extraordinary a^ews on conception. 
81 
fitrnation, and in the chyle formed from the 
mother’s food, which successively descending 
into the womb, concurs to the coagulation or 
union of the semen, blood, and tim vital prin- 
ciple, and to their increase, in the same man- 
ner, as water is conveyed, by certain canals 
from a watering pond, to a field, for the pro- 
duction of corn. 
The body, by the agitation of the (inward) 
air, being changed during 38 weeks, goes on 
continually increasing, for nine months. 
The continual Increase of the foetus, or 
embryo, is thus : In the 1st week, it is like a 
mixture of milk and blood. In the 2ud week, 
growing somewhat thick, it is of ropy or 
tenacious nature. In the 3rd week, it be- 
comes like curds. In the 4th week, from the 
form, which the embryo takes, is conjectured 
whether it will be a son, daughter, or herma- 
phrodite. In the 1st month, the mother 
suffers both in her body and mind several dis- 
agreeable sensations. 
In the 2nd montIt, in the 5th week, the navel 
of the body is first formed. In the 6lli week, 
vital vein (or artery), depending on the navel. 
In the 7th week, the forms of both eyes ap- 
pear. In the 8th week, consequence of the 
forms of the eyes the form of the head arises. 
In the 9th week, the shape of the tipper and 
lower parts of the trunk or body is formed. 
In the 3rd month, in the lOth week, tlie 
forms of the two arms and sides (or hips) ap- 
pear. In the 11th week, the forms of the 
holes of the nine organs become perceptible. 
In the 12th week, the five vital parts (heart, 
lungs, liver, spleen, veins,) are formed. In 
the 13th week, those of the six vessels. 
In the 4th month, in the 14th week, the 
marrows in the arms and thighs are formed. 
In the 15th week, the wrists of the hands and 
the legs of the feet are perceptible. In the 
16th week, the 10 fingers and the 10 toes be- 
come visible. In fZth week, the veins or 
nerves, conuecting the outer and inner parts, 
are formed. 
In the 5th month, in the 18th week, the 
flesh and fat are formed. In the 19th week, 
the tendons or sinews and the fibres are for- 
med. In the 20th w'eek, the bone and the 
marrow of the feet are formed. In the 21st 
week, the body is covered with a skin. 
In the 6th month, in the 22nd week, the 
nine holes of tlie organs are opened. In the 
23rd week, the hair on the head and on the 
body, and the nails commence to grow. In the 
24th week, the viscera and vessels become 
entirely finished ; and then pleasure and pain 
are felt. In the 25th week, the circulation or 
motion of air or wind commences. In the 
26th week, the memory of the mind begins to 
be clear. 
In the 7th month, the 27th to the 30th week, 
the whole body comes to entire perfection, or 
is completely formed. 
In the 8th month, from 31st to 35th week, 
the whole body, both within or without, 
greatly increases. 
In the 9th month, in the 36th week, there 
arises a disagreeable sensation in the womb. 
In the 37th week, there arises a nauseous 
sensation. In the 38th week, the head turning 
to the entrance of the womb, the birth takes 
place. But, though (he months are completed, 
yet, on account of the mother’s menstruation, 
and of wind, birth may for some time be 
delayed. 
Farther, it is stated, 'that if the right side (of 
the pregnant woman) is high, and the body 
light, there will be born a son ; if the left side 
is high, and the body heavy, then a daughter ; 
if they both are in an equal state, an herma- 
phrodite. And if the middle or both the sides 
are high, then twins will be born. 
Tiie tokens and circumstances of approch- 
ing birth are then described. 
We must now bring our review to a close, 
with a promise to give more extracts in our 
next. 
ON DEFINITE PROPORTIONS. 
By D. Spillan, A. M. M. D, 
In the chemical combination of bodies with 
each other, the four following circumstances 
may be remarked with regard to the propor- 
tions in which these combinations take place. 
1st, Some bodies combine in all proportions, 
as water and alcohol, water and any of the 
liquid acids. 
2d. In other cases a given quantity of one 
substance can combine with any quantity'’ of 
another to a certain extent ; thus, four pounds 
of water can dissolve any quantity of the 
bicarbonate of soda not exceeding a pound ; 
a hundred grains of water will dissolve any 
quantity of sea salt not exceeding forty grains, 
at which point its dissolving power ceases, 
the cohesion of the solid becoming compara- 
tively too powerful for the force of aSinity. 
In this as well as in the first case, it may be 
remarked that the substances so combining 
have but a weak affinity for each other, and 
that the characteristic properties of each con- 
stituent are still discernible in the compound ; 
thus when sugar or sea salt is dissolved in 
water, the taste of the solution is still similar 
to that of the substance dissolved. 
3d. In some cases substances combine in 
only one proportion; as chlorine and hydrogen, 
zinc and oxy’^gen. 
4th. In other cases substance are observed 
to combine in several proportions : thus there 
are two distinct compounds of copper and 
oxygen ; as also of oxygen and hydrogen. 
— 100 parts of manganese combine with 
1 4^ 28, 42 or 56 parts of oxygen. 'I’he most 
interesting and important class of compounds 
are those comprehended under this and the 
preceding head, and it may also be remarked 
that the substances so combining have a 
strong and energetic affinity for each other, 
and that the properties which characterised 
them in the simple state are no longer dis- 
coverable in the compound ; of this we have 
an example in sea salt, which formed of two 
very caustic bodies, has a saline and agree- 
able taste- These combinations so formed 
have been observed to obey certain laws, re- 
markable as well for their generality, as for 
the simplicity of the relations which they 
establish between the respective quantities 
of the principles of the compounds. The 
