It seems that the apprehensions of this period of life have arisen mainly from the notions entertained of the final cause of the menses; namely, that it gives vent to peccant humours. But females should be made to know, that all this is purely the theory of the vulgar; as the menstrual blood is formed from the general mass; and, consequently, if that be pure, the other will be; therefore, the idea is altogether ill-founded. But unfortunately, whenever this discharge is less abundant than usual, the most serious fears are entertained, that there will be a retention of a portion, which will cause disease, either in the uterus itself, or in some other part of the body; hence, a diminished menstruous secretion is always more alarming to the female, than an unusual flow. But it may be well to remark, that there is a great difference between the cessation of this discharge, and the suppression of it. In the one instance, it is an event which nature has designed should take place, and is effected altogether by arrangements of the system itself; and, of course, one of its natural processes: in a word, as much so as its commencement; but the suppression, from some morbid agency, is in direct opposition to the intentions of nature, and will, of course, be followed by some baleful consequence, if it continue beyond a certain period. The vulgar error, that “women at this period of life are always in danger,” is replete with mischief to the suffering sex; and I feel it a duty to declare, that they are not necessarily more obnoxious to disease at this, than at any other period of their existence.[8] That they are sometimes liable to a disease at this time; and that disease one of the most terrible in the long list of human infirmities, I admit; but must, nevertheless, insist that _Cancer_ (the disease to which I allude, and the one so much dreaded) is more rare in the uterus than in certain other portions of the body; for instance, the mammæ; and, perhaps, I am within the truth, when I say, that there are three instances of the latter for one of the former. If latent dispositions to disease, either in the uterus or other parts, become active about this period of life, it is not because the declining menses excite them; but because the disease is slow in developing itself, and is, perhaps, kept in check for a long time, by the menstrual discharge serving as an important evacuation; especially when the uterus may be the seat of the complaint. In such instances, the foundation of the disease was laid, perhaps, at the time when the menses were the most perfect, as regards period and quantity; consequently, they could have had no agency in its production; but, on the contrary, from its frequently relieving the engorgement of the vessels, served to keep it in subjection for a long time; not as a specific discharge, but as a mere depletion; or, in other words, that if an equal quantity of blood could have been by any other means as