discharge of a fluid, known as menses or catamenia. Menstruation, in

general good health, should occur about every twenty-eight days, or

once in four weeks. This rule, however, is subject to great variation.

Menstruation continues from puberty to about the forty-fifth year,

which usually marks the _menopause_, or "change of life." When it

disappears a woman is no longer capable of bearing children. Her

period of fertility has passed. In rare cases menstruation has stopped

at 35, or lasted till 60.

HINTS FOR OBSERVANCE DURING MENSTRUATION

When the period arrives a girl or woman has a feeling of discomfort

and lassitude, there is a sense of weight, and a disclination for

society. Menstruation should not, however, be regarded as a nuisance;

a girl's friends respect her most when she is "unwell." She should

keep more than usually quiet while the flow continues, which it will

do for a few days. Also, she should avoid all unnecessary fatigue,

exposure to wet or to extremes of temperature. Some girls are guilty

of the crime of trying to arrest the menstruation flow, and resorting

to methods of stopping it. Why? In order to attend a dance or pleasure

excursion! Lives have been lost by thus suppressing the monthly flux.

Mothers should instruct their daughters when the menses are apt to

begin, and what their function is. During menstruation great care must

be taken in using water internally. A chill is sufficient to arrest

the flow. If menstruation does not establish itself in a healthy or

normal manner at the proper time, consult a physician in order to

remove this abnormal condition. Any disturbance of the delicate

menstrual functions during the period, by constrained positions,

muscular effort, brain work and mental or physical excitement, is apt

to have serious consequences.

CONTINENCE AND THE YOUNG ADOLESCENT GIRL

Continence is, as a rule more easily observed by the adolescent girl

than by the adolescent youth. Ordinarily the normal young girl has no

_undue_ sexual propensities, amorous thoughts or feelings. Though she

is exposed to the danger of meeting other girls who may be lewd in

thought and speech, in the houses of friends or at school, she is not

apt to be carried away by their example. Yet even a good, pure-minded

young girl may be debauched. Especially during adolescence, the easy

observance of natural continence depends greatly on the proper

functioning of the feminine genital organs. These may be easily




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