bathed in warm water every night before bed-time.

She should abftain from the immoderate ufe of Tea, and drink Coffee with the addition of milk; an infufion of Saffafras, or weak broths. She may fit up to the waist in a warm bath of water, twice a week, particularly when nature attempts to bring on the discharge. At coming out of the bath, her skin should be rubbed with hot flannels or the flesh brush. She fhould then be put to bed, and if fhe is restless or in pain, the opiate pill, No. 3, may be administered.

Where the disease is obftinate, the strength much impaired, and univerfal relaxation of body prevails; bleeding and evacuations are improper. Two of the strengthening pills, No. 4, may then be given twice a-day with an infufion of orange peel, or garden tanfy; and when there is no decay of the lungs or internal, vital parts, cold bathing will greatly

greatly expedite the cure, by bracing the folids, and repelling blood from the furface to the uterine veffels. But the laft being a very powerful remedy, it ought never to be directed without proper advice; many inftances having occurr'd, where such as laboured under confumptive fymptoms, and weak, ulcerated lungs, were fuddenly destroyed by its unseasonable use.

The common practice of giving forcing medicines to young subjects, in the early ftate of this disorder, is dangerous and unnatural; and although it has ruin'd the health of thousands, is still continued without limitation or diftinction. By the im proper use of steel, mercury or hellebore, the blood becomes overheated, and being violently driven upon the ftomach or lungs, may burft their veffels, and occafion an habitual spitting of blood, ending in Confumption.

This

This is not a conjecture or needless apprehenfion, but founded on the testimony of facts and repeated obfervation; which the following quotation from Dr. Mead will fufficiently prove. Speaking of the fingular virtues of black hellebore in promoting obftructed menfes, he thus expreffes himself. "I have obferved this remarkable circum"ftance; that whenever, either from a bad "conformation of the parts, or any other 66 cause, this medicine had not the defired "effect; the blood was forced out through "fome other paffages; which is a manifeft

86

proof of the great power of this medi"cine in fpurring the blood forward.”

From fuch effects it is alfo evident, that this medicine does not act fpecifically on the womb alone, but lays equal stress on the whole vascular fyftem. By fuch deftructive violence done to the conftitution, the gentle progrefs of nature is interrupted, and the menfes, instead of paffing off by

the

the womb, will deviate and flow by unnatural paffages, producing fever, wafting of the body, or inward decay.

Laftly, forcing medicines ought never to be given when it is doubtful whether the patient is with child or not; to nurses who give fuck, or thofe at the age of forty-five or fifty, although they fometimes inconfiderately defire it, not being able, without reluctance, to perceive this infallible sign of approaching age.

In young subjects, the monthly dif charge, at firft, is generally irregular ; not only returning at undue periods, but being pale and small in quantity, it has been mistaken for a female weakness. This is owing to the firm and compact ftate of the womb, but as its veffels yield and enlarge, the quantity will increafe by degrees, and be render'd more florid at each returning period.

It

It may here be remarked, that nature accomplishes her defigns by flow degrees, and confequently, without injury to the conftitution; for the uterine veffels are not fuddenly torn open by the rapidity of the circulating blood, as when forcing medicines have been imprudently given, but on the contrary, gradually yield to its gentle preffure without pain or fymptoms of violence.

As the danger of stopping a discharge ftrictly natural must be obvious; it is alfo neceffary to distinguish the firft menfes from female weakness, which may be done by attending to the following figns; the first, though almost colourless, and small in quantity, generally return once a month, attended with the ufual fymptoms of menfes ; whereas, a female weakness continues without intermiffion, accompanied with pains in the loins, faintings, and other figns of bodily weakness.

Athough