ae 
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_It may always be observed, that women who ere chiefly 
ed without doors, in the different branches of husbandry, gardening, | 
and the like, were almost as hardy as their husbands, and that their | 
children were likewise strong and healthy. But as the bad effects’ 
of confinement and inactivity upon both sexes have been already 
shown, we shall proceed to point out those circumstances in the 
structure and design of females, which subject them to peculiar dis- 
eases, the chief of which are, their monthly evacuations, pregnan- 
cy, and child-bearing. 'These, indeed, cannot properly be called 
diseases ; but from the delicacy of the sex, and their being often im- 
properly managed in such situations, they become the source of in-_ 
numerable calamities, < fa oe 
* 
THE MENSTRUAL ae 2 
Females generally begin to menstruate about the age of fourteen, 
and leave it off about forty-five, which renders these two periods the 
most Critical of their lives. About the first appearance of this dis- 
charge, the constitution undergoes a very considerable change, ge- 
nerally indeed for the better, though sometimes for the worse. The 
greatest care is now necessary, as the future health and happiness ~ 
of the female depend in a great measure upoa her conduct at this — 
period. Ifa girl about this time of life be confined to the house, 
kept constantly sitting, and neither allowed )romp about, nor em- 
ployed in any active business, which givesexercise to the whole 
y, she becomes weak, relaxed, and puny; her blood not being 
duly prepared, she looks pale and wan; her health, spirits and, vigor 
decline, and she sinks into an invalid for lif. Such is the state of 
numbers of those unhappy females, who, ether from too much in- 
dulgence, or their own narrow circumstanzes, are at this critical 
period denied the benefit of exercise and free air. Bes 
A lazy, indolent disposition proves likevise very hurtful to girls 
atthis period. One seldom meets with complaints from obstruc- ~ 
tions amongst the more active and industrious part of the sex ; where- 
as the indolent and lazy are seldom free from them. _These are in 
tg 
a manner eaten up by the seen. sickness, and other diseases of this” ae 
nature. We would therefore recommend it to all who wish to es- 
cape these calamities, to avoid indolenze* and inactivity as their 
piss enemies, and to be as much abioad in the open air as pos- 
sible. 
Another thing which proves very hurtful to girls about this period 
of life, is unwholesome food. Fond o/ all manner of trash, they 
_often indulge in it till their whole humo’s are quite vitiated. Hence 
ensue indigestions, want of appetite, ard a numerous train of evils. 
If the fluids be not duly prepared, it 8 utterly impossible that the 
Secretions should go properly on. Accordingly we find that such 
- girls as lead an indolent life, and eat great quantities of trash, are 
Rot only subject to an obstruction of the menses, but likewise to 
ndular obstructions, as the scrofula, king’s evil, &c. re 
disposition is also very hurtful to girls at this period. 
a ng to see a sprightly girl who does not enjoy go 
While the grave, moping, melancholy creature proves; 
