This was probably the first book on female health and hygiene published in California and intended for the residents of the state. The book was written for women rather than for medical professionals. Little is known of Joshua Harrison Stallard other than that he was a provincial medical practitioner who moved to London and campaigned for improvement in metropolitan workhouses. Stallard apparently wrote this book after a relatively brief visit to California where he recognized the need for information of this kind. Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.