914 OF GENERATION ACTION OF THE FEMALE. 



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 favor of the legitimacy of an 

 infant born alive within 25 weeks after marriage. 1 A very interesting case 

 is on record, 2 in which the mother (who had borne five children) was confi- 

 dent 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 three weeks after his birth, he was only 13 inches in 

 length, and his weight was no more than 29 oz. At that time, according to 

 the calculation of the mother, he might be regarded as corresponding with 

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

 than is usual at that period, indicating that he was 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 heat of the fire he evidently be- 

 came 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. Another case of very early viability has been more recently put on 

 record by Mr. Dodd: 3 in this, as in the former instance, the determination 

 of the child's age rests chiefly on the opinion of the mother; but there ap- 

 pears no reason for suspecting any fallacy. The child seems to have been 

 born at the 26th or 27th week of gestation ; and having been placed under 

 judicious management, it has thriven well. One of the most satisfactory 

 cases on record, is that detailed by Dr. Outrepout 4 (Professor of Obstetrics 

 at Wurtzburg), and stated by Dr. Christisou in his evidence on the case first 

 alluded to. The evidence is as complete as it is possible to be in any case of 

 the kind ; being derived not only from the date assigned by the mother to 

 her conception, but also from the structure and history of the child. The 

 gestation could have lasted only 27 weeks, and was very probably less. The 

 length of the child was 13j inches, and its weight was 24 oz. Its develop- 

 ment was altogether slow ; and at the age of eleven years, the child seemed 

 no more advanced in body or mind than most boys of seven years old. In 

 this last point, there is a very striking correspondence with the results of 

 other observations upon premature children, made at an earlier age. A 

 very remarkable case has been since put on record by Dr. Barker of Dum- 

 fries, 5 in which the child is affirmed to have been born on the 158th day of 

 gestation, or in the middle of the twenty-third week after intercourse. Its 

 size, weight, and grade of development were conformable to the asserted 

 period: for it weighed only 16 oz., and measured 11 inches; it had only 

 rudimentary nails, and scarcely any hair except a little of reddish color on 

 the back of the head; the eyelids were closed, and did not open until the 

 second day; the skin was shrivelled. When born it was wrapped up in a 

 box and placed before the fire. The child did not suck properly until after 

 the lapse of a mouth, and did not walk until she was nineteen months old. 

 Three years and a half afterwards this child was in a thriving state, and 

 very healthy but of small make; she then weighed 29^ Ibs. 



1 Report of Proceedings against the Rev. Fergus Jardine, Edinburgh, 1839. 



2 Edinb. Mcd. and Surg. Journal, vul. xi. 



3 Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. ii, p. 474. 



4 Henku's Zcitschrif't, I3d. vi. 



5 Medical Times, Sept. 7tb and Oct. 12th, 1850. 



