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desirable characteristics. Its existence, however, is purely theoretical, and will remain so until research on this every abstruse and difficult theme has been accomplished.

The second of the three alternatives mentioned above may be achieved in a variety of different ways, the commonest and best known being by the use of the condom (vulgarly called the "French letter") which by enclosing all the ejaculated sperms in the membrane of the condom, prevents them from reaching the ovum. Were the seminal fluid a simple procreative substance only, with no other accessory qualities, characteristics or potentialities, this method might appear to be theoretically perfect. The fact, however, is otherwise, as will be elaborated on later pages (pp. 76, 208), depending partly on the existence of valuable accessory characteristics of the seminal emission, and partly on account of unsatisfactory features involved in the use of the condom itself.

The separation of the sperm from the potentially fertilizable ovum may also be accomplished by the internal cap or pessary used by the woman. This does not intervene between the seminal emission and its contact with the vaginal walls, and there-