mplexity and
importance of the ganglionic nerves of the stomach, or the intermittent
character of digestion, convert the misfortune of the dyspeptic into a
physiological type for the race. At the most may it be admitted:

1st. That in civilized communities dyspepsia is a very common disease.

2d. That dyspeptics require rest of mind and body to facilitate the
laborious process of digestion.

_Caeteris paribus_, these same propositions may be held of those
suffering from abnormal modes of activity in another part of the
ganglionic system--that connected with menstruation. A third proposition
is, moreover, common to both, namely, that repose of the cerebro-spinal
system is not required throughout the entire period of ganglionic
activity, unless in exceptionally morbid cases. Thus, the process of
digestion occupies from three to five hours, but an hour's repose after
dinner is generally sufficient to avert discomfort. Similarly, the
process of ovulation continues over fifteen days--menstruation lasts
from three to six--but even in the cases that demand rest, six to twelve
hours is usually enough, and more than enough.

It is noticeable that a slighter disturbance of normal conditions is
needed to render digestion painful than to cause painful ovulation, that
is, pain preceding the menstrual flow. Pain in menstruation, which is
much more frequent, is dependent upon other conditions than the activity
of the ovaries, and lasts a very much shorter time than does either the
function of ovulation, or even than the uterine congestion secondary to
it. Outside of actual uterine disease, the pain at this moment is most
often dependent on uterine cramp, itself excited by a spasmodic
contraction of blood-vessels that interfere with its circulation. As
these remarks are addressed to non-medical readers, a word of
explanation is here necessary.

It has been shown by experiment that the sudden arrest of the
circulation in muscular fibre is sufficient to induce in the latter
violent contractions. Thus, the cramps of the legs in cholera patients
are due to the stagnation of blood in their muscles. These cramps are
even more easily induced in the muscular fibre of the viscera--the
unstriped, involuntary muscles--such as exist in the intestine, bladder,
and uterus. Anything that will cause a sudden contraction of the
blood-vessels in the uterus will, therefore, by cutting off the supply
of blood, cause the muscular fibre of the uterus t