666 THE HUMAN BODY. 



from extended observation, that despite apparent and isolated 

 instances to the contrary 



1. A larger proportion of women die during or in con- 

 sequence of an abortion, than during or in consequence of 

 child-bed at the full term of pregnancy. 



2. A very much larger number of women become con- 

 firmed invalids, perhaps for life; and 



3. The tendency to serious and often fatal organic disease, 

 as cancer, is rendered very much greater at the so-called 

 "turn of life," by previous artificially induced premature 

 delivery. 



During pregnancy there is a close connection between the 

 placenta and uterus; nature makes preparation for the safe 

 dissolution of this at the end of the normal period, but " its 

 premature rupture is usually attended by profuse haemor- 

 rhage, often fatal, often persistent to a greater or less degree 

 for many months after the act is completed, and always at- 

 tended with more or less shock to the maternal system, even 

 though the full effect of this is not noted for years." The 

 same authority states again: " Any deviation from this proc- 

 ess at the full term" (i.e., the process, associated with lacta- 

 tion, by which the uterus is restored to its small non-gravid 

 dimensions) "lays the foundation of, and causes, a wide 

 range of uterine accidents and disease, displacements of 

 various kinds; falling of the womb downwards or forwards 

 or backwards, with the long list of neuralgic pains in the 

 back, groin, thighs, and elsewhere that they occasion ; con- 

 stant and inordinate leucorrhcea; sympathetic attacks of 

 ovarian irritation, running even into dropsy," etc., etc. 

 There is, thus, abundant reason for bearing most things 

 rather than the risks of an avoidable abortion. 



Lactation. The mammary glands for several years after 

 birth remain small, and alike in both sexes. Towards 

 puberty they begin to enlarge in the female, and when fully 

 developed form in that sex two rounded eminences, the 

 breasts, placed on the thorax. A little below the centre of 

 each projects a small eminence, the nipple, and the skin 

 around this forms a colored circle, the areola. In virgins 

 the areolse are pink; they darken in tint and enlarge during 

 the first pregnancy and never quite regain their original hue. 

 The mammary glands are , constructed on the compound 

 racemose type. Each consists of from fifteen to twenty 



