Menses

(měn'sèz.) [FromGr. mens is, a month.] (Med.) The san gui no us evacuation from the uterus, the monthly occurrence of which constitutes menstruation or monthly illne . In temperate climates, each period ordinarily continues from 3 to 6days; and the quantity lost varies from 4 to 8 ounces. The M. continue to flow from the period of puberty till the age of 45 to 50. At the term of its natural ce ation, the flux becomes irregular; and this irregularity is occasionally accompanied with symptoms of dropsy,glandular tumors, ., constituting what is called the critical time or turn or change of life; yet it does not appear that the mortality is increased by it. [s. 592]