Page:Contraception; 1st ed. (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.94163).pdf/169

doctor who could not use the cap herself; from which the inference was drawn that the method was at fault! Whereas, in fact, the lady had particularly small hands and a long vagina, and it was merely a physical impossibility for her to reach her own cervical region. Such cases are rather infrequent, but as they attract much notice, each creates more impression than a hundred normal women.

The "Pro Race" and most other occlusive pessaries are made in three sizes, No. 1 or 2 being in general the size used by the average woman. Size No. 2 is found, after a good deal of experience, to be in much the greatest demand. If a woman has not suffered undue laceration at childbirth, even after she has had two or three children, size No. 3 is still too big for her and size No. 2 adequate.

In conjunction with the cap some prefer to use quinine ointment, smeared on it both internally and externally, partly to lubricate it in its passage up the vagina (which is often not necessary at all, or can be done more easily with slightly soapy water), and partly as an added precaution. This ointment, however, is not good for the cap.

It must not be forgotten that there is no foolproof method of birth control, except in-