cessfully if we do not attend (as far as can be discovered) to the cause; and in defect of more particular indications, we must, in our remedial means, embrace the whole of the tonic and invigorating system in all its ramifications, more especially as directed to the stomach and bowels. In many instances, the womb, instead of discharging a fluid every month, forms a membraneous or organized substance, which is expelled with severe pain and flooding, very similar to miscarriage; such occurrences have frequently led to very unpleasant and injurious suspicions, and the character of the female, though perfectly innocent, has sustained considerable, and, in some cases, fatal injury, through the ignorance of gossipping women and half-informed practitioners. In such cases, a steady course of active, though not violent, purgatives will be indicated; the use of the warm salt-water bath, and sarsaparilla; when there is severe pain present, from half a grain to a grain of muriate of morphia, or from 8 to 10 grains of the compound powder of ipecacuanha should be administered, assisted in its operation by warm drink. A knowledge of this disease is of the utmost importance to the character of virtuous women. An author of authority describes a case where a membraneous substance pre

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sented, with pain, at the orifice of the womb, and was obliged to be extracted with the hand; it was the size of a large fig, and filled with dark coagulated blood.

PAINFUL MENSTRUATION.

THE menstrual state is sometimes attended with severe pain, and the discharge in this case takes place slowly, is sparing in quantity, and there are occasionally small shreds or clots mixed with it. Should it flow freely the first day, the pain is trifling or not complained of, being confined to the lower part of the back. In the majority of instances it, however, extends from the lower part of the back, round the belly, hips, and down the thighs; in some women, it precedes the evacuation for a day or more, but in the generality, for a shorter period.

TREATMENT.

FRICTION is to be employed over the loins with a liniment of laudanum, oil of rosemary, sal-volatile, and camphorated spirits of wine. The bowels are to be kept in order by mild, unirritating aperients and enemas. The diet, clothing, and exercise, regulated so as to contribute to the general health. If the cold bath agrees, it ought to

be taken every morning; if not, the tepid salt-water is to be substituted. For a week previous to the expected attack of pain, a hip-bath should be employed, at the heat of from 95 to 100 degrees, regulated by a thermometer; and when the pain is felt, the woman should go to bed, have an opiate administered in a full dose, combined with spirits of sal-volatile or sweet spirits of nitre, drinking freely of some warm fluid to promote perspiration. When the stomach will not retain the anodyne, it must be administered in the form of an enema. If the pain is not very violent, repose in bed, with a small tumbler of hot brandy or gin and water, will be sufficient. Many women, though they menstruate abundantly, suffer severe agony, not only in the region of the womb, but in the belly, resembling colic, accompanied by urgent vomiting and headache; these may be removed by repose in bed and anodynes.

PROFUSE MENSTRUATION.

A NUMBER of females menstruate more copiously or more frequently than by the laws of the system they ought to do. Should it be necessary to interfere, vegetable tonics and mild astringents must be employed.

The general treatment will be more freely discussed in

the next variety.

FLOODING

Is usually accompanied with symptoms of general irritation, and is almost invariably, by whatever cause induced, attended with pain in the back and loins, with more or less fever. Married women are more liable to this affection than virgins; indeed it is rare for the latter, if otherwise in health, to be attacked with it. The management will depend on the state of the constitution, and the effect produced on it by the discharge. As a general rule, the female should from the very first moment be confined to bed in a recumbent position, with the head low; this I have always insisted on in my treatment as of the utmost importance. We are next to make use of the agency of cold; that is, if in summer, the windows are to be thrown open, and in winter, no fire to be permitted. The bed should have no more covering than absolutely necessary to prevent shivering, and the food administered almost dry, and of the least stimulating quality. Wine and spirits of every description, as well as malt liquor, must be strictly interdicted. In order to restore

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the tone of the vessels of the womb, clothes wet with cold water, or vinegar and water, are to be applied to the parts and over the loins: the vagina may also be plugged with sponge, or soft cloth, to promote coagulation of the fluid, which is the means adopted by nature to restrain all bleeding vessels. In very severe cases, a lump of ice is to be introduced into the vagina, and some applied to the bottom of the belly and loins. Where the discharge is so excessive as to induce fainting, or great prostation of the vital powers, the usual stimulants in fainting-fits are to be employed, as wine, brandy, sal-volatile, and opium, which latter should, in these cases, be given in two-grain doses, never less. Injections of oak-bark, and preparations of lead, both externally and internally, will be useful in delicate habits. There is sometimes a slight discharge of blood for one day, at the end of a fortnight after menstruation; this may be restrained by strengthening the system. The feverish and irritable state produced by severe or protracted flooding will best be overcome, after subduing the discharge, by careful attention to the state of the bowels. The use of the mineral acids alone, or in combination with quinine; anodynes, combined with antimonials, at bed-time, may