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Ot THE MENSTRUAL OlSCHARG*..

I

deepest distress. A soothing, kind, and affable behaviour to femal es inthis situation is also of the last importance.

An obstruction of the menses is often the effect of other maladiesWhen this is the case, instead of giving medicines to force that dischargewhich might be dangerous, we ought by all means to endeavour to restorethe patient's health and strength. When that is affected, the other willreturn of course. The power of mineral waters, especially those oBath, in promoting the menstrual discharge, is pretty generally known.

A frequent cough, a quick pulse, and difficulty of respiration, aresymptoms usually attending a total absence or unfrequent return of themenstrual discharge, consequently these symptoms alone are not indica-tive of danger; but if the cough, instead of being only occasional, beconstant, accompanied with weight and pain in the chest, and an in-creased secretion of mucus, particularly in the morning; if, with a palidcountenance, there be a circumscribed spot of florid colour in the cheek;if there be on the present occasion, or if she has formerly been liable tra spitting of blood; and if not only debility but emaciation attend thesesymptoms now, there is cause for alarm respecting the state of the lungs,especially if the general structure, and general or hereditary tempera-ment, give her a predisposition to pulmonary consumption ; when suchis the case, recourse must be had to the best medical advice withoutdelay.

But the menstrual flux may be too great as well as too small. Whenthis happens, the patient becomes weak, the colour pale, the appetiteand digestion are bad, to which cedematous swellings of the feet, dropsies,and consumptions, often ensue. This frequently happens to women*bout the age of forty-five, or fifty, and is very difficulty to cure. Itmay proceed from a sedentary life; a full diet, consisting chiefly o fsalted, high-seasoned, or acrid food; the use of spirituous liquors; excessive fatigue ; relaxation; a dissolved state of the blood ; violent passions of the mind, &c.

The treatment of this disease must be varied according to its cause.When it is occasioned by any error in the patient's regimen, an oppositecourse to that which induced the disorder must be pursued, and suchmedicines taken as have a tendency to restrain the flux, and counteractthe morbid affections of the system from whence it proceeds.

To restrain the flux, the patient should be kept quiet and easy bothin body and mind. If it be very violent, she ought to lie in bed withher head low ; to live upon a cool and slender diet, as veal or chickenbroths with bread; and to drink decoctions of nettle-roots, or the greatercomfrey. If these be not sufficient to stop the flux, stronger astringentsmay be used, as catechu, alum, elixir of vitriol, the Peruvian bark, &c.

Two drachms of alum and one of catechu may be pounded together,and divided into eight or nine doses, one of which may be taken threetimes a-day.

Persons whose stomachs cannot bear the alum, may take two table-spoonfuls of the infusion of roses three or four times a-day, to each doseof which ten drops of laudanum may be added.

If these should fail, half a drachm of the Peruvian bark, in powderwith ten drops of the diluted vitriolic acid, may be taken in a glass ored wine four times a-day.