Thus Madame Cheng wrote at that time concerning the education of the child: "Even before birth his education may begin; and, therefore, the prospective mother of old, when lying down, lay straight; when sitting down, sat upright; and when standing, stood erect.

She would not taste strange flavors, nor have anything to do with spiritualism; if her food were not cut straight she would not eat it, and if her mat were not set straight, she would not sit upon it.

She would not look at any objectionable sight, nor listen to any objectionable sound, nor utter any rude word, nor handle any impure thing.

At night she studied some canonical work, by day she occupied herself with ceremonies and music.
Therefore, her sons were upright and eminent for their talents and virtues; such was the result of antenatal training" (H.A.Giles, "Woman in Chinese Literature," _Nineteenth Century_, Nov., 1904).
[7] Max Bartels, "Islaendischer Brauch," etc., _Zeitschrift fuer Ethnologie_, 1900, p.65.A summary of the customs of various peoples in regard to pregnancy is given by Ploss and Bartels, _Das Weib_, Sect.

XXIX.
[8] On the influence of alcohol during pregnancy on the embryo, see, e.g., G.Newman, _Infant Mortality_, pp.