PART II.

CHIEFLY PHYSIOLOGICAL.

She girdeth her loins with strength. Solomon.

Before describing the special forms of ill that exist among our American, certainly among our IS'ew-England girls and women, and that are often caused and fostered by our methods of education and social customs, it is important to refer in considerable detail to a few physiological matters. Physiology serves to disclose the cause, and explain the modus operandi , of these ills, and offers the only rational clew to their prevention and re­lief. The order in which the physiological data are presented that bear upon this dis­cussion is not essential; their relation to the subject matter of it will be obvious as we proceed.

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