ACTION OF THE FEMALE. 593 



roundness and fulness which are so attractive to the opposite sex, at the 

 period of commencing Womanhood. The first appearance of the Catamenia 

 usually occurs whilst these changes are in progress, and is a decided indica- 

 tion of the arrival of the period of Puberty; but it is not unfrequently delayed 

 much longer ; and its absence is by no means to be regarded as a proof of 'the 

 want of aptitude for procreation, since many women have borne large families 

 without having ever menstruated. The Catamenial discharge appears nor- 

 mally to consist of blood deprived of its fibrin; the fluid being composed of 

 serum, in which'red corpuscles are suspended, and being readily distinguish- 

 able from true blood by its want of power to clot. When clots are found in 

 it, therefore, a morbid condition of the secreting surface must be inferred. The 

 interval which usually elapses between the successive appearances of the 

 secretion is about four weeks ; and the duration of the flow is from three to 

 six days.* There is, however, great variety in this respect among the inhabi- 

 tants of different climates, and among individuals: in general, the appearance 

 is more frequent, and the duration of the flow greater, among the residents in 

 warm countries, and among individuals of luxurious habits and relaxed frame, 

 than among the inhabitants of colder climes, or among individuals inured to 

 bodily exertion. The first appearance of the discharge is usually preceded 

 and accompanied by considerable general disturbance of the system ; espe- 

 cially pain in the loins and a sense of fatigue in the lower extremities ; and 

 its periodical return is usually attended with the same symptoms, which are 

 more or less severe in different individuals. 



742. Much discussion has taken place respecting the causes and purposes 

 of the Menstrual flow ; and recent inquiries have thrown much light upon 

 them. The state of the Female Generative system during its continuance, 

 appears to be analogous to the heat of the lower animals ; many of which have 

 a sero-sanguinolent discharge at that period. There is good reason to believe 

 that in Women the sexual feeling becomes stronger at that epoch ; and it is 

 quite certain that there is a greater aptitude for Conception, immediately before 

 and after Menstruation, than there is at any intermediate period. Observa- 

 tions to this effect were made by Hippocrates, and were confirmed by Boer- 

 haave and Haller ; indeed coitus immediately after menstruation appears to 

 have been frequently recommended as a cure for sterility, and to have proved 

 successful. It is well known that, among many of the lower animals, the Ova 

 are entirely extruded by the Female, before the Spermatic fluid of the Male 

 reaches them ; and that even in Birds, this occasionally takes place. This 

 question has been recently made the subject of special inquiry by M. Raci- 

 borski ; who affirms that the exceptions to the rule -that Conception occurs 

 immediately before or after, or during Menstruation are not more than 6 or 7 

 per cent. Indeed, in his latest work on this subject,! he gives the details of 

 15 cases, in which the date of Conception could be accurately fixed, and the 

 time of the last appearance of the Catamenia was als6 known ; and in all but 

 one of them, the correspondence between the two periods was very close. 

 Even in the exceptional case, the Catamenia made their appearance shortly 

 after the Coitus ; which took place at about the middle of the interval between 

 the two regular periods. When Conception occurs immediately before the 

 Menstrual period, the Catamenia sometimes appear, and sometimes are absent ; 

 if they appear, their duration is generally less than usual. The fact that Con- 

 ception often takes place immediately before the last appearance of the Cata- 



[* It would appear, from the statistical researches of M. Brierre de Boismont, that the 

 two periods at which the largest number of females menstruate, are the 8th and 3d days. 

 A women who menstruates eight days for thirty years, (the usual period of uterine life,) 

 will consume eight years in this function. M. C.] 



t Sur la Ponte des Mammiferes. Paris, 1844. 



50* 



