ACTION OF THE FEMALE. 711 



other hand, of the 764 cows first mentioned, 111 (rather more than one-seventh) went above 

 289 days; while, of the cows in calf by this bull, 29 out of 75 (nearly two-fifths) went above 

 289 days.* 



d. Another series of observations has recently been published by Mr. C. N. Bement of 

 Albany, U. S.,f who has recorded the period of gestation of 62 Cows. The longest period 

 was 336 days; the shortest, 213 days. The average period for male calves was 288 days; 

 and for females, 2 82 days. 



These variations are probably to be regarded as due, not so much to a pro- 

 longation of the period of (7/ero-gestation, as to various circumstances which 

 may have a retarding influence on the process of Fecundation, and on the 

 transmission of the Ovum through the Fallopian tube. These have been well 

 pointed out by Dr. Montgomery.:): It may be added that, in Dr. Barry's ob- 

 servations on the early changes that take place in the Ovum of Rabbits, he 

 has noticed several irregularities of this description. On the whole, it may 

 be considered that, in regard to the Human female, the French law is a very 

 reasonable one. It is probable, from the circumstances alluded to in the pre- 

 ceding paragraph, that Gestation is protracted to the extent of a week, ten 

 days, or a fortnight, much more frequently than is commonly supposed. In 

 several of the cases in which the protraction appeared indubitable, the Infant 

 was unusually large and vigorous. 



932. In regard to the shortest period at which Gestation may terminate, 

 consistently with the viability of the Child, there is a still greater degree of 

 uncertainty. Most practitioners are of opinion, that it is next to impossible 

 for a Child to live and grow to maturity, which has not nearly completed its 

 seventh month ; but it is almost unquestionable that Infants, which have been 

 born at a much earlier period, have lived for some months. It is rare in such 

 cases, however, that the date of Conception can be fixed with sufficient pre- 

 cision to enable a definite statement to be given. Of the importance of the 

 question, a case which recently occurred in Scotland affords sufficient proof. 

 A vast amount of contradictory evidence was adduced on this trial ; but, on 

 the general rule of accepting positive in preference to negative testimony, it 

 seems that we ought to consider it possible, that a child may live for some 

 months, which has been born at the conclusion of 24 weeks of gestation. In 

 the case in question, the Presbytery decided in favour of the legitimacy of an 

 Infant born alive within 25 weeks after marriage. 



a. A very interesting case is on record, || in which the mother (who had borne five chil- 

 dren) was confident that her period of gestation was less than 19 weeks; the facts stated 

 respecting the development of the child are necessarily very imperfect, as it was important 

 to avoid exposing his body, in order that his temperature might be kept up ; but at the age 

 of three weeks, he was only 13 inches in length, and his weight was no more than 29 oz. 

 At that time, he might be regarded, according to the calculation of the mother, as correspond- 

 ing with an infant of 22 weeks or 5^ months; but the length and weight were greater than 

 is usual at that period, and he must have been probably born at about the 25th week. It is 

 an interesting feature in this case, that the calorific power of the Infant was so low, that 

 artificial heat was constantly needed to sustain it; but that, under the influence of the heat 

 of the fire, he evidently became weaker, whilst the warmth of a person in bed rendered 

 him lively and comparatively strong. During the first week, it was extremely difficult to 

 get him to swallow ; and it was nearly a month before he could suck. At the time of the 

 report, he was four months old, and his health appeared very good. 



b. Another case of very early viability has been more recently put on record by Mr. 

 Dodd:1T in this, as in the former instance, the determination of the child's age rests chiefly 

 on the opinion of the mother ; but there appears no reason for suspecting any fallacy. The 



> Dr. J. C. Hall, in Medical Gazette, May 6, 1842. 



t American Journal of the Medical Sciences, October, 1845. J Op. cit., p. 272. 



Report of Proceedings against the Rev. Fergus Jardine, Edin., 1839. 

 || Edinb.'Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. xi. 

 1T Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. ii. p. 474. 



