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other； after the most cruel words and accusations。
〃Yes； jealousy； causeless jealousy； is the condition of our
debauched conjugal life。 And throughout my marriage never did I
cease to feel it and to suffer from it。 There were two periods
in which I suffered most intensely。 The first time was after the
birth of our first child； when the doctors had forbidden my wife
to nurse it。 I was particularly jealous； in the first place；
because my wife felt that restlessness peculiar to animal matter
when the regular course of life is interrupted without occasion。
But especially was I jealous because； having seen with what
facility she had thrown off her moral duties as a mother； I
concluded rightly； though unconsciously； that she would throw off
as easily her conjugal duties； feeling all the surer of this
because she was in perfect health； as was shown by the fact that；
in spite of the prohibition of the dear doctors； she nursed her
following children； and even very well。〃
〃I see that you have no love for the doctors；〃 said I； having
noticed Posdnicheff's extraordinarily spiteful expression of face
and tone of voice whenever he spoke of them。
〃It is not a question of loving them or of not loving them。 They
have ruined my life； as they have ruined the lives of thousands
of beings before me； and I cannot help connecting the consequence
with the cause。 I conceive that they desire； like the lawyers
and the rest； to make money。 I would willingly have given them
half of my incomeand any one would have done it in my place；
understanding what they doif they had consented not to meddle
in my conjugal life； and to keep themselves at a distance。 I
have compiled no statistics； but I know scores of casesin
reality； they are innumerablewhere they have killed； now a
child in its mother's womb； asserting positively that the mother
could not give birth to it （when the mother could give birth to
it very well）； now mothers； under the pretext of a so…called
operation。 No one has counted these murders； just as no one
counted the murders of the Inquisition； because it was supposed
that they were committed for the benefit of humanity。
Innumerable are the crimes of the doctors！ But all these crimes
are nothing compared with the materialistic demoralization which
they introduce into the world through women。 I say nothing of
the fact that； if it were to follow their advice；thanks to the
microbe which they see everywhere；humanity； instead of tending
to union； would proceed straight to complete disunion。
Everybody； according to their doctrine； should isolate himself；
and never remove from his mouth a syringe filled with phenic acid
（moreover； they have found out now that it does no good）。 But I
would pass over all these things。 The supreme poison is the
perversion of people； especially of women。 One can no longer say
now： 'You live badly； live better。' One can no longer say it
either to himself or to others； for； if you live badly （say the
doctors）； the cause is in the nervous system or in something
similar； and it is necessary to go to consult them； and they will
prescribe for you thirty…five copecks' worth of remedies to be
bought at the drug…store； and you must swallow them。 Your
condition grows worse？ Again to the doctors； and more remedies！
An excellent business！
〃But to return to our subject。 I was saying that my wife nursed
her children well； that the nursing and the gestation of the
children； and the children in general； quieted my tortures of
jealousy； but that； on the other hand； they provoked torments of
a different sort。
CHAPTER XVI。
〃The children came rapidly； one after another； and there
happened what happens in our society with children and doctors。
Yes； children； maternal love； it is a painful thing。 Children；
to a woman of our society； are not a joy； a pride； nor a
fulfilment of her vocation； but a cause of fear； anxiety； and
interminable suffering； torture。 Women say it； they think it；
and they feel it too。 Children to them are really a torture； not
because they do not wish to give birth to them； nurse them； and
care for them （women with a strong maternal instinctand such
was my wifeare ready to do that）； but because the children may
fall sick and die。 They do not wish to give birth to them； and
then not love them； and when they love； they do not wish to feel
fear for the child's health and life。 That is why they do not
wish to nurse them。 'If I nurse it；' they say； 'I shall become
too fond of it。' One would think that they preferred
india…rubber children； which could neither be sick nor die； and
could always be repaired。 What an entanglement in the brains of
these poor women！ Why such abominations to avoid pregnancy； and
to avoid the love of the little ones？
〃Love； the most joyous condition of the soul； is represented as a
danger。 And why？ Because； when a man does not live as a man； he
is worse than a beast。 A woman cannot look upon a child
otherwise than as a pleasure。 It is true that it is painful to
give birth to it； but what little hands！ 。 。 。 Oh； the little
hands！ Oh； the little feet！ Oh； its smile！ Oh； its little
body！ Oh； its prattle！ Oh； its hiccough！ In a word； it is a
feeling of animal； sensual maternity。 But as for any idea as to
the mysterious significance of the appearance of a new human
being to replace us； there is scarcely a sign of it。
〃Nothing of it appears in all that is said and done。 No one has
any faith now in a baptism of the child； and yet that was nothing
but a reminder of the human significance of the newborn babe。
〃They have rejected all that； but they have not replaced it； and
there remain only the dresses； the laces； the little hands； the
little feet； and whatever exists in the animal。 But the animal
has neither imagination； nor foresight； nor reason； nor a doctor。
No！ not even a doctor！ The chicken droops its head； overwhelmed；
or the calf dies； the hen clucks and the cow lows for a time； and
then these beasts continue to live； forgetting what has happened。
With us； if the child falls sick； what is to be done； how to care
for it； what doctor to call； where to go？ If it dies； there will
be no more little hands or little feet； and then what is the use
of the sufferings endured？ The cow does not ask all that； and
this is why children are a source of misery。 The cow has no
imagination； and for that reason cannot think how it might have
saved the child if it had done this or that； and its grief；
founded in its physical being； lasts but a very short time。 It
is only a condition； and not that sorrow which becomes
exaggerated to the point of despair； thanks to idleness and
satiety。 The cow has not that reasoning faculty which would
enable it to ask the why。 Why endure all these tortures？ What
was the use of so much love； if the little ones were to die？ The
cow has no logic which tells it to hav