ring reafon, or the prevalence of pernicious cuftoms.

The several disorders confequent of obftructed menfes have been enumerated; and from the most attentive obfervation it appears, that many complaints imputed to the ceffation of that discharge, are, in reality owing to its obstruction at too early a period. For inftance; it fometimes happens, that in particular conftitutions, the uterine veffels become contracted, and their orifices closely fhut up, whilft the faculty of preparing redundant blood ftill continues; fo that the fame symptoms will enfue, as those which happen, from an obftruction, at any other time. The relief procured by bleeding and evacuations, in fuch cafes, confirm the truth of this obfervation. Hence it will be neceffary to diftinguifh the difference between a natural ceflation of the menfes, and a real, untimely stoppage of that discharge, for which it has often been mistaken." :

Confidering

Confidering how liable women are to obftruction, at all feafons, from a variety of causes, it can be no wonder the fame inconvenience fhould more frequently happen late in life, when a natural tendency, from advancing age, concurs to render fuch caufes more powerful in their effects...

Should this particular species of obftruction prevail, it does not appear adviseable to ufe violent means, at fo late a period, to bring back the discharge; but only to carry off the accumulated, fuperfluous blood, by bleeding and gentle purgatives, to direct an abftemious diet, with exercife, and leave the reft to nature."

In women of bad conftitutions, who be come irregular in the decline of life, and menftruate longer than ordinary; large clots of blood- fometimes forced away

are

with great pain and bearing down. Such cafes almost certainly indicate a diseased womb, and if neglected or improperly treated,

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treated, often end in cancer or ulceration of that part; especially, where the putrid dif charge has fuddenly been stopped by aftringents, or where bleeding and evacuations, had previously been neglected. When there is much pain and fever, the patient should first be blooded; fhe may then take the gentle purging draught No. 10, once a week, and by intervals, half a pint of the decoction, No. 11, night and morning. She fhould live on spare and fimple diet, and drink Seltzer, Acton, or imperial water, inftead of malt liquors.

It will be more fafe and proper by fuch methods rather to prevent the increafe of blood, than to lock it up by aftringents when collected; for altho' it has been remarked, that menftruous blood is not im pure, yet, by fagnating too long in its veffels, it may acquire pernicious qualities, and being taken back into the circulation, prove hurtful to the conftitution.

The

The urine and gall which were both separated and ftrained off from the blood, are in their natural state perfectly innocent, yet by being lodg'd too long in their receptacles, or again infufed into the general mafs, will occafion diseases and death; even fimple water by confinement or flagnation will become unwholesome and corrupt. Juft fo the animal fluids retain their natural qua lities, whilft in a due ftate of circulation, but become vitiated by remaining too long, at rest..

To affift the conftitution in difpenfing with that critical change which happens at the menftrual ceffation, and to compensate for the want of that long accustomed difcharge; bleeding once a month, more or lefs copiously, as occafion may require, with the use of the purging draught, No. 12, during the intervals, will be neceffary, and may be continued a confiderable time with great fafety and advantage, especially in strong

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ftrong habits of body, where the blood too much abounds.

The patient fhould now leffen her usual quantity of animal food, and live on fpare! and fimple diet, confifting chiefly of ve getables, fish, and spoon meats. She fhould abstain from malt liquors, and drink light thin white wines diluted with water, or, toaft and water only. Her exercife fhould, be increased, which will affift: perfpiration; and if she is coftive or feverish, the cooling ptifan, No. 13, taken occafionally, will remedy thofe inconveniencies.

A contrary method should be used where the patient is delicate and subject to female weakness, night-fweats, or habitual loosenefs, with flushings in the face and hectic fever: For fuch, afs's milk, jellies, and raw eggs, with cooling fruits will be proper. At meals fhe may be indulged with half a pint of old, clear London porter, or a glass of rhenish wine. Twice a day

fhe