Our ideas as to cause, symptomatology, and management of the menopause have a more solid foundation than those concerning amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, or functional bleeding. One must emphasize, however, that any discussion of the management of the menopause requires at least a fundamental knowledge of psychosomatics, for this phase of a woman's life is markedly infiltrated and confused by symptoms and ideas that have no organic foundation. The lay expression "change of life" in itself suggests a radical transformation in a woman and is probably instrumental in the production of many of the subjective phenomena seen in women at this period. Some familiarity with prevalent folklore and misconceptions pertaining to the menopause not only is of academic interest but can be utilized for more effectual therapeutics than any other single agent. It is uniformly accepted that the menopause is a sequel to ovarian failure that is generally not abrupt but more