on fuch occafions, would be more attentive to their own safety, by taking proper advice, in due time, and using all poffible means to prevent those dangerous maladies.

I have attended more patients labouring under the fluor albus in autumn than at any other feason of the year, efpecially, when the weather was uncommonly moist and cold: Most of them were cured by change of diet, an increased perspiration, and the proper ufe of Peruvian bark with aromatics. I observed that feveral about this time who' escaped the diforder, were vifited with bad colds, defluxion of rheum on the throat, or a diarrhoea, which were removed by fimi lar treatment.

As women are fometimes connected with those who do not confcientiously regard their fafety, it is a circumstance of the utmost confequence to diftinguish a fresh venereal infection from the fluor albus; for if the first is miftaken for the last, and is either neglecH 2

ted

ted or improperly treated, the disorder may end in a confirmed lues or pox.

The following figns will best inform the patient whether there is occafion for her doubts or not..

A fresh infection, called gonorrhea, is malignant and inflammatory; the fluor albus moft commonly arifes from relaxation and bodily weakness; and therefore, the remedies proper in the last disorder would render the first more violent, by locking up the infectious matter.

In the gonorrhoea, the discharge proceeds from the parts contiguous to the urinary paffage, and continues whilft the menfes flow; but in the fluor albus, it is fupplied from the cavity of the womb and its pasfage, and then the menfes are feldom regular.

In the gonorrhoea; an itching, inflammation, and heat of urine, are the forerunners of the discharge, the orifice of the urinary paffage is prominent and painful, and

and the patient affected with frequent irritation to make water. In the fluor albus; pains in the loins, and lofs of ftrength, attend the discharge, and if any inflamma-> tion or heat of urine follow, they happen in a lefs degree, and only after a long, continuance of the acrimonious discharge, which excoriates the furrounding parts. In the gonorrhoea, the discharge fuddenly appears without any evident caufe; but in the fluor albus, it comes on more flowly, and is often produced by irregularities of the menfes, frequent abortion, fprains, or long continued illness.

In the gonorrhoea, the discharge is green; ish or yellow, less in quantity, and not attended with the fame Symptoms of weakness. In the fluor albus, it is also often of the fame colour, especially in bad habits of body, and after long continuance; but is ufually more offenfive, and redundant in quantity.

1

I have here purpofely omitted the mention of particular medicines applicable to the cure of the gonorrhoea, as it would be extremely unsafe and precarious for the patient to truft her own judgment in a cafe, of so much importance to her conftitution.

SECTION.

SECTION

V.

Of Scirrhus, Cancer, and Ulceration of the Womb.

A

Scirrhus is a hard tumor or swelling, generally feated in the glandular parts of the body, as the breafts, neck or womb.

It may be occafioned by external violence done to the affected part, the unfeasonable fuppreffion of some long accustomed difcharge, unwholfome diet, the unfavorable crifis of fevers, or any other caufe which destroys the natural office of the gland; so that the Lymph or fluid which ought to pafs freely through it, is obftructed, and there remaining closely locked up, becomes a thick, glutinous, and malignant humor.

A fcirrhus may also arife from Scrophulous and venereal taints, or preceding inflamma H 4

tion.