Blog About Health & Medicine

A

Aid, sex aid or gadget: general term for any object used to stimulate the sex organs, eg. dildo, vibrator, inflatable doll.

Ampallang: penis ring made of fur, feathers or plant matter that some tribal peoples fit around the base of the glans for enhanced stimulation of the vagina.

Andropause: the male menopause.

Anilictus: stimulation of the anus with the tongue.

Anal intercourse: the sex act carried out with the penis in the anus.

Areola: the circular, pigmented area around the nipple.

B

Balls: testicles.

Bestiality: copulation with an animal.

Bisexual: person attracted to both sexes.

Blow job: fellatio.

Bondage: sado-masochistic games in which a partner is tied up, tied to a bed or chair, etc.

Buttocks: one of the most attractive parts of the body owing to their form, their consistency and the way they move. There is a form of fetishism focused on the buttocks.

Button: affectionate term for the tip of the clitoris.

C

Cannibalism: in some animal species such as the praying mantis the female eats the male as they copulate.

Cantharis: a beetle known for its aphrodisiac properties since the highest antiquity.

Castration: removal of the testicles.

Cervix: the neck of the womb or uterus.

Circumcision: removal of the foreskin. A ritual practice for Jews and some Moslems.

Climax: orgasm.

Clitoral hood: fold of skin covering the clitoris the same way the foreskin covers the penis head.

Clitoris: small erectile organ above the vulva slit of a woman. Prolonged stimulation produces an orgasm; stimulation of the clitoris may be a necessary preliminary to a vaginal orgasm.

Come: (1) verb: to have an orgasm

(2) noun: semen.

Coition: copulation

Conception: fertilization of the egg (ovum) by the sperm, within the woman’s body.

Contraception: method enabling vaginal intercourse to take place without risk of conception.

Coprophilia: a perversion involving a liking for faeces and urine.

Cunnilingus: stimulation of a woman’s genital organs with the lips and tongue.

Copulation: vaginal intercourse.

D

Detumescence: return of the penis to its normal stale after ejaculation.

Dildo: an artificial phallus

Droop: inability to get an erection. Brewer’s droop: droop caused by excessive intake of alcohol.

E

Ejaculation: emission of semen at the moment of male orgasm.

Endometrium: mucus membrane lining the womb.

Eonism: transvestism.

Erection: the action of standing upright, the state of standing upright. The penis is the only erectile organ in the body, though the clitoris is sometimes mistakenly said to be erectile; in fact it increases in volume but does not stand up.

Erogenous: applies to parts of the body which give sexual pleasure when stimulated.

Eroticism: everything the intelligence can suggest to augment and diversify sexual desire and pleasure. Eunuch: castrated man.

Excision of the clitoris: ritual surgical operation still in use in some African countries.

Exhibitionism: typically male sexual deviation. The exhibitionist enjoys showing his sex organs. Practised within the couple, this is a perfectly natural erotic fantasy.

Fantasy: a more or less obsessional mental picture

focused on a specific sexual act or scenario.

Fellate (verb): give a man fellatio.

Fellatio: stimulation of the penis with the lips and

tongue.

Fetishism: A commonplace type of sexual deviation in which only one specific part of the body or item of clothing awakens sexual desire. Flag (short for flagellation): sado-masochism. Foreplay: manual or oral caressing of the erogenous zones and/or genital area in preparation for sexual intercourse proper.

Foreskin: the skin covering the head or glans of the penis.

Frenum: the skin just under the glans, which limits the

retraction of the foreskin.

Fuck:    (1) noun: sexual intercourse

(2) verb: to have sexual intercourse.

G

G-spot: erogenous zone on the front inside wall of the vagina. Stimulation produces an orgasm accompanied by a discharge of liquid similar to semen.

Gadget: see aid.

Gamete: reproductive cell. Sperm in the man, ovum in the female.

Gay: a non-pejorative term meaning homosexual.

Genitals, genitalia: sex organs.

Glans: the enlarged head of the penis.

