OF PUBERTY. 413 



difcharge has been varloufly efllmated. It is, 

 indeed, difficult to make an accurate meafure. In 

 different fubjeds, and different circumftances, it 

 varies from one or two ounces to a pound, and 

 even more. It generally continues to flow three, 

 four, or five days ; but fometimes it remains for 

 fix, feven, and even eight days. The caufe of 

 this difcharge is generally afcribed to a fuperflui- 

 ty of bloody and nutritious juices. The fymptoms 

 v/hich precede it are certain indications of a 

 plethora, as heat, tenfion, fweiling, and the 

 pains felt not only in the parts themfelves, and r 

 their environs, but in the mammae, which alfo 

 fwell, and difcovcr a fuperabundancc of blood 

 by the colour of the areolae becoming then more 

 deep : The eyes like wife are heavy, and the fkin 

 below the orbits takes on a faint blue or a violet 

 colour : The cheeks glow ; the head is heavy 

 and affcded with pain ; and, in a word, the 

 whole body is opprefled with a furcharge of 

 blood. 



The growth of the body, in length, generally 

 terminates at the age of puberty. Before this 

 period, young people commonly flioot up feveral 

 inches in a very fhort time. But the cjuicknefs 

 of growth is moft remarkable in the parts of ge- 

 neration of both fexes. In males, this growth 

 is only an augmentation in fize: But, in females, 

 it often produces a fhrinking of feme of the 

 parts, which has received different appellations 



from 



