«82 DR. CHASE'S RECIPES. 



between the male and female with regard to bodily strength and vigor, yet she 

 certainly never meant, either that the one should be always without, or the 

 other always within doors. 



The confinement of women, besides hurting their figure and complexion, 

 relaxes their solids, weakens their minds, and disorders all the functions of the 

 body. Hence proceed obstructions, indigestion, flatulence, abortions, and the 

 Vrhole train of nervous disorders. These not only unfit women for being 

 oiothers and nurses, but often render them whimsical and ridiculous. A sound 

 mind depends so much upon a healthy body, that where the latter is wanting, 

 the former is rarely to be found. 



I have always observed that women who were chiefly employed without 

 doors, in the different branches of husbandry, gardening, and the like, were 

 almostashardyastheirhusbands, 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 these circumstances in 

 the structure and design of woman, which subject them to peculiar diseases; 

 the chief of which are their Monthly Evacuations, Pregnancy , and Child-hearing. 

 These indeed cannot properly be called diseases, but from the delicacy of the 

 sex, and their being often improjoerly managed in such situations, they become 

 the source of numerous calamities. 



MONTHLY TURNS OR MENSES.-First Signs of the Men- 

 strual Discharge. — Women generally begin to menstruate about the age of 

 fifteen, and leave it off about fifty, which renders these two periods the most 

 critical of their lives. About the first appearance of this discharge, the con- 

 stitution undergoes a very considerable change, generally indeed for the better, 

 though sometimes for the worse. The greatest care is now necessary, as the 

 future health and happiness of tlie woman depends, in a great measure, upon 

 her conduct at this period. It is the duty of mothers and those who are 

 entrusted with the education of girls, to instruct them early in the conduct and 

 management of themselves at this critical period in their lives. False modesty, 

 inattention, and ignorance of what is beneficial or hurtful at this time, are the 

 source of many diseases and misfortunes in life, which a few sensible lessons 

 from an experienced matron might have prevented. Nor is care less necessary 

 jn the subsequent returns of this discharge. Taking improper food, severe 

 aervous strain or catching cold at this period is often suflQcient to ruin the 

 health, or to render the woman ever after incapable of procreation. 



If a girl about this time of life be confined to the house, kept constantly 

 fitting, and neither allowed to romp about, nor employed in any active business, 

 which gives exercise to the whole body, 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 a valetudinary for life. Such is the fate 

 of numbers of those unhappy women, who, either from too much indulgence, 

 or their own narrow circumstances, are at this critical period, denied the benefit 

 of exercise and free air. 



A lazy, indolent disposition proves likewise very hurtful to girls at this 

 period One seldom meets with complaints from obstructions amongst the more 



