Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)
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![quantity of their menses ; so it is not every inequality in these respects that is to be considered as a disease ; but only those deviations, which are excessive in degree, which are permanent, and which induce a manifest state of debility. 969.] The circumstances (967. 968.) are those which chiefly constitute the menorrhagia : but it is proper to ob- serve, that although I allow the frequency, duration, and quantity of the menses to be judged of by what is usual with the same individual at other times; yet there is, in these particulars, so much uniformity observable in the whole of the sex, that in any individual in whom there oc- curs a considerable deviation from the common measure, such a deviation if constantly recurring, may be consider- ed as at least approaching to a morbid state, and as requiring most of the precautions which I shall hereafter mention as necessary to be attended to by those who arc actually in such a state. 970.] However we may determine with respect to the circumstances (967. 968.) it must still be allowed, that the immoderate How of the menses is especially to be determined by those symptoms affecting other functions of the body, which accompany and follow the discharge. When a larger flow than usual of the menses has been preceded by headach, giddiness, or despncea, and has been ushered in by a cold stage, and is attended with much pain of the back and loins, with a frequent pulse, heat, and thirst, it may then be considered as preternaturally large. 971.] When, in consequence of the circumstances (967— 970.) and the repetition of these, the face becomes pale ; the pulse grows weak : an unusual debility is felt in exercise; the breathing is hurried by moderate exercise ; when, also, the back becomes pained from any continuance in an erect posture ; when the extremities become frequently cold ; and when in the evening the feet appear affected with cedematous swelling ; we may from these symptoms certainly conclude, that the flow of the menses has been immoderate, and has already induced a dangerous state of debility. 972.] The debility thus induced does often discover it- self also by affections of the stomach, as anorexia and other symptoms of dyspepsia ; by a palpitation of the heart, and frequent faintings; by a weakness of mind liable to strong emotions from slight causes, especially when sud- denlv presented. 973.] That flow of the menses, which is attended with](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21112290_0010.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
