This may occur in three forms. 1st. Where evacuation has never occurred, or retention of the menses. 2d. Where there has been no secretion. 3d. Suppression. There are cases where the secretion has been perfect, but the discharge prevented by occlusion of the vagina, or imperforate hymen, etc.; again, secretion may never have occurred, owing to a congenital deficiency of the ovaries; and there are cases where the uterus and ovaries are sound, yet no flow from the vagina. The most common variety, however, is suppression after they had once been regularly established. It may cease by degrees, as in consumptive and scrofulous patients, or occurs as the result of cold, which induces inflammation of the uterus or ovaries. It may also be induced by excessive venery, wet feet, ice water, insufficient clothing, bathing, fear, grief, anxiety, emetics, drastic purgatives, falls, copulation during flow, etc. The symptoms are weight, pain in the head, loins, and uterine regions, hot skin, apoplexy and epilepsy in some cases, vicarious hemorrhages, palpitation of the heart, constipation, chills, loss of appetite, etc.

TREATMENT. -- Give a hot foot-bath, if the suppression be recent, and apply hot mustard poultices to the breasts. Internally give tansy, thyme or wintergreen tea, keep the patient warm, and allow but gentle exercise. A compound decoction of seneca, cotton root, and Indian hemp is also very beneficial. In obstinate cases, a hot sitz-bath should be given during the operation of the medicine, so as to centre the blood in the pelvis. If this does not succeed, the system should be invigorated by quinine, blue cohosh, life root, wine, etc., and then the above treatment repeated. The chronic form of the disease should be treated by supporting and invigorating remedies, such as bayberry, black cohosh, sitz-baths, galvanism, tonics, etc.