mined to the urinary paffages, and from the vicinity of these are often communicated to the uterus, Such, for example, are cantharides, turpentine, and other balfams of a fimilar nature.

CHAP. VIII.

OF THE AMENORRHOEA, OR INTERRUPTION OF THE MENSTRUAL FLUX.

WHA

DCCCCXCV.

HATEVER, in a fyftem of methodical nofology, may be the fitteft

place for the anienorrhoea, it cannot be improper to treat of it here as an object of practice, immediately after having confidered the menorrhagia.

DCCCCXCVI.

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The interruption of the menftrual flux is to be confidered as of two different kinds; the one being when the menfes do not begin to flow at that period of life at which they usually appear; and the other being that when, after they have repeatedly taken place for fome time, they do, from other causes than conception, cease to return at their usual periods: The former of thefe cafes is named the retention, and the latter the fuppreffion of the menfes.

DCCCCXCVII.

As the flowing of the menfes depends upon the force of the uterine arteries impelling the blood into their extremities, and opening these so as to pour out red blood; fo the interruption of the menftrual flux must depend, either upon the

want

want of due force in the action of the uterine arteries, or upon fome preternatural refiftance in their extremities. The former I suppose to be the most usual cause of retention, the latter the most common cause of fuppreffion; and of each of these I shall now treat more particularly.

DCCCCXCVIII.

The retention of the menfes, the emanfio menfium of Latin writers, is not to be confidered as a disease merely from the menses not flowing at that period which is ufual with moft other women. This This period is fo different in different women, that no time can be precifely affigned as proper to the sex in general. In this climate, the menfes ufually appear about the age of fourteen; but in many they appear more early, and in many not till the fixteenth year in which laft cafe it is often

without any diforder being thereby occa

fioned. It is not therefore from the

4

age

of the perfon, that the retention is to be confidered as a disease, and it is only to be confidered as fuch, when, about the time the menses usually appear, fome diforders arise in other parts of the body which may be imputed to their retention; being fuch as, when arifing at this period, are known from experience to be removed by the flowing of the menfes.

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These disorders are, a sluggishness, and frequent sense of laffitude and debility, with various symptoms of dyspepfia; and sometimes with a preternatural appetite. At the fame time the face lofes its vivid colour, becomes pale, and fometimes of a yellowish hue; the whole body becomes pale and flaccid, and the feet, and perhaps

alfo