SECTION II.

Of the Periodical Discharge in a difeafed ftate, namely, when irregular, obftructed, or immoderate in quantity.

AS regularity of the periodical discharge

indicates the natural ftate of the fe

male constitution, and is effential to health; fo its obstruction or excess powerfully dif pose the body to diseases of the Chronic Kind.

Where the conftitution happens to abound with blood, before the uterine veffels are fufficiently enlarged to allow of its paffing off that way; a disease peculiar to virgins, called Chlorofis or green sickness, is faid to be produced, and this usually appears about the age of maturity.

If the periodical discharge has been regular for a confiderable time, and at length, from any

accident returns by longer intervals, or more fparingly than ufual, it is faid to be irregular or obftructed; but if it does not return at all, it is then called a total fuppreffion of the menfes; fo that thofe feveral complaints, however different in degree, all arife from the fame cause, that is, from retained menftruous blood, which vitiates the whole mafs, and renders it unfit for circulation and the purposes of life.

But altho' this has been the general opinion; many reafons may be adduced to prove, that blood fo retained, rather offends in quantity than quality, and the bad effects are chiefly owing to the stress laid on its feveral veffels, in confequence of their being overfill'd; hence the circulating power is clog'd and impaired, and that free and equal distribution of blood prevented, which is neceffary to a state of health.

From fuch disorders as are observed to be brought on by obftructed perspiration; a fudden

fudden stoppage of the bleeding piles, or even the omission of blood letting, to which the patient had been accustomed at particular feasons of the year; and where the blood evacuated was equally pure with that remaining in its veffels, there is reason to believe, that the menfes when obstructed only affect the conftitution, by weakening the vascular system of the body, and not by imparting any noxious quality to its

humours.

An influence, malignant as that of the Dog-Star, abfurdly and unworthily imputed to women at this period, viz. of stopping the fermentation of liquors, and killing vegetables by the flightest touch, with fuch like fabulous relations, ought therefore to be rejected as vulgar Errors, the offspring of ignorance and over credulity, equally inconfiftent with reafon or the law of

nature.

On the contrary, I have already remarked that where the natural discharge is interrupted, women are not only deprived of the delicacy peculiar to their fex, but also of health itself.

The cause of green-fickness is not, however, folely confined to an obstruction of the menfes, for virgins are fometimes fubject to it at a very tender age, before any redundant blood could naturally be collected in the habit; befides, if it were entirely owing to a defect of the natural difcharge, the several symptoms would immediately disappear at its first commencement, which is not always the case.

This particular species of disease, seems rather to arife from conftitutional weakness, or a general want of power in the fe veral organs to perform their natural office. The digestive faculty of the ftomach is impaired, and confequently, the juices derived from the food being crude and watery, are infufficient

infufficient to nourish and supply the body : Hence, the heart, which is the principal instrument of circulation, can hardly drive forward the blood in its veffels, or distribute that vital fluid to different parts of the body, without which, like a plant deprived of water, it must languish and decline.

Under fuch circumstances, neither health or strength can long subsist, nor can the neceffary evacuations be duly promoted. From obftructed perfpiration will proceed, weariness, oppreffion of fpirits, wandering pains, and flow fever. From coftiveness, will arrife, head-ache, palpitation of the heart, and throbbing of the internal parts, efpecially after violent motion or fudden furprise; also, indigeftion, heart-burn and fwelling at the ftomach. And lastly, from a defect of the urinary discharge; the blood will be loaden with fcorbutic humours, and a bloated, dropfical habit of body will enfue.