of the Human Uterus. 97 



When this is nearly completed, the child actually 

 occupies a lower part of the pelvic region than during 

 the sixth and seventh months ; and, about the com- 

 pletion of this evolution of the neck of the uterus, the 

 evolving action of the abdominal muscles begins to 

 change, and give place to the powers of expulsion resi- 

 dent in these muscles, and the longitudinal muscular 

 fibres of the uterus. The uterus, from the interest it 

 has in the general sympathies of the system at large, 

 commands into its private services the aid of the neigh- 

 bouring muscles. By an absolute impress of foreign 

 agency, in co-operation with its own powers, it begins 

 and carries on the function of expulsion ; and, in the 

 preparation of these muscles for more serious action, we 

 discover the first cause of the first premonitoiy sign, 

 the subsidence of the abdomen, of approaching labour. 



At full time, when nine months shall have completed 

 their round, the throes of child-birth come on. They 

 may fortuitously be provoked into untimely action, and 

 produce abortion, or miscarriage ; but their legitimate 

 term is generally conceded to be that of nine calendar 

 months. If it were necessary, in addition to what I have 

 said in my former letter on this subject, to adduce evi- 

 dence in attestation of the fixedness and uniformity of 

 the term of labour, I would invite your attention to the 

 highly interesting fact, that, if a foetus be extra-uterine, 

 the throes, at full time, will come on with the same force 

 and regularity as if the foetus were within the uterus. 

 Here we have another argument strongly militating 

 against the preposterous doctrine, that " pregnancy and 

 parturition are grades of disease." The throes to expel 

 VOL. III. part r. N 