Groin: the fold between the genital area and the upper thigh.

H

Heterosexual: person attracted to the opposite sex.

Homosexual: person attracted to others of their own sex.

Hymen: membrane partly closing the entrance to the vagina in girls. The hymen is torn at first intercourse, causing slight bleeding.

Hypermastia: hypertrophy or over-development of the breasts. Has a fetishistic attraction for some men.

I

Incest: sexual relations between parent and child or brother and sister.

Infibulation: closing of the vagina after removal of the inner labia and clitoris. This ritual mutilation is still in use among some African tribal peoples.

L

Labia: the sex lips: small flaps of skin on either side of the vaginal entrance (inner labia) and the larger flaps (outer labia) on either side of these.

Lesbian: homosexual woman.

M

Masochism: Sexual perversion named after Austrian writer Sacher Masoch. The masochist needs to suffer to feel pleasure from a sex act. Often accompanied by a need to show submission.

Masturbation: manual stimulation of the genital organs. Used to be called “self-abuse”!

Mate-swapping: exchange of partners between two couples. In the bad old days it used to be called wife-swapping.

Menopause: the period during which a woman’s ovaries gradually cease their activity. Often brings sexual and psychological problems.

N

Narcissism: love of self. This is a typically female feature, which sometimes develops into exhibitionism.

Nymphomania: a state of permanently unsatisfied sexual desire in a woman.

O

Onanism: This term has lost its original meaning and has come to mean masturbation.

Oral sex: term embracing fellatio and cunnilingus. Stimulation of the genital organs with the lips and tongue. Other common expressions: blow job, to go down on someone, to give head, to suck.

Orgasm: violent, intense, uncontrollable sexual pleasure occurring after stimulation of the genital organs.

Orgy: a gathering of men and women practising a variety of sexual acts together or in pairs or groups.

Ovum: the human egg.

P

-    Paedophile: person sexually attracted to young children.

Pederasty: sexual intercourse between a man and a juvenile boy.

Penis: erectile sexual organ of the male.

Perineum: the area between anus and scrotum in men or anus and vulva in women.

Petting: manual or oral caressing of the erogenous zones.

Phallus: penis. Male sexual organ.

Plateau: the phase of excitement that precedes orgasm.

Prepuce: foreskin.

Priapism: painful spontaneous erection dues to a cause other than sexual excitement.

Pubis: the bone of the groin, underlying the front genital area.

-    Pussy: affectionate name for the vulva. Also slit, crack. S

Sadism: perversion in which the suffering of the object of desire is a necessary precondition for orgasm.

Scatology: fetishistic liking for or fascination with excrement.

Scrotum: skin around testicles.

Semen: fluid, containing sperm cells, which is expelled from the penis on ejaculation.

Shaft: the main body of the penis, as opposed to the glans or head.

Simultaneous orgasm: orgasm attained by both partners in the same instant.

Sixty-nine: simultaneous cunnilingus and fellatio, the partners head to tail with their heads between each other’s legs.

Sodomy: anal intercourse.

Sperm, spermatozoa: reproductive cells produced in the body of the male.

T

-    Testicles: male sex glands. Also called balls.

Transsexual: man or woman who feels they are in the wrong sex. By extension, a person who has undergone a “sex change” operation to give them a substitute for the sexual organs of the opposite sex.

Transvestite: a man with a sexual taste for dressing up as a woman.

Threesome: see “Troilism”.

Troilism: sex between two men and a woman or two women and a man.

V

Vagina: part of a woman’s sexual apparatus; the duct leading from the vulva to the neck of the womb.

Vulva: the external parts of a woman’s sexual apparatus; the opening to the vagina.

W

-    Wife-swapping: outdated term for the exchange of partners between two couples. Mate-swapping.

Z

-    Zoorasty, zoophilia: a taste for sexual intercourse with an animal.

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All definitions of pornography are based on the idea of a “written description, or representation in drawing, film or photography, of obscene acts.”

