and wife become nervous wrecks, recovering their
health when the sheaths are discarded; in other cases it is claimed that
no harm has resulted.

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.