1 Autobiographic Sketches, 1853.

The next point we wish to consider is the sex life of the child. We believe at present, as a result of clinical experience in the treatment of certain nervous disorders in adults, that children receive many unfavourable impressions relative to the sex life which, though " forgotten" exert a detrimental activity on their future. Naturally the child does not understand the differences between the sexes, nor sex relations, but if parents believe that what they say and do is immaterial, since the child does not understand, they are likely to cause much damage. Even if the child does not understand, it can wonder; also, what it sees and hears makes an indelible impression on its mind. We urge, therefore, that the embraces of the parents, osculations, and other acts related to the love life be carried out when the child is absent; by child, we include even children below the fourth year. Again, each child should have its own bed, and opposite sexes should not sleep in the same room. Not only should parents never sleep with their children, nor permit them to sleep with other adults, but the children should not sleep in the same room with the parents; if the children sleep in adjoining rooms it is very desirable that they cannot overhear or witness amorous talk or actions. Doubtless many readers will consider such advice as poppycock, but it is far from being that; it is really of great significance for the child's happiness that it be not ignored.

Among other admonitions relative to the sex life is the possible harm the parent may do by making much of the child; this fixates the parental image in the child's mind and, as we will see later, may alter its reaction to the love life. It is unwise also for maids and others to act in this manner. Should a child exhibit an inordinate propensity for enduring pain, for self-display; for inflicting cruelty on animals or playmates; exhibit undue curiosity in sex matters; and should it seem to give undue attention to the natural excretory functions, it should be taken in hand at once. It is unwise to simply taboo certain undesirable actions without any explanation; this merely excites the child's imagination, and may prove far worse than the undesirable action itself. Instead, the child should be talked to kindly, the impropriety of the act explained in simple language, though it is always wise, pending a general parental enlightenment on these matters, to seek the advice of a medical psychologist. It might be mentioned that neglect in correcting such undesirable traits as have been mentioned is sometimes responsible for serious character abnormalities in adult life.

For some years there has been discussion relative to the propriety of instructing the child in sex matters. Most of the medical authorities favour this instruction, though there are many good arguments pro and con. It is deemed best that the child, should it at any time seek enlightenment on the subject, be not put off by vague or false answers; this will possibly cause the child to seek information from other sources, and undermine the parent's standing in the child's regards. However, it is exceedingly important that whoever attempts to impart any sex instruction to children be very tactful; the best person is the child's mother, but, unfortunately, few mothers are able to or would dare do this. At present the physician seems to be the one best qualified. Whether or not the mother imparts any sex instruction before the time of puberty she should, at least, tactfully inform her daughter in due season, of the physiological changes which are to occur at puberty; this will save the child needless fear and self-questioning, and will also aid her toward developing mentally in a normal fashion.

However much one may be opposed to sex instruction of children, there are times when such instruction becomes imperative. In some way the child learns that its ideas of sex relations are not just what it has been led to believe. This leads to a perplexity in the child's mind, a conflict between the old ideas and the new, which, in many instances, results in grave disorders.

Dr. William Healy,1 who has had an extensive experience among juvenile offenders, found, in a series of a thousand recidivists studied, more than seventy whose delinquencies were due to mental conflicts. Such conflicts were responsible for truancy, vagrancy, stealing, forgery, cruelty, bad temper, general troublesomeness, etc. Not infrequently the conflict dealt with sex matters. For example, a boy or girl, aged ten, or younger or older, learns from another girl or boy, even an adult, bad words, is shown bad pictures, or sees improper actions. The child's mind is disturbed; the ideas to which the new knowledge gives rise conflict with the former ideas. The child spends much of its time wondering, day-dreaming, about the matter, and instinctively realizing that it is a subject tabooed from parental discussion, and not wishing to obtain further enlightenment from its instructors, keeps the affair to itself.

1 Mental Conflicts and Misconduct, 1017, Little, Brown & Co.

At times the bad words, pictures, or suspicious actions take possession of the child's mind, and then the child seems impelled to perform some out-of-the-way action. The action will usually be found related to the character of the child's evil informant. Thus, if the informant were a little thief, when the words or actions of this thief come to the child's mind the child has an irresistible impulse to steal. It does not steal from pleasure; in fact these children suffer acutely because of their impulses.

The relation of mental conflicts in childhood to conduct disorders is a subject with which every parent, and those who have to do with children, should be acquainted. Such knowledge will surely prevent the making of many criminals; moreover, it will save some of these harassed children from committing suicide. It is not always sex problems which may cause the conflict; questions of parentage and many other problems may be at fault. Occasionally an intelligent parent may be able to obtain the confidence of a child who shows conduct disorder and by tactful advice solve the child's problem. In most cases the parent not only fails to suspect that the child is troubled by mental problems but feels incompetent, when told, to cope with the difficulty. It is a good recommendation to take every child who deviates from the normal to a physician psychologist.