Many females do themselves much harm by taking what they call opening medicines, the action of which is often more injurious than the constipation itself. All drastic purgatives, such as aloes, gamboge, colocynth, and jalap should be carefully avoided, as they not only make the costiveness worse after their action is over, but they also frequently produce inflammation, and even abortion, by the violent straining they cause. The best medicines, when they are really needed, are manna, seidlitz powders, or castor oil. Enemas are better however, as a general rule, such as those of thin starch, or molasses and water, to which may be added a little castor oil. The grand aim should be, in all such cases, to stimulate the bowels to an increased action without medicines, by a properly regulated diet! Salads may be eaten when they do not cause derangement of the stomach, and ripe or stewed fruits, particularly figs, dates and prunes. Soups are also good, except they contain rice, or vermicelli, or maccaroni. Bran bread should be eaten regularly, and not white. The only meats should be veal or poultry. As a drink lemonade is excellent, with a little cream of tartar, or tamarind tea, or barley water sweetened with honey. With some patients a cup of coffee, or a glass of beer will always relieve the bowels, especially if a glass of water is also drank after it. I have known persons neglect the bowels so long that they have become completely impacted, by the hard fæces, and could be relieved only by instruments. It is very important to attend to this affection in time, and to persevere with the means of permanent relief regularly. DYSENTERY AND DIARRHŒA. It is frequently the case that pregnant females, instead of being constipated are afflicted with severe diarrhœa. This may arise from inflammation, and is then attended by fever, and extreme tenderness and soreness of the bowels. Most usually however it is entirely nervous, and arises from the sympathetic irritation of the womb. There is then no tenderness or soreness, no fever, no derangements of the appetite, nor in fact any other symptom of any consequence. If it remains long unchecked blood will be discharged, from the extreme irritation of the intestines, and it is then called dysentery. This is nearly always accompanied by fever and general irritation. Sometimes there will be a constant and painful desire felt to move the bowels, but with little power to do so, and at the same time a burning heat and unpleasant sensation at the fundus. This is called _tenesmus_, and the straining from it has frequently produced abortion.