THE SINGLE LIFE.

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A few words, ere we pass to another branch of our subject, on the physical relations of her who by choice or other reasons never marries. It is a common observation among physicians who have devoted themselves to the study of woman's physical nature, that, in spite of those perils of maternity which we have taken no pains to conceal, the health of single women during the child-bearing period is, as a general rule, not better, not even so good, as that of their married sisters. Those insurance companies who take female risks, do not ask any higher premium for the married than the unmarried.

Various suggestions have been made to account for this unexpected fact. Some writers have pointed out that in many diseases marriage exerts a decidedly curative influence, especially in chronic nervous ailments. Chorea, for instance, or St. Vitus's dance, as it is popularly termed, has been repeatedly cured by marriage. As a rule, painful menstruation, which always arises from some defect or disease of the ovaries or adjacent organs, is improved, and often completely removed, by the same act. There are, as is well known, a whole series of emotional disorders,—hysteria, and various kinds of mania and hallucination,—which are almost exclusively confined to single persons, and only occur in the married under exceptional circumstances. An instance has lately been detailed in the medical journals by a Prussian physician, of a case of undoubted hereditary insanity which was greatly benefited—indeed temporarily cured—by a fortunate nuptial relation. Few who have watched a large circle of lady acquaintances but will have observed that many of them increased in flesh and improved in health when they had been married some months. An English writer of distinction accounts for these favourable results in a peculiar manner. Success, he says, is always a tonic, and the best of tonics. Now, to women, marriage is a success. It is their aim in social life; and this accomplished, health and strength follow. We are not quite ready to subscribe to such a sweeping assertion, but no doubt it is applicable in a limited number of cases. Our own opinion is, that nature gave to each sex certain functions, and that the whole system is in better health when all parts and powers fulfil their destiny.

Common proverbs portray the character of the spinster as peevish, selfish, given to queer fancies, and unpleasant eccentricities. In many a case we are glad to say this is untrue. Instances of noble devotion, broad and generous sympathy, and distinguished self-sacrifice, are by no means rare in single women. But take the whole class, the popular opinion, as it often is, must be granted to be correct. Deprived of the natural objects of interest, the sentiments are apt to fix themselves on parrots and poodles, or to be confined within the breast, and wither for want of nourishment. Too often the history of those sisterhoods who assume vows of singleness in the interest of religion, presents to the physician the sad spectacle of prolonged nervous maladies, and to the Christian that of a sickly sensibility.

In this connection we may answer a question not unfrequently put to the medical attendant. Are those women who marry late in their sexual life more apt to bear living children than the married of the same age; and are they more likely to prolong their child-bearing period by their deferred nuptials? To both these inquiries we answer No. On the contrary, the woman who marries a few years only before her change of life, is almost sure to have no children who will survive. She is decidedly less apt to have any than the woman of the same age who married young. If, therefore, love of children and a desire for offspring form, as they rightly should, one of the inducements to marry, let not the act be postponed too long, or it will probably fail of any such result.