in the neck of the matrix, which Aetius calls haemorrhoids of the womb.  In quantity, Hippocrates said, it should be about eighteen ounces, and they should last about three days:  and when the faculties of the body are weakened by their flow, we may take it that the discharge is inordinate.  In bodies which abound in gross humours, this immoderate flow sometimes unburdens nature of her load and ought not to be checked without a physician’s advice.

CAUSE.

The cause is either internal or external.  The internal cause is threefold; in the substance, the instrument or the power.  The matter, which is the blood, may be vitiated in two ways; first, by the heat of the constitution, climate or season, heating the blood, whereby the passages are dilated, and the power weakened so that it cannot retain the blood.  Secondly, by falls, blows, violent motions, rupture of the veins, etc.  The external cause may be the heat of the air, heavy burdens, unnatural childbirth, etc.

SIGNS.

In this excessive flow the appetite is lessened, conception is checked and all the functions weakened; the feet swell, the colour of the face changes, and the whole body is weakened.  If the flow comes from the rupture of a vein, the body is sometimes cold, the blood flows out in streams, suddenly, and causes great pain.  If it arises from heat, and the orifice of the vein is dilated, there is little or no pain, but yet the blood flows faster than it does when caused by erosion, but not so fast as it does in a rupture.  If caused by erosion, the woman feels a scalding of the passage, and it differs from the other two, in so much as it does not flow so quickly or so freely as they do.  If it is caused by weakness of the womb, the woman feels a dislike for sexual intercourse.  Lastly, if it proceeds from the defective quality of the blood let some of it drop into a cloth, and when it is dry, you may judge, of the quality by the colour.  If it be passionate it will be yellow; if melancholy, it will be black, and if phlegmatic, it will be waterish and whitish.

PROGNOSTICS.

If convulsions are joined to the flow, it is dangerous, because that intimates that the noble parts are affected, convulsions caused by emptiness are deadly.  If they continue long, they will be very difficult to cure, and it was one of the miracles which our Saviour Christ wrought, to cure a woman of this disease of twelve years standing.

To conclude, if the flow be excessive, many diseases will follow, which will be almost impossible to cure; the blood, being consumed together with the innate heat, either morbid, dropsical, or paralytical diseases will follow.

CURE.