_Apis mel._ is very servicable in suppressed menses of several days, or even weeks duration, where there is fever, redness of the face, and pain in the head, and pains in the hips extending to the limbs, especially if there is any tendency to bloating of the abdomen and swelling of the limbs or feet. It acts _promptly_ and _efficiently_.
If the suppression has been caused by sudden fright or any strong mental emotion, _Veratrum_ should be given in connection with the two former medicines. Should there be great fullness of the vessels of the head, or bleeding at the nose, _Bryonia_ with _Pulsatilla_ are to be used. _Bell._ is also useful in this case if the pain in the head is throbbing, especially if any delirium is present.
For suppression in young females, of several months duration, I have used, with much success, _Podophyllin_ and _Macrotin_, one at night, the other in the morning, giving them for two or three weeks before the proper time for a return, and a day or two prior to the time, give also _Pulsatilla_, and give the three in rotation, a dose every six hours.
This practice has been successful with me in cases of long standing and apparently obstinate character. Where there is other disease, as an affection of the liver, lungs or stomach, this must be treated and cured, or the menses will not probably return. Great care should be exercised to keep the patient's feet and limbs warm, as upon this may depend her future health.
For this disorder, I know of no one remedy so valuable as the _Caulophyllin_, but _Pulsatilla_ in many cases is efficacious, and as they do not prevent each other's action, I prescribe them in alternation, giving a dose every half hour, for a short time during the paroxysm, or until the pain abates to some extent, then every hour.
If there is pain in the head, sickness at the stomach, a kind of sick headache, as is often the case, with painful menstruation, _Macrotin_ should be used with the others; _Ipecac_ is the _Specific_ for an excessive flow of the menses with great pain, especially if the stomach is nauseated. It should be given as low as the first dilution, and the tincture, in water, in the proportion of thirty drops to half a pint, injected into the vagina quite warm.