The age at which it occurs often differs with climate, race and according to Kisch, social relations, who claims, that the sexual function is “generally abolished earlier in the laboring classes, who are compelled to work hard and have many cares,” and further states that a vigorous vitality causes prolongation of the menstrual process. In the average woman it does not cease at once, but has two or three periods of cessation, returns again for an irregular period and continues in this irregularity for the entire time of two and one-half to three years. It is important to know that the changes which are going on in the organs of the woman are exactly opposite from those which occur at puberty. At puberty the organs are increasing with life, vigor, and vitality, while at the Menopause they are receding or going backward. The generative organs gradually but surely shrink or atrophy after menstruation stops. The uterus becomes small. The vagina, whose walls were formerly corrugated or wrinkled, now become smooth. The orifice or opening of the vagina, becomes shrunken, unless it has been previously enlarged by child-bearing. The whole process tends to show that the child-bearing period is at an end, which in fact has caused much mental anxiety and disturbance among women to the extent of melancholy and insanity. It seems a very small things to give to every woman, going through this disagreeable period of life—a complete change of climate and rest, until the change has become established. Certainly she has served society to the best of her knowledge, often “entering into the valley of the shadow of death”; many times fearlessly, to give the best of herself to the race. It is a small thing to give in return. Tilt believes that unmarried women suffer less at this period than married women, and says: “As at puberty, from the ignorance in which it is still thought right to leave young women, so at the change of life, women often suffer from ignorance of what may occur, or from exaggerated notions of the perils which await them.” All that is needed is to keep guard on one's self—watch the diet and bowels. A light vegetable diet seems best at this time unless very actively engaged in physical exercise, then meat once a day. Keep free from foods difficult to digest, cheese, fried foods, hot bread, etc., drink plenty of water and eat fruit to keep the bowels open; slight exercise in the open air, rest, sleep and freedom from mental anxiety are the simple rules which are generally prescribed for women at this time. Tilt says: “The best way to avoid the danger of this critical time is to meet its approach with a healthy constitution.” And again says, “All complaints remain chronic because there is not stamina enough to carry them through their stages.”