The problem with this definition is the notion of obscenity. It contains all the taboos that still surround sexuality – the notion that certain parts of our bodies are dirty, that it is unhealthy to show or touch our genital parts.

When a sexually enlightened couple indulge together in all the range of frolics their imagination and personal tastes suggest, they do not feel they are committing obscene acts. When they watch themselves in the process, they do not feel they are watching an obscene spectacle.

But suppose they write a love story – the story of their own love – and describe their love play in detail. Suppose a film is made of the book. The film and the book would be called pornographic.

The key feature of all “honest” romance novels and films is their hypocrisy. They describe or show the love, the passion, the tenderness of the characters. But as soon as the couple go into the bedroom, there is a total black-out. One never knows if they do anything, or what they do, or least of all how they do it. It is all as if the lovers never made love. And the most amazing thing is that the audience does not even notice there is anything missing – as if lovemaking were really no more than a tiny, unimportant detail in the couple’s life.

The writers of erotic novels and films have understood this hypocrisy very well. But they also know that if they go too far, their book may be banned or their film given an “X” certificate. So they go just as far as they can without being censored, and no further. In these films and books, we know the characters do something; we do not see what they do, but we can guess – and of course we will never know how they did it.

One example will illustrate this. A man and a woman in a standing position, are kissing passionately (this is a romantic scene no one will criticize). The camera draws nearer and we see them in close up. The lady lets herself slide down the man’s body – out of sight of the camera.

One’s imagination steps in to suggest she is now on her knees. The expression on the man’s face leaves us in no doubt what the lady is up to down there.

This scene is not regarded as pornographic. It would only be so if the camera also slid down to show the caresses lips and tongue can lavish on a stiffening penis.

This example shows very well that the difference between a love film, an erotic film and a pornographic film is a difference of the degree to which hypocrisy has been rejected.

One should not take this to mean that under-the-counter novels and the X-rated films shown in specialist porn cinemas are full of intellectual nourishment for people interested in sex. The mediocrity of dialogue and plot, the pointless vulgarities in text and image and the cut-rate technical production are all to be deplored. If one must draw a distinction between eroticism and pornography, it is just that: a simple question of quality. Eroticism can describe or show any sexual act: but it must do so with skill and art!

If a writer or film director succeeds in this, and has the courage to say and show what he wants without hypocrisy, his work ought not to be considered pornographic; indeed its educational value should be recognized. To those who lack imagination it will give new ideas, to those lacking sex education it will show new tricks, and to those who lack the perfectionist spirit it will show ways of giving greater pleasure to their partner.

The other drawback with pornographic films is that women feel very uneasy in the specialist cinemas where they are shown, with the result that men go to see them on their own.

This is a pity, because it would be useful for the couple to compare impressions after the film, telling each other their likes and dislikes. It is a way of getting to know each other better so as to give each other greater satisfaction.

Some of the new European television channels show X-rated films, and this is to be welcomed. The films are often of better quality than those shown in porn cinemas, and couples can watch them together in private, undisturbed by the presence of other people. There are also good X films to be found on the shelves of the video clubs.

Eroticism is everything that springs from our imaginations, everything our minds invent to bring variety to our love play and add a note of fantasy.

Turning a room of your home into a “romper room” where you can create the atmosphere you want, with soft lights, mirrors, erotic pictures, soft music, a video set, a shelf of erotic books and magazines, a wardrobe of sexy underwear and so on – that is eroticism.

Setting up your polaroid with an automatic timer to take shots of the pair of you in full swing – that is eroticism.

Making love elsewhere than in bed – in the car, in the woods, in the lift, on the kitchen table – that is eroticism.

Taking a shower together – that is eroticism.

Looking in the mirror while you make love – that is eroticism.

Serving a sausage for supper with two tomatoes arranged at one end – that is eroticism.

Clothes, gestures or words can all be used to convey eroticism.

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Before we look at the main deviations in turn, it is worth clarifying the concept in our minds.

What do we mean by deviation? Where does perversion begin and end? These are difficult questions to answer. For want of a more satisfying approach, one is forced back on the debatable notion of normality.

