HyEMORiniAGIES. 285 



in the extreme vessels of the uterus. " I would wish to have it 

 inculcated upon women, that this should sooner engage their at- 

 tention ; for I have reason to believe, from many cases which 

 have occurred to me, that it is one of the most frequent causes 

 of barrenness in married women, and independently of that, the 

 cause of a variety of other disorders. 11 



DCCCCLXXXI. When the coming on of the menstruation 

 lias been preceded by some disorder in other parts of the body, 

 and is accompanied with pains of the back, resembling partu- 

 rient pains, together with febrile symptoms, and when at the 

 same time the flow seems to be copious, then a bleeding at the 

 arm may be proper, but it is not often necessary ; and it will in 

 most cases be sufficient to employ, with great attention and dili- 

 gence, those means for moderating the discharge which have 

 been mentioned in the last paragraph. 



" It is very possible that venesection, as in the case of other 

 plethoric and haemorrhagic dispositions, may be sometimes use- 

 ful : but if you recollect what I said in general with respect to 

 the little effect which it has on topical affections, and how often 

 this disease does not depend on general plethora, but is purely 

 local, you will understand why venesection may be but little 

 efficacious : it is not possible to repeat it so often as might seem 

 necessary here, considering the frequent recurrence of the 

 disease, as it cannot be done without producing more mischief 

 by inducing general plethora." 



DCCCCLXXXII. When the immoderate flow of the men- 

 ses shall seem to be owing to a laxity of the vessels of the uterus, 

 as may be concluded from the general debility and laxity of the 

 person's habit; from the remote causes that have occasioned 

 the disease (DCCCCLXXVIIL); from the absence of the 

 symptoms which denote increased action in the vessels of the 

 uterus (DCCCCLXXL); from the frequent recurrence of 

 the disease ; and particularly from this, that in the intervals 

 of menstruation the person is liable to a leucorrhcea : then, in 

 such case, the disease is to be treated, not only by employing 

 all the means mentioned in DCCCCLXXX. for moderating 

 the haemorrhagy, but also by avoiding all irritation, every irri- 

 tation having the greater effect in proportion as the vessels have 

 been more lax and yielding. If, in such a case of laxity, it 



