124 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



begins to take place, which soon becomes yellowish or 

 rusty brown in color, from the admixture of a certain 

 proportion of blood; and by the second or third day, 

 the discharge has the appearance of nearly pure blood. 

 The unpleasant sensations which were at first mani- 

 fest, then usually subside; and the discharge, after 

 continuing for a certain period, begins to grow 

 more scanty. Its color changes from a pure red to 

 a brownish or rusty tinge, until it finally disappears 

 altogether, and the female returns to her ordinary 

 condition. ' ' 



The menstrual function continues active from pu- 

 berty to about the forty-fifth year, or during the period 

 of fertility. When it finally disappears, the woman is 

 no longer capable of bearing children. The time of 

 disappearance is termed the ''change of life," or 

 menopause. Exceptional cases occur in which this 

 period is greatly hastened, arriving as early as the 

 thirty-fifth year, or even earlier. Instances have also 

 been observed in which menstruation continued as late 

 as the sixtieth year, and even later ; but such cases are 

 very rare; and if procreation occurs, the progeny is 

 feeble and senile. 



With rare exceptions, the function is suspended 

 during pregnancy, and usually, also, during the period 

 of nursing. 



Nature of Menstruation.— There has been a great 

 amount of speculation concerning the cause and nature 

 of the menstrual process. No entirely satisfactory con- 

 clusions have been reached, however, except that it is 

 usually accompanied by the maturation and expulsion 

 from the ovary of an ovum, which is termed ovulation. 

 But menstruation may occur without ovulation, and 

 vice versa. 



