II^MORRHAGIES. 289 



DCCCCXC. The effects of the leucorrhoea are much the 

 same with those of menorrhagia ; inducing a general debility, 

 and in particular a debility in the functions of the stomach. If, 

 however, the leucorrhoaa be moderate, and be not accompanied 

 with any considerable degree of menorrhagia, it may often con- 

 tinue long without inducing any great degree of debility ; and 

 it is only when the discharge has been very copious as well as 

 constant, that its effects in that way are very remarkable. 



DCCCCXCI. But even when its effects upon the whole bo- 

 dy are not very considerable, it may still be supposed to weaken 

 the genital system ; and it seems sufficiently probable that this 

 discharge may often have a share in occasioning barrenness. 



DCCCCXCII. The matter discharged in the leucorrhoea is 

 at first generally mild. But after some continuance of the dis- 

 ease, it sometimes becomes acrid ; and by irritating, or perhaps 

 eroding, the surfaces over which it passes, induces various pain- 

 ful disorders. 



DCCCCXCIII. As I have supposed that the leucorrhoea 

 proceeds from the same causes as that species of menorrhagia 

 which is chiefly owing to a laxity of the uterine vessels, it must 

 be treated, and the cure attempted, by the same means as de- 

 livered in DCCCCLXXXII. for the cure of menorrhagia, and 

 with less reserve in respect of the use of astringents. 



DCCCCXCIV. As the leucorrhoea generally depends 

 upon a great loss of tone in the vessels of the uterus, the 

 disease has been relieved, and sometimes cured, by certain 

 stimulating medicines, which are commonly determined to the 

 urinary passages, and from the vicinity of these are often com- 

 municated to the uterus. Such, for example, are cantharides, 

 turpentine, and other balsams of a similar nature. 



" It appears to be the analogy of gleet that has led practitioners 

 to employ the terebinthinate medicines in the fluor albus of 

 females ; I have frequently employed them, but seldom with 

 success ; and one hinderance has been, that few female stomachs 

 can be brought to bear the quantities of the medicine that might 

 be necessary. M.M. 



" The turpentine and other balsams are particularly deter- 

 mined to the urinary passages, and very often with a consider- 

 able irritation : I have known this irritation upon the neck of 



VOL. II. T 



