Who but an Almighty Hand could have created a being so complex, and a body so admirably adapted in every respect to his wants, as that of man? Every part of this great piece of God’s handiwork is most accurately fitted to its place, and every function is performed for some important end.

Menstruation and child-bearing are, as we have seen, intimately connected with each other. Suppose a woman could bear children at any period of her life she might choose, what a premature offspring would that be which she would bring forth in childhood, and what a feeble, decrepid one in old age.

But it is not so. Nature has set up bounds which all the art and ingenuity of the whole combined world cannot pass.

It was the benevolence of the Creator that formed her body in this way; for if it had been left to the choice of us poor erring mortals, women would bear children at those times when it would be very improper to do so. And this benevolence extends equally to both mother and child.

Menstruation commences, as we have seen, usually at the age of from fourteen to fifteen years.

AGE AT WHICH THE MENSES CEASE.

The age at which the menstrual function ceases is somewhat various. The average has been regarded in this country as being at about forty-four or forty-five years of age. It is, at least, so with the community at large. In seventy-seven cases quoted by Dr. Maunsel, of Dublin, the period was as follows:

1at the age of35years.
4„40„
1„42„
1„43„
3„44„
4„45„
3„47„
10„48„
7„49„
26„50„
2„51„
7„52„
2„53„
2„54„
1„57„
2„60„
1„70„

Dr. Guy gives a table showing the ages at which 443 persons ceased menstruating, 337 having been collected and communicated to him by Dr. James Reed, and 106 by himself. The table is as follows:

1at the age of34years.
3„35„
3„36„
4„37„
7„38„
11„39„
29„40„
13„41„
18„42„
4„43„
14„44„
35„45„
21„46„
30„47„
49„48„
30„49„
47„50„
10„51„
17„52„
11„53„
13„54„
7„55„
7„56„
3„57„
7„58„
0„59„
14„60„
4„61„
5„62„
6„63„
7„64„
2„65„
3„66„
2„67„
1„68„
5„69„