INTRODUCTION By James Monteith Erskine, M.P.

It requires considerable courage on the part of my wife, and not a little on my own, to face the publicity which a subject-matter of so delicate a nature as is contained in this work necessarily involves. Although the main essentials of the theory dealt with here were formulated over twenty years ago, it is only now that the progressive spirit of the age, in contrast with the prudishness of the last generation, has rendered it possible and desirable that mankind should have the full advantage of the knowledge of natural processes here disclosed.

Another more private and personal reason for withholding publication so long was the fact that our five children were young at the time, and it was obviously undesirable to ventilate this subject while their educational careers were in progress.

These impediments exist no longer, and the enormous power for good that must accrue to every potential mother possessing this knowledge far outweighs any possible disadvantages resulting from publicity. The author looks for her reward in the immeasurable benefit that others will derive from her unflagging inquiry and research.

The generous and self-sacrificing assistance that my wife has invariably afforded me throughout my public career renders insignificant by comparison, but none the less a mere act of gratitude, any contribution I have been able to make by way of encouragement in this, her life’s work.

J. M. E.

January, 1925.