708 OF REPRODUCTION. 



invariable, occurrence in the early months of pregnancy ; but another sign is 

 afforded by the areola and nipple, which is of more value because more con- 

 stant, namely, a puffy turgescence, and an increased development of the 

 little glandular follicles, or tubercles, which commonly secrete a dewy mois- 

 ture. The presence or absence of kiesteine in the Urine ( 859) also may 

 probably be regarded as a valuable diagnostic sign. This substance appears 

 on the surface of the fluid, after it has stood for two or three days, in the form 

 of a thin pellicle of a somewhat fatty aspect; it is preceded by a sediment 

 which has very much the appearance of cotton wool; and it disappears when 

 the urine is decomposing, at the same time emitting an odour like that of 

 putrid cheese.* Many other changes in the constitution take place during 

 Pregnancy ; indicated by the buffmess of the blood, the irritability of the sto- 

 mach, and the increased excitability of the mind. All these, however, are 

 discussed with sufficient amplification, in works on Obstetric Medicine. 



927. The act of Conception, being one of a purely organic nature, is not 

 attended with any consciousness on the part of the mother ; but there are 

 some women, in whom it is attended with certain sympathetic affections, such 

 as faintness, vertigo, &c., that enable them to fix upon the particular time at 

 which it has taken place. From that period, however, the Mother has no 

 direct consciousness of the change going on in the Uterus (save by the effects 

 of its increasing pressure on other parts), until the occurrence of what is 

 termed " Quickening." This is generally described as a kind of fluttering 

 movement, attended with some degree of syncope or vertigo. After it has 

 once occurred, and has strongly excited attention, it is occasionally renewed 

 once or twice, and then gives place to the ordinary movements of the foetus. 

 Not unfrequently, however, no movement whatever is felt, until near the end 

 of the term of gestation, or even through the whole of it. As to the cause of 

 the sensation, Obstetricians are much divided; and no satisfactory account 

 has been given of it. It has been vulgarly supposed to be due to the first 

 movement of the Fo3tus, which was imagined then to become possessed of an 

 independent life: and the English law recognizes the truth of this doctrine, 

 in varying the punishment of an attempt to procure Abortion, according to 

 whether the woman be " quick with child" or not; and in delaying execution 

 when a woman can be proved to be so, though it is made to proceed if she is 

 not, even if she be unquestionably pregnant. Whether or not the first sensible 

 motions of the Foetus are the cause of the peculiar feeling in question, there 

 can be no doubt that the Embryo has as much independent vitality before, as 

 after, the quickening. From the time that the Ovum quits the Ovary, it ceases 

 to be a part of the Parent, and is dependent on it only for a due supply of 

 nourishment, which it converts, by its own inherent powers, into its proper 

 fabric. This dependence cannot be said to cease at the moment of quicken- 

 ing; for the connection must be prolonged during several weeks, before the 

 Foetus can be said to be capable of living without such assistance. The earliest 

 period at which this may occur, will be presently considered ( 932). 



928. At the conclusion of about nine (solar) months from the period of con- 

 ception, the time of Parturition arrives. The Uterus, by its own efforts, and 

 by the assistance of the muscles of Expiration, expels its contents ; and the 

 membranes of the Ovum being usually ruptured before it is entirely dis- 

 charged, the Foetus comes at once into the world. Although there can be no 

 doubt that, as already stated ( 393), the contractile fibres of the Uterus may 

 be called into effectual action without Nervous influence, yet it is equally cer- 

 tain that Uterine contractions may be induced through the Spinal system of 



* [See an excellent paper on this subject in Am. Journ. of Med. Sci., vol. iv., N. S., by 

 Elisha Kane, M. P. M. C.] 



