Book 2
11
The fluor, then, is either of a red or white colour; its appearance indicates this. It is the red if it consist of bright red blood, and the varieties thereof; or livid, or black and thin, or thick and coagulated, like a thrombus; or white, like water; or a bright ochre colour, like bile: in thickness like a thinnish or thin and fetid ichor. The white flux (or fluor albus) is like pus, and the true form like white whey; but a clot of blood frequently runs off with the pus. But there is an infinite variety of forms of it, as regards more or less quantity. Its periods sometimes agree with those of the menstrual purgation, but it does not continue the regular time as before; there is not much blood, but it flows during many days; the interval is for a few days, but is quite free from discharge. Another variety as to the period: the first purgation is at the regular time, but it occurs two or three times during each month. Another variety: a continual flux; small, indeed, every day, but by no means small during the whole month; for the uterus never closes its mouth, labouring under relaxation, so as to permit the flow of the fluid: but if it neither intermits nor diminishes, they die of hemorrhage. The symptoms are, the woman’s colour in accordance with those of the discharge; sleepless, loathes food, anxious, relaxed, especially in the red flux, and subject to pains; the discharge fetid in both varieties, but to a greater and less extent at different times; for the white is worse if the putrefaction be unusually great; and sometimes the red, if the erosion be exacerbated. In a word, the black is the worst of all; the livid next; the pale, the white, and the purulent, are more protracted, indeed, but less dangerous. Of these the pale is worse indeed, but much better when mixed with the customary discharge. Now the customary discharge is red in all its varieties. But, indeed, the red are worse in old women; but the white are not at all so to the young; but even to them that which is customary is less troublesome. Another white fluor: the menstrual discharge white, acrid, and attended with an agreeable pruritus; along with which the discharge of a white thick fluid, like semen, is provoked. This species we call female gonorrhœa. It is a refrigeration of the womb, which therefore becomes incapable of retaining its fluids; hence, also, the blood changes to a white colour, for it has not the purple colour of fire. The stomach, also, is subject to the affection, and vomits phlegm; and also the bowels are similarly affected in diarrhœa.
