Work of the Kidneys Most Important. - The kidneys are constantly engaged in removing from the body certain poisonous substances which are held in solution in the urine. If they should fail to do this work, or if no urine should be secreted for even a few hours, most serious consequences would follow.

Cause of Convulsions. - When these poisons are retained in the system to a sufficient degree they cause convulsions and unconsciousness, and are frequently fatal. The convulsions which some women have at childbirth are caused by this imperfect action of the kidneys.

To Tell If Danger Is Present. - An examination of the urine at any time will tell whether the kidneys are acting well or not, and thus it is possible to determine whether there is danger of having these convulsions during confinement. Therefore I urge upon all pregnant women the necessity of having their urine examined once or twice during the course of pregnancy, and certainly during the eighth or ninth month.

Albumen in the Urine. - Imperfect action of the kidneys is shown by the appearance of albumen in the urine. Any competent physician can easily determine whether this albumen is in the urine or not, and if present he can take such prompt measures as to remedy the evil before any serious danger occurs. Of course I know that hundreds of thousands of women pass safely through childbirth and have no unfavorable symptom at all; yet I also know that now and then a most valuable life is lost when it might just as well have been spared as not, if these simple suggestions had been carried out.

It is the teaching of all the best medical authorities in the world that this precaution should be taken by every expectant mother.

Symptoms of Kidney Trouble. - When the kidneys are not performing their work properly, the mother may know it, herself. If she finds her feet and ankles swelling at night, if she has a puffy look under the eyes, and especially if the amount of urine passed in twenty-four hours is not so great as formerly, then there is probably albumen in the urine. In this case she should stop eating meat of all kinds, and live largely upon milk, keeping the bowels in laxative condition by using Lydia E. Pinkham’s Liver Pills, and bathing the skin well once or twice a day. She should also begin at once the use of Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, resting assured that this will remove the congestion in the kidneys, and will cause a more free secretion of the urine.

Self-abuse (Masturbation). - This is a cause of many of the diseases of women, also men. Small girls learn the practice from larger ones, and through ignorance continue it often to maturity without knowing that it is bringing upon them a physical and moral injury.

If mothers instructed their daughters on this subject there would be fewer broken lives.

Symptoms. The main symptoms are wakefulness, restless nights, headache, indolence, melancholy, indisposition to study, forgetfulness, despondency, weakness in the back and private organs, no confidence in one’s own abilities, a desire for seclusion from society; whites, hysterics, and inability to look any one in the face. Sometimes the muscles are relaxed, limbs tremble, the skin is sallow and dry, with pain in the womb.

Remarks. Write to Mrs. Pinkham in perfect confidence, and she will tell you exactly what to do. Delay is dangerous in this matter.