THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 



All these facts show that the internal secretion of the 

 ovary has not an exclusive action on menstruation. 



2. ATTENUATION OF THE SECONDARY SEXUAL 

 CHARACTERISTICS The breasts atrophy, hairs appear in 

 abnormal places. The voice becomes manly. The sexual 

 appetite varies: it may be decreased, but it can persist 

 and even become exaggerated in certain women. 



3. TENDENCY TO OBESITY. Castration is often 

 followed by a rapidly progressive adiposity, in spite of 

 dietary restrictions. It starts from the abdomen and 

 spreads to the neck, thorax and limbs. 



V 4. VASO MOTOR AND NERVOUS DISTURBANCES. 

 They are quite frequent and are those which worry the 

 patient most. The waves of heat are the most annoying. 

 They come on suddenly, without any particular reason 

 either in the day or at night. Suddenly the patient feels 

 terribly warm in the face, the ears buzz, and the face 

 becomes congested. After four or five minutes the attack 

 ceases: the face becomes pale and the body is covered with 

 sweats. These attacks occur several times a day. They 

 are most pronounced at the time when the menses should 

 appear and may persist for several years after operation. 



They also often complain of pain: some have lumbar 

 pains, radiating in the legs; others have pelvic neuralgias. 

 Headaches and migraine are frequent, often persistent, 

 coming on in paroxysms. Some women complain of 

 palpitations, with pain and vertigo. These symptoms 

 are usually associated with a slight increase in blood 

 pressure, for arterio sclerosis often develops in women 

 after castration. 



Nervous disturbances may be varied: insomnia or 

 restless sleep, with nightmares, changes in the character: 

 irritability, tendency to sadness, neurasthenia, melan- 

 cholia. Physical and mental asthenia may sometimes be 



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