THE EXACTNESS OF THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE. 767 



branded as an unsafe empiric, for the reason that he knows that an unerring 

 science has been at work in the preparation of his prescriptions. 



4. The fourth division is that department under which we classify the facts 

 governing pregnancy and the succeeding periods of gestation up to the point of 

 birth. Then follow the successive steps in the mechanically accurate laws of 

 delivery. There is no science or department of knowledge subject to a clearer 

 classification of its laws than the one now under consideration. The testimony 

 of medical experts in our courts of law as to the existence of pregnancy at a cer- 

 tain period, and of non-pregnancy at another period, is taken as conclusive in 

 establishing titles to estates, or fixing the guilt or innocence of persons against 

 whom charges of moral or civil misdemeanors are preferred. Society itself, in its 

 varied estimates as to the fitness of persons claiming recognition, bases its judg- 

 ments largely on its belief in the accuracy of the statements of their medical ad- 

 viser touching the period of the advent of the first-born of any family circle. 

 So correctly does nature advertise the exact stage in her periods of development, 

 that the most cunningly devised costume cannot conceal the prophecy of forth- 

 coming events from one accustomed to observe "signs and seasons." Barring 

 the fact that there are exceptions to all rules, we may assert confidently that he 

 who has carefully observed and recorded the history of a single case of normal 

 gestation may be sufficiently sure of his knowledge to govern his conduct in every 

 case according to his observations in the first case. Having thus assured himself 

 of his knowledge of the case prior to birth, he may approach the couch of his 

 parturient patient with the steady confidence of a master in the art of assisting 

 nature. Never was there constructed a piece of machinery that performed its 

 work under a more perfect obedience to the laws of mechanics, or compassed its 

 periods of revolution at the behest of a more certain time-table, than does nature 

 accomplish her flexion, descent, rotation, restoration and expulsion in her master- 

 ly work of delivery. 



These facts have so long passed under the eyes of diligent observers that 

 they stand to the cultured physician as the unerring finger-board pointing 

 him in the direction of certain exact results from which he can offer perfect 

 assurance to anxious friends. And he who fails to master such a case and carry 

 it to a safe conclusion need not hope to cover his ignorance by asserting that 

 there is nothing exact in this department of our profession. Thinking people 

 will soon discovery his utter unworthiness to be trusted with the high and holy 

 responsibilities of his calling. 



V— 48 



