August
1895.]
PINTO ON
MENSTRUATION.
establishment. She is Kept cnere JLUI il jjciiuu of three months, and is returned to her mother with thanks?as a rule he is not allowed then to see her for a year, and during this time either he or she ma}7 change to another. This is continued for several years until the birth of the first child which is the only permanent bond of union. Although these girls attain their size early they do not menstruate until the age of 19 to 20> If we turn to lower animals, we find similar influence of climate and food on rut. In cold and temperate regions cats are in rut towards the end of January or February, but the same animals carried to Central America, some centuries ago, where the yearly mean temperature is much the The same, have no particular period for rut.f same is noticed in the canine species of
irigiital ?ommunii;atiomi. ON
289
MENSTRUATION.
By Dr. Viriato j. rimo,
Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Medicine in the MedicoGhirurgical School of Nova-Goa, I have read the elaborate paper on the supposed influence of precocious knowledge and sexual excitement on menstruation in tropical climates published in your Journal of April last. As the subject is very important, allow me to publish my personal clinical observations and those of others bearing on this point with the only view of elucidating it. I do not doubt that sexual excitement may thing help other agents to cause early menstruation, England and Australia.! but I do think that it is not the chief cause of it. Hot climate exerts some influence even on the frequency of rut as is observed in the large In this country (Goa) native Catholics form the greater part of its population. The girls Indian and African mammalia.? here are brought up on strict moral principles The influence of food in increasing the proinstilled by parents and priests. Most of them creative power of domesticated animals is seen lead almost a monastic life, doing their work ac- in dogs, asses, &c.|j Dr. Playfair, whose midwifery is well known cording to their position. Notwithstanding a very large proportion of them menstruate between to the medical world and whose opinion on this 12 and 13? years of age and are married after subject is very weighty,"reproduces in the latest puberty. The girls of the better classes have less editions what was said by Milne Edwards most authors basing on exceptional cases have restraint, but they also are carefully looked after. The cases of very early menstruation, viz., considerably exaggerated the differences (menat 9 months, 2 years and 7 years registered by strual), but a tendency to precocity in hot : Lenhossek, d'Outremont and others took place climates is a verified fact."1f I think some light will be thrown on the late menstruation in mostly in hot, and those of cold climates. In all the above cases we do not question if we turn our attention to the theoritical aspect of menstruation ; but setting aside sexual excitement. see the influence of the menstrual all which at theories, all agree that menstruation or ovuperiod The average age begins in different parts of Europe varies ac- lation always takes place at puberty. Life in the In France it takes place tropics being comparatively shorter, its periods? cording to the climate. at 13; in Poland, north of Germany, and Sweden puberty and maternity?must begin earlier, between 15 and 1G ; in Norway at 17* ; in Lap- therefore both menstruation and nubile age ought land at 18 (Racibosky). Joulin dividing the to be earlier. The difference in the expectation earth in 3 zones,?the hot extending to 33?, the of life in India and in England is in accordance the cold to the poles,? with these facts. Menstruation and ovulation temperate to 52? and found that menstruation in those zones began being an external manifestation of puberty, at the ages of 12, 15, and 16 respectively, and whatever accelerates the former must hasten the that ?1? corresponded to a delay of about 55 latter; if not, the sanguineous flow cannot be 25? the catamenial period called a physiological menstruation, but a pathodays, so that at + 12 establishes at years 9 months and 14 days, logical hemorrhage?a disease. If sexual excite-5 16 at 0? at and years 7 months 17 days, educa- ment hastens menstruation, it must also hasten tion and diet having some influence.* * But the influence of social habits is totally The New York Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, invalidated and that of climate corroborated by March 1894, Vol. IV. f Roulin Remarques sur quelques changemeuts observes the medical observations made by"Dr. Friederick dans les animaux domestique transporte de l'ancieiTdans le The soon the Esquimaux.-fA. Cook among girls nouvean continent. Annales des Sciences Nat., 1829, Vol.! after birth are betrothed to certain worthy }'oung XIV, p. 29. / J Cuvier, Histoire naturelle des mammiferes. Perron men and arrive at a marriageable age at 12 to 34. Vol. aux terres II, p. Autrales, Voyages 14 years. The young man comes to the house ? Corse on the Manner, Habits and Natural History of of the intended bride and gains permission from Elephants. II Propagation. Par Duvenay. Diet. Univers, d'histoir& the parents to take his girl-wife to his own Naturelle, Vol. X. T[ LeCons, Sur le jj/iysiologie et Vanatomic comjiaree * Precis d'h omnia et des animaux, 1870, Vol. IX, p. 93. d'obstetrique. Par A. Ribemont. f Dessaignes et G. Lapage, 1894. 37 ?
"
'
...
,
,
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
290
pubert}7, a supposition not yet proved ; but even granting that it does, it cannot but do so solely by overtaxing the nervous system which is a fruitful cause of neurasthenia; such cases happily are not common
in hot climates.
development of plants affords another example of the influence of climate. The tardy menstruation of European girls in India is duo to their hereditary tendency (and to The
some sure
extent to their habits and food), which is to be overcome by a long continued resi-
dence of several generations in hot climates, as is the case with the lower animals above referred to, and with the Eurasians who chiefly by intermarriage and partly by residence have lost their original propensity, and at present stand in this respect midway between their European and Indian sisters. In conclusion, the influence of social habits does not appear to have much effect on menstruation, or at least not greater than that exerted by climate and food of a stimulating nature to which other minor causes may be added.
[Aogust
1895.
