An Interactive Annotated World Bibliography of Printed and Digital Works in the History of Medicine and the Life Sciences from Circa 2000 BCE to 2024 by Fielding H. Garrison (1870-1935), Leslie T. Morton (1907-2004), and Jeremy M. Norman (1945- ) Traditionally Known as “Garrison-Morton”

16062 entries, 14145 authors and 1947 subjects. Updated: December 23, 2024

ASHTON, James

1 entries
  • 7720

The book of nature : containing information for young people who think of getting married: on the philosophy of procreation and sexual intercourse, showing how to prevent conception and to avoid child-bearing : also, rules for management during labor and child-birth.

New York: For the Author, 1859.

Possibly the most enlightened, and detailed book on sex, reproduction, and contraception published during this period; illustrated in color. In addition to outlining the era's five most reliable methods of contraception (withdrawal, condoms, the vaginal sponge, douching and the rhythm method) Ashton explained the most effective means and timing for inducing miscarriage. Digital facsimile of the 1861 reprint from the Internet Archive at this link. The author, a physician, characterized himself on the title page as "Lecturer on Sexual Physiology, and Inventor of the Reveil Nocturne."



Subjects: Contraception , SEXUALITY / Sexology