Now, the brain is one amongst quite a few organs within the commonwealth of the physique; with these organs it’s within the closest physiological sympathy by definite paths of nervous communication, has particular correspondence with them by internuncial nerve-fibres; in order that its capabilities habitually really feel and declare the affect of the completely different organs. A disordered liver gives rise to gloomy feelings; a diseased heart, to emotions of fear and apprehension; morbid irritation of the reproductive organs, to emotions of a nonetheless extra particular kind-these are familiar information; however what we have now to appreciate is, that every particular organ has, when not disordered, its particular and important affect in the manufacturing of sure passions or feelings. The real which means of the physiological modifications which constitute puberty is, that the woman is thereby fitted to conceive and bear youngsters, and undergoes the bodily and mental adjustments which are linked with the development of the reproductive system.
It is not sufficient to point to exceptional cases of women who have undergone such a training, and have proved their capacities when tried by the identical standard as males; doubtless there are women who can, and will, so distinguish themselves, if stimulus be utilized and opportunity given; the query is, whether or not they might not do it at a price which is just too giant a demand upon the assets of their nature. Doubtless there have been some placing cases of extraordinary women who have shown great psychological energy, and these may fairly be quoted as evidence in support of the correct of ladies to the perfect psychological culture; but it’s another matter when they are adduced in assist of the assertion that there is no sex in mind, and that a system of feminine schooling must be laid down on the same traces, follow the same methodology, and have the same ends in view, as a system of training for males. Men are manifestly not so fitted mentally as girls to be the educators of kids during the early years of their infancy and childhood; they would be nearly as a lot out of place in going systematically to work to nurse babies as they could be in making an attempt to suckle them.
That the event of puberty does draw closely upon the important resources of the feminine constitution, needs to not be identified to those that know the character of the essential physiological modifications which then happen. Some could also be disposed to argue that the qualities of mind which characterize girls now, and have characterized them hitherto, of their relations with males, are in great measure, primarily if not completely, the artificial results of the place of subjection and dependence which she has always occupied; but those that take this view don’t appear to have thought of the matter as deeply as they should; they’ve attributed to circumstances a lot of what unquestionably lies deeper than circumstances, being inherent in the fundamental character of sex. The power of a human body being a particular and never inexhaustible amount, can it bear, with out harm, an extreme psychological drain as nicely as the pure bodily drain which is so great at that time?
