A few words, ere we pass to another branch of our subject, on the physical relations of her who by choice or other reasons never marries. It is a common observation among physicians who have devoted themselves to the study of woman's physical nature, that, in spite of those perils of maternity which we have taken no pains to conceal, the health of single women during the child-bearing period is, as a general rule, not better, not even so good, as that of their married sisters. Those insurance companies who take female risks, do not ask any higher premium for the married than the unmarried. Various suggestions have been made to account for this unexpected fact. Some writers have pointed out that in many diseases marriage exerts a decidedly curative influence, especially in chronic nervous ailments. Chorea, for instance, or St. Vitus's dance, as it is popularly termed, has been repeatedly cured by marriage. As a rule, painful menstruation, which always arises from some defect or disease of the ovaries or adjacent organs, is improved, and often completely removed, by the same act. There are, as is well known, a whole series of emotional disorders,--hysteria, and various kinds of mania and hallucination,--which are almost exclusively confined to single persons, and only occur in the married under exceptional circumstances. An instance has lately been detailed in the medical journals by a Prussian physician, of a case of undoubted hereditary insanity which was greatly benefited--indeed temporarily cured--by a fortunate nuptial relation. Few who have watched a large circle of lady acquaintances but will have observed that many of them increased in flesh and improved in health when they had been married some months. An English writer of distinction accounts for these favourable results in a peculiar manner. Success, he says, is always a tonic, and the best of tonics. Now, to women, marriage is a success. It is their aim in social life; and this accomplished, health and strength follow. We are not quite ready to subscribe to such a sweeping assertion, but no doubt it is applicable in a limited number of cases. Our own opinion is, that nature gave to each sex certain functions, and that the whole system is in better health when all parts and powers fulfil their destiny.