H^EMORRHAGIES. 293 



known from experience to be removed by the flowing of the 

 menses. 



DCCCCXCIX. These disorders are a sluggishness and 

 frequent sense of lassitude and debility, with various symptoms ; 

 of dyspepsia ; and sometimes with a preternatural appetite. At 

 the same time, the face loses its vivid colour, becomes pale, and 

 sometimes of a yellowish hue ; the whole body becomes pale and 

 flaccid ; and the feet, and perhaps also a great part of the body, 

 become affected with oedematous swelling. The breathing is 

 hurried by any quick or laborious motion of the body, and the 

 heart is liable to palpitation and syncope. A headach some- 

 times occurs ; but more certainly pains of the back, loins, and 

 haunches. 



M. These symptoms, when occurring in a high degree, con- 

 stitute the chlorosis of authors, hardly ever appearing separate 

 from the retention of the menses ; and, attending to these symp- 

 toms, the cause of this retention may, I think, be perceived. 



These symptoms manifestly show a considerable laxity and 

 flaccidity of the whole system ; and therefore give reason to con- 

 clude, that the retention of the menses accompanying them, is 

 owing to a weaker action of the vessels of the uterus ; which, 

 therefore, do not impel the blood into their extremities with a 

 force sufficient to open these, and pour out blood by them. 



MI. How it happens that at a certain period of life a flac- 

 cidity of the system arises in young women not originally affect- 

 ed with any such weakness or laxity, and of which, but a little 

 time before, they had given no indication, may be difficult to 

 explain ; but I would attempt it in this way. 



As a certain state of the ovaria in females prepares and dis- 

 poses them to the exercise of venery about the very period at 

 which the menses first appear, it is to be presumed, that the 

 state of the ovaria, and that of the uterine vessels, are in some 

 measure connected together ; and, as generally symptoms of a 

 change in the state of the former appear before those of the lat- 

 ter, it may be inferred, that the state of the ovaria has a great 

 share in exciting the action of the uterine vessels, and producing 

 the menstrual flux. But, analogous to what happens in the 

 male sex, it may be presumed, that, in females, a certain state 

 of the genitals is necessary to give tone and tension to the whole 



