606 OF REPRODUCTION. 



movement of the Foetus, 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 

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

 earliest period at which this may occur, will be presently considered ( 756). 

 753. 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 ( 203), 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 

 nerves. For in no other way can we account for many phenomena, which 

 are obviously of a reflex character; such as the sudden contraction of the 

 Uterus, previously distended and inactive, when cold is applied to the ex- 

 ternal surface of the body, or when the child is applied to the nipple. In the 

 first stage of labour, the Uterine contractions appear to be alone concerned ; 

 and it is not until the head of the child is passing through the Os Uteri, and 

 is entering the Vagina, that the assistance of the Expiratory muscles is called 

 in. The excitor fibres, which convey to the Spinal Cord the stimulus to their 

 actions, must originate, therefore, rather in the Vagina than in the Uterus 

 itself. Whilst the fibres of the fundus and body of the Uterus are in power- 

 ful contraction, those of the Cervix Uteri and Vagina must be in a state of 

 dilatation ; and this dilatation appears to be in some respects different from 

 the mere yielding to the pressure of the child's head. A slow contraction of 

 the fibres of the fundus and body of the Uterus, and a yielding of those of the 

 cervix, usually take place during some days previous to Parturition ; so that 

 the child lies lower, and the size of the abdomen diminishes.* As to the 

 reason why the period of Parturition should be just nine months after that of 

 Conception, we know nothing more than we do of that of similar facts in the 

 physical history of Man. such as the periodical return of the Catamenia, 

 the renewal of the Teeth, the recurrence of the tendency to Sleep, &c. That 

 it is immediately dependent upon some state of the constitution, rather than 

 upon the condition of the Uterus, appears from the fact that, in cases of Extra- 

 uterine pregnancy, contractions resembling those of labour take place in its 

 walls. Moreover, various states of the constitution, especially that which is 

 designated as irritability, may induce the occurrence of the parturient efforts 

 at an earlier period ; and this constitutes Abortion, or Premature delivery, 

 according to the viability of the child. There are some women, in whom 

 this regularly happens at a certain month, so that it seems to be an action 

 natural to them ; but it is always to be prevented, if possible, being injurious 



* See some interesting Papers on the Physiology of Parturition, by Dr. W.Tyler Smith, 

 in the Lancet, July 6 and 13, 1.-44. 



