Sect. 4.-Quickening.

There is only one other symptom which I think is useful to notice—i.e. quickening; by which is meant the first sensation experienced by the mother of the life of the child within her womb. The first time this motion of the child occurs, the sensation is like that of the fluttering of a bird within her; and so sudden, that she frequently faints, or falls into an hysterical paroxysm. A day or two passes by, when it recurs. It afterwards increases both in frequency and degree, until the movements of the child are fully recognised.

The period when quickening takes place is very uncertain. An impression is extensively prevalent that it always occurs exactly at the end of four calendar months and a half; but this is not the case: it varies in different women, and in the same woman during different pregnancies, as the following instances will prove.

Mrs. F. quickened with her first child at four months; quickened with the second at fourteen weeks; and is now in her third pregnancy, and reckors from the fourteenth week again.

Mrs. B. has had seven children, and with all felt the motion of the child for the first time at the third month.

Mrs. M'M. has been several times pregnant; seldom feels the movements of the child at all until the sixth month, and not strongly till the eighth.

The annexed table of the periods of quickening of 70 cases, taken in the order in which they have been entered in the author's note-book, will forcibly stamp the truth of these opinions. In a few of these cases, for the sake of convenience, I have used round numbers, when two or three days either before or after was

the exact time; and, for the sake of correctness, have omitted several cases in which there was the slightest doubt in the patient's mind of the exact time.

It will be seen from this table that this symptom takes place more frequently between the 12th and 16th week, than before or after these periods; and that subsequently to the 4 and before the expiration of the 6th month, it may occur in the proportion of more than one case out of every five. Before the third month, quickening seldom arises.

This symptom may not be felt by the mother at all, and yet pregnancy exist. This is rare; but the fact is confirmed by many writers, and I have met with such cases, the mother giving birth to living and healthy children.

Now comes the question, how far this symptom is of value as a sign of the pregnant state? It may be thus far depended upon :-If experienced in former pregnancies, this symptom is invaluable; for I believe it is not to be mistaken. If the case is a first pregnancy, and doubtful, the occurrence of this sensation removes all obscurity, provided it grows stronger and stronger, until the movements of the child are distinctly felt.

Four only of the symptoms of pregnancy have

been noticed, because the remainder are not recognisable except by the accoucheur, although to him of the greatest value when pregnancy is complicated and doubtful from the presence of disease. The nature of these symptoms has been described as plainly, and yet as briefly, as possible, because of the importance of their being clearly understood by the married woman. I have also endeavoured to point out their real value as evidences of pregnancy-how they are sometimes absent in patients who are pregnant, and some of them present in those who are not so-because of the doubt and obscurity which arise from these variations. And, lastly, in bringing these observations to a conclusion, I venture to say that, if the married woman will only take the trouble to make herself familiar with this little detail, she will not regret the time as lost or misspent, because it will generally guide her right,

and, I trust, save her many moments of anxiety and discomfort.

69

CHAPTER III.

OF THE DISEASES OF PREGNANCY, AND HINTS FOR THEIR PREVENTION AND RELIEF.

IN describing the diseases which are incident to the whole period of pregnancy, my design is to take a general popular survey of the subject. I wish simply to communicate that kind of information which every married and well-educated woman should certainly possess, and can usefully employ. To advance farther than this—to those points upon which the assistance of the medical adviser ought to be sought-would be on every account improper, and productive rather of evil than of good.

There is no organ in the body, with the exception of the stomach, that exercises a more extensive control over the female system than the womb. Hence, when in the condition of pregnancy, it affects, directly or indirectly, various parts of that system. The effects of pregnancy, however, vary much, according to the

constitution of the female.

Occasionally a very salutary change is produced, so that the individual enjoys better health during gestation than before. The delicate and frequently-ailing girl, for instance the propriety of whose marrying was a matter of doubt among her friends-becoming pregnant, will sometimes, instead of realising the appre

hensions and fears of those most dear to her, acquires new life and vigour from the altered circumstances of her condition. On the other hand, it is sometimes the case that harassing and painful symptoms will arise. These are designated the 'diseases of pregnancy.'

Sect. 1.-Morning Sickness.

Nausea, or vomiting, is one of the most common and distressing affections of pregnancy. It is chiefly troublesome in the earlier months of gestation, continuing until the period of quickening, when it decreases or ceases spontaneously; or it does not occur till the latter months of pregnancy, when it subsides only upon delivery.

Sickness during the Earlier Months.-This arises solely from sympathy with the newly-commenced action, and irritable condition of the womb. This is evident from the fact that, as the novelty of the pregnant state ceases, and the stomach becomes accustomed to it, the sickness subsides gradually, and is rarely troublesome afterwards.

It occasionally commences immediately after conception; and it is a remarkable fact, that a pregnant woman scarcely ever feels sick until she first gets upon her feet in the morning. Hence it is called the 'morning sickness.' She awakes refreshed and well, rises from her bed, and, whilst dressing, begins to feel qualmish. At the breakfast-table she has no appetite, or, if she takes anything, is shortly obliged to leave for her dressing-room, where she returns what she has taken or, if she has been unable to take anything, ejects a fluid, limpid, thin, and watery; and if the vomiting increases in severity, bile is thrown up at the