Physiologically, men and women are complementary sexual organisms, designed for copulation in a range of positions. This of course means vaginal intercourse. Its immediate aim is orgasm, and its ultimate result may be procreation.

All other practices could be considered abnormal. Nonetheless, practices that can lead to orgasm (masturbation, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse and the use of vibrators and sex aids), are covered in a separate chapter (see page 26). As they are in widespread use by a majority, or at least a fair proportion, of men and women, it seemed appropriate to treat them as a separate category. All we shall look at here, therefore, are:

deviations of physiological origin: homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality;

deviations that conflict with the traditional notion of the couple: mate-swapping, the threesome;

symbolic deviations: fetishism, transvestism;

deviations linking pleasure with pain: sadism, masochism;

illegal deviations: rape, incest, paedophilia, voyeurism, exhibitionism.

Some of these practices (e.g. fetishism, transvestism and sado-masochism) are not directly sexual acts and only serve as sexual stimulants; they may not even be followed by an act of sex. In other cases, however, they may by a necessary precondition for reaching a climax in the sex act that follows – and this in itself justifies their being classified as sexual deviations.

There are many other practices too rare to be worth dealing with in this chapter, but we have included some in the glossary at the end.

We shall also try to make the distinction between the major deviations and games “normal” couples may play to add a little spice and fantasy to their sex lives.

Be they occasional games or the essence of a person’s sex life, however, all these deviations have the same origin: sexual fantasies. Some people try to control their fantasies, with or without the aid of a psychotherapist or sexologist; others prefer to neutralize their obsessive aspect by putting them into practice. If they do so only occasionally, in a discreet way and with a willing partner, one cannot really talk of sexual deviancy.

Even if you do not feel this chapter concerns you, read it, because sexuality needs to be studied in its entirety. Read the chapter and discuss it openly with your partner. These tendencies are present, even if buried deep, in most of us, and may develop with time; sooner or later you may find yourself faced with problems on this account. It is as well to know about these tendencies; that way, if one day some kinky notion comes into your head, you will know such kinks are widespread, not at all “abnormal”, and need not become an obsession. They may just be harmless games or passing fancies.

*36\77\2*

You should first take in everything we have said about self-masturbation for women.

If your partner is used to masturbating herself, she will guide you and show you the kind of caressing she wants. Her hand will guide yours towards the exact spots that excite her. She will tell you if she wants you to go faster or slower, press harder or stroke very lightly.

With practice in the course of living together the man will be able to perfect his masturbation technique to give his lover maximum pleasure. She will reach orgasm faster than if she masturbated herself because of the additional excitement of her partner’s kissing and caressing.

The man can also insert a finger or two into the vagina while stimulating the clitoris and slide them in and out, especially against the front wall of the vagina. This massage is very important, since the famous “G spot”, which can itself provide a whole succession of violent orgasms, lies about a finger’s length along the vagina wall.

For the man to properly stimulate the G spot, however, it is almost indispensable for the woman to teach him where to find it; until it has already been stimulated long enough to make it stand out from the vagina wall, there is no way of finding it simply by feel. Here even more than with the clitoris, it is the woman who has to guide her partner.

As a final note on female masturbation, let us add that the hands are not the only means of masturbating. Women sometimes rub against the edge of a bath or the back of a chair, or use a brush handle, a candle or a vibrator (see the chapter on sex aids).

And lastly there is the thigh-crossing method. The woman crosses her legs very high up the thigh so that the whole genital area is squeezed. At the same time she contracts her vagina repeatedly, as if to stop the flow during urination. This way she can reach orgasm without hands or aids.

*22\77\2*

When one speaks of erogenous zones one often thinks only of the organs capable of producing an orgasm. We shall look at these later on.

But there are many other zones around the human body which produce agreeable sensations when stimulated. It is important to think of them when it comes to the preliminary petting or foreplay that arouses and increases desire and prepares two lovers for the more specific actions that lead to orgasm.

