from my own experience, say that an instance of perfect regularity during pregnancy ever came under my own observation, though I have met with cases where there was occasionally a discharge, and sometimes in very considerable quantities, accompanied with pain; the enlargement, and dark colour of the areola or ring round the nipple, generally attends pregnancy, and has been regarded as an unequivocal sign, yet it is in reality no criterion whatever, being often observed in those who have never conceived; it is as matter of fact a much stronger evidence of virginity, as it is rarely if ever observed in those who have never indulged in sexual intercourse.

It has been asserted that the skin of the groin as sumes a dark hue, but this is equally fallacious, or can only be observed in those who have a very fine skin. The belly, some weeks after conception, becomes flat in consequence of the womb sinking and drawing down the intestines with it; but even this is not to be relied on, because an enlargement of the womb from any other cause will produce the same effect*

* From too much precipitation in judging of the probability of pregnancy from enlarged belly, the feelings of many virtuous unmarried females have been cruelly outraged and their fame endangered.

After the fourth month the symptoms become less ambiguous; in general about this time the child is so much enlarged that its motions begin to be distinguished by the mother, hence that symptom is furnished called quickening. Females describe this sensation to resemble a slight tremulous motion, but it rarely if ever occurs at the same period in every instance; yet even here mistakes have occurred, wind has been so pent up in the bowels that the pulsation of the large blood-vessels have been mistaken for the motion of the child. As the term quickening may not be generally understood, I will give a short explanation of it. The ancient opinion, and on which the laws of some countries have been founded, was, that the fœtus became animated at this period, but is now abandoned; the fœtus is, properly speaking, as much a living being immediately after conception as at any time before delivery; and its future progress is but the development and increase of those constituent principles which it then received. The next theory attached to the term is, that from the increase of size, its motions, which hitherto had been feeble and imperfect, are now of sufficient strength to communicate a sensible impulse to the adjacent parts of the mother; in this sense

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quickening implies the first sensation the mother has of her offspring. A far more natural and correct opinion is that which considers this symptom to be produced by the impregnated womb starting suddenly into the cavity of the belly, which explains several peculiarities attendant on this phenomenon; the variety in the period of its occurrence, the faintness which usually accompanies it, owing to the pressure being removed from the large vessels and the blood suddenly rushing into them: the distinctness of its character, as all mothers assert, so different from any subsequent motion of the child: its occasional absence in some females is also readily accounted for from the ascent of the womb being gradual and unobserved. The progressive increase in the size of the belly, together with the presence of milk in the breasts, which circumstance has invariably been considered of great importance by all medical men,* are the best

The secretion of a milky fluid may occur without the presence of pregnancy. Hebenstreit informs us that he has known females in whom this fluid was produced by repeated friction, suction, &c. "A servant girl sleeping in a room with a child it was wished to wean, being disturbed in her repose by its cries, imagined that by putting it to her breast it might be quieted; in a short time she

distinguishing characters of pregnancy that can be depended on (without resorting to examination, which is the province of the accoucheur alone). From this period the action of the child becomes more vigorous, though in some instances it is languid throughout the pregnancy, and in a few rare cases scarcely perceptible, notwithstanding which, the infant at birth has been large and lively. The morning sickness, with many of the attendant symptoms, gradually subside after the fourth month, and there is a marked improvement of the health during the two last quarters. Fainting may occur at any period of the pregnant state, but is

had milk sufficient to supply its wants. An account is likewlse given by Sir Hans Sloane of a woman of the age of fifty-eight, who had not borne a child for more than twenty years, nursing her grand-children one after another.

A chemical test has lately been discovered which it is asserted will decidedly prove the presence of pregnancy. If the urine of the party supposed to be pregnant be permitted to stand for some hours, should she be in that state, there will be formed a white flaky pulverulent matter, which is the caseum or peculiar principle of milk; in instances where even examination has failed, this has been successful. The appearance is as if a little milk had been thrown into the urine, and which was partly deposited, and partly floating.

chiefly experienced during the three first months, and al out the time of quickening. The fits are usually of short duration, the patient seldom losing her consciousness, though with some it has been known to continue from one hour to three or four; a recumbent position, the application of pungent and volatile essences, dashing the face freely with cold water, a moderate use of cordials, and free exposure to the open air, offer the most certain and effectual means of relief. Should the feet be cold they are to be rendered warm by the application of hot flannels and bottles of warm water. Palpitation, though a very distressing symptom, is rarely if ever attended with danger; it frequently returns, but is uncertain as to period, during the day or night, and very commonly after a meal, or on first lying down in bed. The very capricious state of the nervous system at this time does not seem to be so much dependent upon the nature of the diet, as on the state of the stomach at the moment; it has occurred after a very slight or plain repast, and been quiescent after a very stimulating one. Sickness, heart-burn, and the other symptoms of indigestion are much more frequent affections, than those of the nervous system before enumerated; they are fortunately