The average age at which "change of life" occurs in this country is about the forty-sixth year. It may normally occur, however, at any time between the fortieth and fiftieth year. There are cases on record when it has occurred earlier than the fortieth and later than the fiftieth year. When menstruation in a girl begins early, the menopause occurs late. On the other hand, if a girl does not have her regular monthly periods until she is older than usual,--about the eighteenth or twentieth year,--the "change of life" will set in at a very early age. Women who are victims of certain exhausting diseases, as, consumption, Bright's disease of the kidney, diabetes, or whose health is poor because of general physical debility from any cause, or who have had a large number of children in rapid succession, enter the "change of life" earlier than they otherwise would if their health was good. In women who are excessively fat the menopause is apt to occur at an early age. On the other hand disease of the generative organs, or the presence of tumors of the womb may retard the process. Women in the higher walk of life, those living in cities those who do not labor or exercise sufficiently will enter this period at an earlier date than those who live in the country, who work and are physically more healthy. SYMPTOMS OF "CHANGE OF LIFE."--When the menopause begins, the monthly periods are less profuse, the flow is scanty. As the months pass, menstruation becomes less and less until it ceases entirely. In a certain number of cases it stops abruptly and never appears again. Sometimes a period misses altogether, or a number of periods are passed over without any sign of menstruation, after which it may reappear either as a scanty flow, or as a profuse discharge. This may be followed for a number of months by irregular appearances of the menstrual phenomenon and then by its total cessation. These may be the only symptoms or signs of the "change of life," and this is the normal state if the health is good. It cannot, however, be said that this is the average experience. Unfortunately the women of the present time do not live lives which conduce to robust health at this period of life. We find as a rule that the general health is below par. So they suffer from headache, "flushes," digestive disturbances, and many nervous symptoms which appear to be directly caused by the process through which they are passing. The "flushes" are disagreeable experiences. They consist of a feeling of heat which spreads over the entire body as if the blood was rushing to the surface and to the head. These flushes are followed by sweating and chilly sensations. The nervous symptoms may be quite marked. The woman loses her interest in the daily happenings. She may have mental vagaries, she is irritable and often melancholy and periods of seeming insanity may occur.