THE RHYTHMS OF SEX 153 



menstrual, with the precision of pistons moving in a motor, when 

 no interfering factor as disease, profound emotion or climate 

 disturbances are present, affecting the endocrines. 



The sequence of events appears to be about as follows: The 

 amount of post-pituitary secretion reaches a certain concentra- 

 tion. This in turn stimulates the thyroid and adrenal medulla. 

 They in turn activate the ovarian cells, which congest the uterine 

 glands and lining membrane. The follicle bursts, the ovum is 

 discharged and wanders, the uterus waits and wonders. Nothing 

 happens, the curtain is lowered, the scenery is removed, the 

 actors revert to civilian clothes. That is the story of menstrua- 

 tion, the central phenomenon of woman's pre-pregnancy life. 

 One sees it clearly as a play of an internal secretion syndicate. 



The Premenstrual Molimina 



The premenstrual molimina is the traditional title accorded 

 symptoms, sensations, feelings, observations of women in the 

 premenstrual phase. In the light of endocrine analysis, they 

 become exceedingly important indicators of the underlying consti- 

 tution of the individual concerned. Indeed, the premenstrual 

 period furnishes a direct clue to the dominating internal secretion 

 in a woman. Moreover, these premenstrual phenomena are the 

 shadows cast by coming events. For they mimic and prophesy 

 the events of the last crisis of feminine sex life, the cessation of 

 ovulation which goes by the name of menopause, gonadopause, 

 or change of sex life. The premenstrual phenomena provide a 

 positive film, so to speak, of the latent negative picture of the 

 endocrine system of the girl or woman. 



Thus, there is the sub-pituitary or pituitary insufficient type, 

 in whom the excessive swelling of the gland causes headache, 

 and a dull, heavy, tired feeling, a definite depression. Drowsi- 

 ness, sleepishness, indifference to surroundings, general sluggish- 

 ness of thought, feeling and reaction, a phlegmatic frilosity, all 

 go with it. It is due to an overweighing of the pituitary, con- 

 troller of good brain tone, and alive wakefulness, by the demands 

 of the organism. 



On the other hand, the hyperthyroid type of woman re- 

 acts with an exaggeration of her tendency. When the posterior 

 pituitary begins to secrete more in her its stimulation of the 

 thyroid is enough to tip it over the normal line. Such a woman 

 in the premenstrual phase becomes irritable and restless, 



