necessary to conception and does not occur in a period of pregnancy. Derangement of menstruation is, therefore, in all cases, of grave importance, as it relates to one of the most important duties of mankind. Deranged menstruation is also a source of manifold maladies, hysteria, dyspepsia, sick-headache, backache, weakness, colics, insanity, convulsions.
Could a mother, then, he indifferent to the estahlishment of this function in her daughter? Should she not be solic- itous that it should continue with regularity and nor- mality? Could pretended modesty excuse her from attend- ing to this function of which her daughter is entirely ignorant? Would her daughter thank her, when, in later days, she finds that her own instructed ignorance has led her into fatal errors?
As soon as this process commences in the girl, her mother should make her acquainted with its necessities and its dangers. Let her understand its purpose; how it can be preserved, regulated, and made conducive to health; and how easily deranged, and allowed to bring dangerous maladies upon her, — and she will not be long in comprehending its full meaning and importance. It will not be difficult, then, to induce her to avoid the excesses and the exposures that will imperil her welfare for life.
Menstruation is sometimes tardy in its first appearance. Before interfering, however, it is necessary to observe if the girl is sufficiently developed to menstruate. This change, or puberty, is always accompanied by a development of the organs that are in close sympathy with the womb. The breasts should have become larger, the hips wider, the form fuller, before this function is established: as long as they are undeveloped, it would be useless, and even dangerous, to attempt to establish menstruation by