Orgasm is one thing, love is another. More precisely, love is a whole that encompasses feelings, affection and tenderness. A man who visits a prostitute gets his orgasm, and no more. He gets relief, but most of all he feels disappointment, not because of the price he had to pay but because it was, for both parties, an act committed without love, without preparation.

Every couple in love likes to show that love through kissing and caressing; these are an indispensable lead-up to the more intense pleasure that follows once they reach the stage of intercourse and then orgasm.

Women especially are sensitive to the caresses bestowed by her lover’s hands, mouth and tongue – and even his teeth.

The longer the arousal of these erogenous zones is made to last, the more intense the orgasm that follows will be. The woman’s preliminary caresses will often give the man a more complete erection and one that lasts longer. Paradoxically, they will help prevent the premature ejaculation that bedevils the love lives of so many couples. Prolonged handling of the penis, especially in a young men at the start of his sexual experience, invariably leads to premature ejaculation, sometimes even before the penis is fully erect. But kissing and caressing on other parts of his body will help him control his ejaculation reflex and hold it back longer.

The two most important erogenous zones are the mouth and the breasts.

The kiss is the first expression of sexual desire when a couple is formed. Although an easy matter on the face of it, the kiss deserves particular attention. Concentrate on what you do when you kiss. Have you pushed your lips far enough forward? Are they completely closed? Does your tongue go far enough, or too far, into your partner’s mouth? Like all bodily contact, the kiss implies a certain perfectionism and requires observation of your partner’s reactions. Not all men and women like to be kissed in the same way. Learn to find out what your partner likes!

Lips and tongue are useful not only in the classic kiss, but to kiss and caress all the erogenous zones, including the sex organs.

The breasts are a very specially erogenous zone. They are the main source of arousal for men. They lend themselves to all kinds of caresses. They can be kneaded, lightly stroked, caressed a thousand different ways. The nipples contract and harden when stroked. Teeth can nibble them, a mouth can suckle them gently, a tongue can run around the areola or excite it with quick little flicks. All variations are allowed in this game, which gives as much delight to the man as to the woman.

Many women attach too much importance to the size and shape of their breasts, but variety, after all, is the spice of life. Be happy with your breasts the way they are and you will be sure to find a man who likes breasts just like that. Certain men are even attracted to positively overdeveloped breasts!

Men’s nipples too are erogenous zones, though women too rarely think of stimulating them. If you feel like sucking or nibbling them, go ahead – but gently! Nibble too hard and you will cause pain rather than pleasure.

The buttocks are a major erogenous zone, and they lend themselves to kneading and stroking as much as the breasts. The area where the two buttocks start to divide is especially sensitive to light, prolonged touching.

Other erogenous zones are the ear lobe, which gives agreeable sensations when nibbled, the neck – a good area for kissing, licking and sucking lightly – the shoulders, the navel, the inside of the thigh. And another point of interest is the big toe: while it does not give any particular sensation itself when sucked, it does arouse erotic interest because of the similarity of this act with the sucking of the penis (which we shall talk about later).

Individuals vary in the sensitivity of their different erogenous zones. Learn to explore which arouse your partner, and perfect the caresses that give him/her most pleasure.

The anus is also an important erogenous zone; but we shall deal with this along with the zones that are sexual in the fullest sense, since it is just beside them and is also sometimes used for intercourse, by homosexuals and heterosexuals alike.

*8\77\2*

Cerebral palsy is due to damage in one or more of the three main areas of the brain. Previously, it was assumed that the brain was injured during birth, probably by forceps. Now we realize that the injury occurs more frequently before the baby is born, and sometimes it occurs after birth.

We have also found that in only a small percentage of cases does the injury cause a mental deficiency. Instead, it generally interferes with the nerves controlling the muscles. As a result, the victim of cerebral palsy may appear to be an imbecile, for example, by drooling, grunting instead of speaking, and making strange gestures and grimaces, even though his intelligence is normal. The injury to the brain may cause:

1 Spastic paralysis, with stiffness and impaired movement of the muscles. Such a person will walk with a scissorslike gait.

