THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM 227 



the high blood pressure, the angina, certain atheromata 

 appearing at the menopause, are probably due to a hyper- 

 secretion of the adrenals secondary to an ovarian hypo- 

 function. 5 



II. DISTURBANCES OF THE NORMAL MENOPAUSE. 

 CRITICAL AGE SYNDROME. 



They are the same symptoms but attenuated, of post 

 operative menopause. Some women have their menses 

 late, then suppressed without the slightest disturbance. 

 Some only have a tendency, after the disappearance of the 

 menses, to become obese. The fat invades the whole 

 body or may localize in the neighborhood of the genitalia: 

 hips, buttocks, upper part of thigh and abdomen, while 

 the arms and legs keep their shape. 



Not so commonly, the sexual characteristics of the 

 woman disappear; they become virile; the features become 

 masculine; hairs appear on the upper lip and chin; the 

 voice becomes deeper; the disposition changes. 6 



In other women, a series of disturbances occur: 



Migraine appears in place of the menses accompanied 

 by palpitations, waves of heat, insomnia, difficult digestion. 



Vertigo and pains; pseudo angina, or true angina for 

 the menopause may be accompanied by atheromata or 

 arterio sclerosis. 



5 A number of experiments have proven that the various stages of the genital life 

 of the woman are under the control of several glands of internal secretion. According 

 to Gautier the menstrual blood differs from the normal in that it contains a large 

 quantity of arsenic. Normally this substance accumulates in the thyroid and takes 

 some part in the development of hair and of menstruation. At puberty arsenic in 

 man localizes in the sebacious glands and causes the development of the beard and 

 hairs, so that this in man is the equivalent to menstruation. During pregnancy, due 

 to the suppression of the menses the arsenic accumulates in the thyroid which increases 

 in size and in the skin which becomes abnormally pigmented. 



fi These phenomena resemble those observed in animals. The feathers of certain 

 old females become more brilliant and look more like those of the male. Old hens which 

 do not lay any eggs have spurs on their legs similar to those of the roosters. 



