Functional disorders of the uterus are very frequent in both un married and married females. The periodical and sauguineous effusion which passes off from the mucous membrane may he increased in quantity, or decreased, or changed. The amount of the catamenia varies in different women, and in the same woman at different periods of life, but occasionally the increase is so great as to produce fainting, and other symptoms of exhaustion. This is called menorrhagia. It sometimes comes on from over-exertion, on the abortion of the embryo, and all that is generally required is rest, and the same treatment as would be adopted in hannorrhage from other organs. Sometimes the discharge is produced by an inflamed or congested condition of the uterus. There is pain in the back, and a full quick pulse, and other symptoms of inflammatory action. In these cases an antiphlogistie regimen should be pursued, and active purgatives with other lowering medicines may be given. It often happens, however, that the meuor rhagia occurs in quite a different state of the system, and here quinine and sulphuric acid, or tannic or gallic acid, should be given.
The opposite state of this function is called amenorrhea.. The sup pression of the accustomed secretion may arise from various causes, and where any obvious impropriety can be detected of course this must be prevented. Amenorrhea comes on in opposite states of the system, but it is more frequently a symptom of general debility, and comes on as a symptom of most exhausting and debilitating diseases. Should
there be amenorrhea without any other pressing symptoms, aloetic purgatives combined with chalybeates and tonics will frequently be found all that is required. The removal of girls from the impure air of towns to the more invigorating atmosphere of the sea-side is a potent remedy in such cases.
Accompanying either of the before-mentioned affections, or without any increase or decrease of the catamenia, there is frequently great pain. This is called Dysmenorrhea. In these cases the general health should be attended to between the periods of attack, and opium judi ciously administered will be found the most valuable remedy in reliev ing the pain. This secretion is frequently lighter in colour, or presents other changed physical appearances, all of which indicate some general derangement, and such cases should be treated accordingly. The affections of the nervous system which may arise from disordered affec tions of the uterus are very numerous. Pain may he reflected from the uterus as the centre both upwards and downwards, and the parietes of the abdomen, the loins, and the thighs and legs, may be the seat of acute neuralgic pains. The nerves of motion may in like manner he affected, and convulsive movements or entire naralysis may he the result. Such affections retire when the local affection is removed, and all attempts at curing the secondary diseases will fail until the primary one is removed. [NERvous SYSTEM, in NAT. HIST. Div.; HYSTERIA.] WOOD. [Totnen.)