412 OF PUBERTY. 



to maturity till they are 1 4, and boys not before 

 16. 



It may be aiked, AVhy are the females, in all 

 climates, capable of procreating fooner than the 

 males ? The anfwer is eafy : The bodies of men 

 are larger and ftronger ; their bones are harder, 

 and their mufcles more compadt ; a longer time 

 is therefore necefl'ary for their growth. Befides, 

 as the growth of the body muft be nearly com- 

 plete before a fuperfluous quantity of organic 

 juices can be accumulated in the parts deftined 

 for generation, wonien, of courfe, muft arrive 

 at maturity fooner than men. 



In the warmeft climates of Afia, Africa, and 

 America, the age of puberty commences in girls 

 at ten, and fometimes at nine. The periodic dif- 

 charge, though lefs abundant in warm climates, 

 appears much fooner. The interval is nearly the 

 fame in all nations. With regard to time, a 

 greater diverfity takes place between individuals 

 than between nations. In the fame climate and 

 nation, {ome females fufter this evacuation every 

 15 days ; others have an interval of fix weeks : 

 But a month, or a few days more or lefs, is the 

 moft ufual period. 



The quantity evacuated feems to depend up- 

 on the quantity of nourifhment and of infenfible 

 perfpiration. The difcharge is greateft in fe- 

 males who eat largely and take I'ttle exercife : 

 It is leaft in warm countries, where the perfpi- 

 ration is more copious. The quantity of rhis 



difcharge 



