IRREGULAR MENSTRUATION.--Menstruation may occur once (the first time) and fail to recur the following month or for a number of months. This need cause no alarm as long as the general health remains good. It will come again in its own time. Nervousness may cause a suspension of menstruation. This is quite common in school girls who are driven too hard at school, whose sleep is interfered with, whose appetite is poor and who are allowed too many social indiscretions, as parties, dances, etc., where late hours are observed, all of which should be put aside until school life is over. Sometimes menstruation will temporarily stop if the girl goes away from home on a visit. Sometimes the quantity will be greater than at other times, and a very scant flow, after it has been free and regular may cause apprehension. Various causes may be responsible for a decrease, catching cold, sitting on cold steps or cold ground, wearing damp clothes, nervousness, mental worry, physical exhaustion, insufficient food and exercise, and anemia, may cause it. For these reasons a girl should be exceedingly careful of her health, she should guard against catching cold. Do not change the underwear until certain that the weather is far enough advanced in season to justify such a change. She should not become exhausted or worry. In all cases of suppression, or of increased flow, a physician should be consulted at once, and girls should be instructed to tell their mothers of any change in the character of the "periods," as soon as it occurs. Mothers should instruct their daughters to rest the first day of their monthly flow, and all during the menstruation they should refrain from any unusual activity. Even play should be moderated and abstained from entirely if there is any pain. In order that the girl fully appreciates why these rules are laid down, it is advisable to explain just how the womb is held in place in her body. This appears to the writer as being a particular important point. A girl must not be expected to give these matters the serious consideration they merit unless she thoroughly understands the reasons why. An explanation, in the form of even an intelligent talk, will soon be forgotten. If, however, a definite, concrete picture, is impressed upon her; if she actually sees in her mind the process that is going on, she will understand why it is necessary to do as she is told. If the mother will therefore assure herself that the daughter actually knows what is being accomplished in her womb at the menstrual period, she will carry out the instructions more faithfully.