THE FEMALE GENERATIVE ORGANS 545 



at birth. Alien ^ has recently recorded a number of further 

 cases of prolonged gestation in women, the longest time 

 chronicled being 334 days. It is stated that inertia of the 

 uterus (due to fatty .degeneration) is frequently associated 

 with prolonged gestation ; but the occurrence of the latter is 

 no doubt often brought about by other causes which are at 

 present unknown. 



Cases of prolonged gestation have been observed also among 

 animals. Professor Ewart has informed the writer of a mare 

 in his possession in which the period of gestation was extended 

 to twelve months instead of the usual eleven. Other cases of 

 prolonged gestation in mares, and also in cows, have been re- 

 corded by Tessier ^ and Franck-Albrecht-Goring,* and appear 

 to be not uncommon. No satisfactory reason has been sug- 

 gested to account for such cases. 



According to Pinard * prolonged gestation may occur in 

 Rodents (DipodiUus simoni, Meriones shawi, M. longifrons, Mus 

 musculus, &c.), as a result of suckhng a large Htter produced 

 just previously to a second gestation, the development of 

 the young during the latter being arrested by a relative 

 insufficiency of nourishment. In some cases the period of 

 gestation was half as long again as the normal duration. 



The Puerperium 



In multiparous women the uterus continues to contract 

 and relax at more or less regular intervals after the expulsion of 

 the placenta which marks the termination of the third stage of 

 labour. The contractions which occur at this period give rise 

 to the sensations commonly known as the " after-pains." These 

 may last several days, but are not generally very severe after the 

 first day. They are particularly hable to occur when the child 



' Allen (L. M.), " Prolonged Gestation," Amer. Jour, of Obstet., vol. Iv., 

 1907. 



^ Tessier, " Recherches sur la Durtede la Gestation," &c., Mim.de I' Acad, 

 des Sciences, Paris, 1817. 



' Franck-Albrecht-Goring, "Die Trachtigkeitsdauer," Thierarztliche Oe- 

 burtshiilfe, vol. iv., 1901. 



-Pinard, Article "Gestation,'' Richet's Dictionnaire de Physiologie, 

 vol. vii., Paris, 1905. 



2m 