1895.]
PINTO ON
MENSTRUATION.
establishment. She is Kept cnere JLUI il jjciiuu of three months, and is returned to her mother with thanks?as a rule he is not allowed then to see her for a year, and during this time either he or she ma}7 change to another. This is continued for several years until the birth of the first child which is the only permanent bond of union. Although these girls attain their size early they do not menstruate until the age of 19 to 20> If we turn to lower animals, we find similar influence of climate and food on rut. In cold and temperate regions cats are in rut towards the end of January or February, but the same animals carried to Central America, some centuries ago, where the yearly mean temperature is much the The same, have no particular period for rut.f same is noticed in the canine species of
irigiital ?ommunii;atiomi. ON
289
MENSTRUATION.
By Dr. Viriato j. rimo,
Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Medicine in the MedicoGhirurgical School of Nova-Goa, I have read the elaborate paper on the supposed influence of precocious knowledge and sexual excitement on menstruation in tropical climates published in your Journal of April last. As the subject is very important, allow me to publish my personal clinical observations and those of others bearing on this point with the only view of elucidating it. I do not doubt that sexual excitement may thing help other agents to cause early menstruation, England and Australia.! but I do think that it is not the chief cause of it. Hot climate exerts some influence even on the frequency of rut as is observed in the large In this country (Goa) native Catholics form the greater part of its population. The girls Indian and African mammalia.? here are brought up on strict moral principles The influence of food in increasing the proinstilled by parents and priests. Most of them creative power of domesticated animals is seen lead almost a monastic life, doing their work ac- in dogs, asses, &c.|j Dr. Playfair, whose midwifery is well known cording to their position. Notwithstanding a very large proportion of them menstruate between to the medical world and whose opinion on this 12 and 13? years of age and are married after subject is very weighty,"reproduces in the latest puberty. The girls of the better classes have less editions what was said by Milne Edwards most authors basing on exceptional cases have restraint, but they also are carefully looked after. The cases of very early menstruation, viz., considerably exaggerated the differences (menat 9 months, 2 years and 7 years registered by strual), but a tendency to precocity in hot : Lenhossek, d'Outremont and others took place climates is a verified fact."1f I think some light will be thrown on the late menstruation in mostly in hot, and those of cold climates. In all the above cases we do not question if we turn our attention to the theoritical aspect of menstruation ; but setting aside sexual excitement. see the influence of the menstrual all which at theories, all agree that menstruation or ovuperiod The average age begins in different parts of Europe varies ac- lation always takes place at puberty. Life in the In France it takes place tropics being comparatively shorter, its periods? cording to the climate. at 13; in Poland, north of Germany, and Sweden puberty and maternity?must begin earlier, between 15 and 1G ; in Norway at 17* ; in Lap- therefore both menstruation and nubile age ought land at 18 (Racibosky). Joulin dividing the to be earlier. The difference in the expectation earth in 3 zones,?the hot extending to 33?, the of life in India and in England is in accordance the cold to the poles,? with these facts. Menstruation and ovulation temperate to 52? and found that menstruation in those zones began being an external manifestation of puberty, at the ages of 12, 15, and 16 respectively, and whatever accelerates the former must hasten the that ?1? corresponded to a delay of about 55 latter; if not, the sanguineous flow cannot be 25? the catamenial period called a physiological menstruation, but a pathodays, so that at + 12 establishes at years 9 months and 14 days, logical hemorrhage?a disease. If sexual excite-5 16 at 0? at and years 7 months 17 days, educa- ment hastens menstruation, it must also hasten tion and diet having some influence.* * But the influence of social habits is totally The New York Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, invalidated and that of climate corroborated by March 1894, Vol. IV. f Roulin Remarques sur quelques changemeuts observes the medical observations made by"Dr. Friederick dans les animaux domestique transporte de l'ancieiTdans le The soon the Esquimaux.-fA. Cook among girls nouvean continent. Annales des Sciences Nat., 1829, Vol.! after birth are betrothed to certain worthy }'oung XIV, p. 29. / J Cuvier, Histoire naturelle des mammiferes. Perron men and arrive at a marriageable age at 12 to 34. Vol. aux terres II, p. Autrales, Voyages 14 years. The young man comes to the house ? Corse on the Manner, Habits and Natural History of of the intended bride and gains permission from Elephants. II Propagation. Par Duvenay. Diet. Univers, d'histoir& the parents to take his girl-wife to his own Naturelle, Vol. X. T[ LeCons, Sur le jj/iysiologie et Vanatomic comjiaree * Precis d'h omnia et des animaux, 1870, Vol. IX, p. 93. d'obstetrique. Par A. Ribemont. f Dessaignes et G. Lapage, 1894. 37 ?
"
'
...
,
,
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
290
pubert}7, a supposition not yet proved ; but even granting that it does, it cannot but do so solely by overtaxing the nervous system which is a fruitful cause of neurasthenia; such cases happily are not common
in hot climates.
development of plants affords another example of the influence of climate. The tardy menstruation of European girls in India is duo to their hereditary tendency (and to The
some sure
extent to their habits and food), which is to be overcome by a long continued resi-
dence of several generations in hot climates, as is the case with the lower animals above referred to, and with the Eurasians who chiefly by intermarriage and partly by residence have lost their original propensity, and at present stand in this respect midway between their European and Indian sisters. In conclusion, the influence of social habits does not appear to have much effect on menstruation, or at least not greater than that exerted by climate and food of a stimulating nature to which other minor causes may be added.
[Aogust
1895.
