(seq. 609)

602

Materia Medica

Emmenagogues

much in appearance the decidua was discharged with the
entire relief of the patient who has continued to menstruate
regularly ever since. Another case also occurred in the Alms
House, I gave the medicine and with the same happy effect.
Amenorrhagia is most certainly a concomitant of Mania in
females, which must be removed before the disease can be cured
and will seldom fail, in fact there is scarcely a disease among
females which is not directly or indirectly connected with the uterus.
We often see Amenorrhagia producing Phthisis Pulmonalis and
it has been my constant practice when called to a female patient
to say "have you menstruated regularly". The uterus next to
the stomach affects the general system more than any other organ
and it was from a knowledge of this fact that the celebrated
Van Helmont was induced to say "Propter solum uterum mulier
est id quod est". From all the circumstances it appears to me that
the Seneka may do good in all affections of the uterus particularly
also where this preternatural membrane exists, which I assert to
be a true production of the exhalent arteries, where it is necessary to
produce a specific action upon that organ. Sneka is next to
the Mercurials in promoting secretion, but I contend for a specific