2 Tremors, and strange movements of the limbs and the head, which may be accompanied by bizarre grimaces.

3 Poor co-ordination.

Usually the parent or physician can observe indications of cerebral palsy when a baby is only a few months old. Such an infant should be examined at a hospital that specializes in this disease. It is extremely important for parents to understand that it is not kindness to do everything for such a child, and they must encourage him in the difficult task of doing things himself.

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Infections of the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, and uterus were extremely common in the past. Today, these diseases no longer cause untold misery to women. However, the fact that any woman still suffers from them is a needless tragedy. Other types of infectious diseases that may attack these organs are also yielding to modern medicines.

Injuries resulting from pregnancy and childbirth have also been tremendously reduced by modern obstetrical methods.

Relaxed tissues or muscular injuries can cause hernias such as a cystocele—a bulging of the bladder due to the weakness of the vaginal wall; or a prolapse of the uterus, in which the cervix is pushed far down into the vagina; or a displacement of the uterus. If any of these conditions is severe, surgery may be necessary. Often, however, they can be treated by other means.

Leukorrhoea

Non-bloody vaginal discharges, usually called leukorrhoea or the whites, are almost as troublesome as menstrual disorders. They, too, are symptoms rather than diseases, and may be due to something relatively minor or potentially serious.

An excessive discharge can be due to any disease of the genital tract, including gonorrhoea and syphilis and other infections, cancer, polyps, lacerations of the cervix that sometimes occur during childbirth, or the irritation caused by an ill-fitting pessary. Occasionally, it is due to some condition outside the genital tract—for example, malnutrition or even pelvic congestion associated with heart disease.

Always consult a doctor for persistent leukorrhoea, or any discharge that is not colourless or that is accompanied by itching or irritation.

Leukorrhoea is frequently caused by a one-celled micro-organism known as Trichomonas vaginalis. This organism causes a yellowish discharge with an unpleasant odour, often accompanied by itching of the external genitals, and sometimes chronic inflammation of the cervix.

Infections of the cervix

The cervix of the uterus may become inflamed by the same condition that causes leukorrhoea, and also by injuries during childbirth and by irritations of various kinds. Chronic cervicitis is usually cured by cauterization, which removes or destroys the inflamed area. It is not a painful procedure. An inflamed cervix should be treated promptly, because it is a fertile area for cancer.

Cervical polyps, a type of small tumour, should always be removed and examined under the microscope to see if they are malignant.

Atrophis vaginalis

Elderly women are very prone to have vaginal infections, due to the ageing of the tissues. After the doctor has eliminated the possibility of cancer and other diseases that might cause the vaginal discharge, he can usually relieve the condition by treatment with vaginal suppositories containing the ovarian oestrogen hormone.

Itching of the genitals

Itching of the genitals (pruritus vulvae) is frequently caused by leukorrhoea and vanishes when it is corrected. However, itching may be due to irritation from urine, especially in diabetics, to skin diseases, and to mechanical irritations such as chafing or nervous scratching of a very minor inflammation. The possibility of an allergic reaction should not be overlooked. Pruritus vulvae is most frequently found in women who are in their later years. It is important to discover and eliminate the cause of the symptoms. Phenobarbitol or another sedative will relieve nervous tension caused by the itching.

Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy means removal of the uterus, or womb. Once the uterus has been removed, a woman is not able to bear a child. The unnecessary removal of the uterus is particularly tragic to women who want to have children, or who may want to have them in the future. A hysterectomy does not always include removal of the ovaries, so normal hormone production may continue after the operation, and a woman does not undergo symptoms of the menopause.

I recommend, however, that a hysterectomy never be performed unless two physicians agree on the need for it. One should be your family doctor, the other a specialist in gynaecology.

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Ideally, you should behave as though you were convalescing from an illness for about a week, preferably two weeks, after the baby arrives, no matter how well you feel—and you should feel very well.

