Dr. Guy, of London, gives a table of the ages at which menstruation commenced of 5,062 cases, 2,905 being of England, 1,825 of France, 332 of Germany; the total numbers being as follow:
| 1 | first menstruat. at | 5 | years |
| 1 | „ | 7 | „ |
| 2 | „ | 8 | „ |
| 15 | „ | 9 | „ |
| 48 | „ | 10 | „ |
| 263 | „ | 11 | „ |
| 368 | „ | 12 | „ |
| 554 | „ | 13 | „ |
| 839 | „ | 14 | „ |
| 926 | „ | 15 | „ |
| 751 | „ | 16 | „ |
| 574 | „ | 17 | „ |
| 379 | „ | 18 | „ |
| 173 | „ | 19 | „ |
| 111 | „ | 20 | „ |
| 29 | „ | 21 | „ |
| 14 | „ | 22 | „ |
| 10 | „ | 23 | „ |
| 4 | „ | 24 | „ |
There is one topic connected with this subject which I cannot here enlarge upon, but which I will simply refer to by quoting the remarks of a certain author who has given much attention to the subject.
Dr. Ray, author of a work on the “Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity,” observes, “that the evolution of the sexual functions is very often attended by more or less constitutional disturbance, especially in the female sex, is now a well-established physiological truth. The shock seems to be felt chiefly by the nervous system, which experiences almost every form of irritation, varying in severity from the slightest hysteric symptoms to tetanus, St. Vitus’ dance, and epilepsy.” “And when we bear in mind, also, that general mania is sometimes produced by this great physiological change,” continues this author, “it cannot be deemed an extraordinary fact that partial mania, that partial acts, inciting to acts of incendiarism or murder, should be one of its effects.”
LETTER III.
OF MENSTRUATION.
The Menses—Names—Source—Commencement—Periodicity—Nature—Quantity of the Menstrual Discharge.
In my last letter, speaking of the menstrual discharge in females, I omitted to mention the several names and expressions by which the function is known. Those by which it is more commonly designated are “menses” (meaning a month), monthlies, monthly discharge, show, being regular, regular discharge, flowers, turns, monthly turns, regular periods, monthly periods, courses, monthly courses, catamenia, catamenial discharge, etc. We read in the Bible that Rachel said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee, for the custom of women is upon me.” And we also read of Sarah, that a son was promised to her when “she was old and well stricken in age, and when it had ceased to be with her after the manner of women.”
Menstruation, then, commences at puberty and ceases with fecundity, and generally during the period of giving suck. As a general fact, women who experience no menstruation can never bear children.
COMMENCEMENT OF THE MENSTRUAL DISCHARGE.
This is usually preceded by more or less disturbance of the general system. There may be a general excitement or a depression, or the two in alternation. There is often experienced a sense of weight in the loins, accompanied sometimes by a feeling of tension in the epigastrium, or pit of the stomach, with pain in different parts of the body. There is also general uneasiness, lassitude of the body, and irritableness of the temper and feelings. With these symptoms, a mucous discharge, more or less yellow, takes place. This, after a time, becomes streaked with blood; yet many experience no particular symptoms at this time, and such, doubtless, would generally be the case were the laws of life and health habitually obeyed. In general, menstruation does not become regular until after some months have elapsed from its commencement.