Ovulation, Menstruation and Finding the "Safe Period" (offprint)

Reprinted from the Journal of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, September 1935. Stapled softcover, 15pp, including 5 full-page diagrams in a disparately naive style. Very Good with light general handling soil and creasing, mild age toning. Douglas cites the findings of Austrian gynecologist Hermann Knauss who (along with Kyusaku Ogino in Japan) studied the full ovulation cycle to more accurately determine the "safe period". Natural family planning was popularly promoted by Roman Catholic physician Leo J. Latz in his book The Rhythm of Sterility and Fertility in Women (1932). Women were encouraged to start calculating their cycles, some with the help of specialty slide rules and secret codes. Douglas' article supports that a "safe period" can be calculated while making allowances for (or warning of) reasons women's cycles can become irregular, such as stress and grief.

"This paper is not written to advocate artificial means of contraception but to insist that the medical profession assume its role as scientific advisers on this most sacred and delicate subject. The question should not be exploited by organizations who do not solve the problem but only add insult to many who for religious or esthetic reasons object to usual contraceptive methods."