DISEASES PECULIAR TO WOMEN 



CAUSES OF DISEASE AMONG WOMEN. - 

 The great prevalence of diseases peculiar to 

 the sex among American women, is a matter 

 of remark by medical authors. The women of Euro- 

 pean countries are far less subject to these maladies 

 than are American women, but yet they are more or less 

 prevalent among all civilized people. Among the prin- 

 cipal causes to which this state of things is attributable, 

 the following may be enumerated: 



1. Carelessness at Menstruation.— 'i:^eglect to care 

 properly for themselves at the menstrual period, either 

 through carelessness or ignorance of the consequences, 

 is probably one of the most common causes of uterine 

 or ovarian disorders. Neglects of this kind are most 

 likely to occur, and are most harmful, during the first 

 two or three years after the beginning of the men- 

 strual period. 



2. Sexual sins, in the form of self -abuse in the un- 

 married and excesses in the married, and prolonged 

 excitement from erotic thoughts in both classes, are 

 unmistakably a frequent cause of ovarian and uterine 

 diseases. 



3. Neglect of the Bowels.— Constipation is a preva- 

 lent disorder among women. It is sometimes the re- 

 sult of improper diet and sedentary habits, but is quite 

 as frequently the effect of neglecting to evacuate the 

 bowels at a regular hour each day, which is essential 

 to proper and regular action. Constipation gives ri^^a 



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