Gradually, after a week or so, increase your activities—stairs once a day, and so on. These activities should not all be work, but should include walking outdoors for a few minutes if the weather is pleasant.

By the end of the month, you should be on a practically normal schedule, except that you still need an afternoon rest and plenty of sleep. Usually it will be two months before you are completely your old self.

You may take a shower or sponge bath as soon as you want, and a tub bath in two or three weeks. Ask your doctor before you take a douche. You may wash your hair whenever you feel up to it.

Wait at least six weeks before having sexual intercourse. At this time, the doctor will examine you to make certain your tissues have thoroughly healed. If intercourse is painful, take a hot bath first, and then use a bland lubricant to lubricate the vagina; if the pain persists, consult your doctor.

Menstruation usually returns within four to eight weeks. The first menstrual period is almost always unusual in some way. The flow may be profuse, there may be clots, or it may stop and start again. The second period should be normal, or nearly normal. Menstrual periods are usually postponed if the mother nurses her baby—but not always. Do not count on the fact that you will not get pregnant while you are nursing.

It may take a while for your muscles to recover their springiness and your figure to return to normal. Whether or not to wear a girdle is up to you and your doctor.

The following exercises will help make you feel stronger and better. Start them about two weeks after the baby is born.

1 Lie flat on your back in bed and raise one foot slowly for a few

inches, keeping your leg stiff. Lower it slowly. Do the same with the other foot. Repeat about half a dozen times, if you are not tired. The following day, lift each leg a little higher, and so on; by the end of the first week or so you will be able to raise your legs until they are at right angles to your body.

Lie on your back and paddle your legs as though you were riding a bicycle. Do this until you begin to tire. Work up to about 25 strokes.

Assume the knee-chest position for about five minutes every morning and evening. Be sure that you have your knees far apart, and that you put your weight on your chest rather than your arms or elbows.

Ask your doctor if and when you should begin a full set of abdomen- and back-strengthening exercises.

Ask your doctor about the need for breast-firming exercises.

*175\68\2*

Personality disorders

Disorders of personality are difficult to define. A person who drinks too much, for example, may have his problem under partial control and be considered a neurotic. He may be a psychopath, practically without a conscience. Or alcoholism itself may be his most serious problem, so serious that he can hardly function in society and may eventually have to be hospitalized. Because I feel that the following personality disorders are so serious that they affect a person’s mind and personality completely, I have included them in this section. In a very real sense, such people are crippled, but they need not always be treated in hospitals. Their illnesses are often difficult to diagnose and to treat, but modern psychiatry has new techniques and new drugs that make the outlook for these unfortunate persons much brighter.

Alcoholism and drug addiction

Alcoholics and drug addicts are chronically sick people whose ailments show themselves in their behaviour. Unlike many other maladjusted individuals, they have turned to something outside themselves to find an inadequate but temporarily satisfying solution to their problems. As in the case of other maladjusted people, this does not solve their difficulties. In addition, they face the problems that result from excessive drinking or from taking drugs. In advanced cases, their physical conditions are very poor; in fact, deterioration often sets in. In many cases, hospitalization is necessary if a cure is to be effected.

*120\68\2*

Dry skin

An insufficient production of fat by the sebaceous glands in the skin causes dry skin. This often occurs in middle and old age, encouraging wrinkling. If your skin is dry, do not wash it too often with soap and water; use a cleansing cream or oil or a soap substitute. Before going to bed, apply a lubricating cream that contains lanolin or cholesterol. Do not use plain lanolin. Olive oil or one of the commercial products such as Nivea cream is satisfactory. Apply more than once daily if necessary.

Dry skin is very apt to chap during cold weather or when the air is very dry. If your skin becomes chapped, treat it as I have just suggested you treat dry skin. A commercial lotion or a hand cream gives good protection for chapped hands.

Oily skin

This can be more distressing than dry skin. To correct it, use plenty of soap and water, avoid creams and greasy lotions, and follow the rules I gave you for general care of the body. Go easy on heavy powder or pancake make-up.

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