ny medical authorities, distinguished in
this line, have stated their belief that women never pass more than two or
three days at the most beyond the forty weeks conceded to pregnancy--that
is two hundred and eighty days or ten lunar months, or nine calendar months
and a week. About two hundred and eighty days will represent the average
duration of pregnancy, counting from the last day of the last period. Now
it must be borne in mind, that there are many disturbing elements which
might cause the young married woman to miss a time. During the first month
of pregnancy there is no sign by which the condition may be positively
known. The missing of a period, especially in a person who has been regular
for some time, may lead one to suspect it; but there are many attendant
causes in married life, the little annoyances of household duties,
embarrassments, and the enforced gayety which naturally surrounds the
bride, and {270} these should all be taken into consideration in the
discussion as to whether or not she is pregnant. But then, again, there are
some rare cases who have menstruated throughout their pregnancy; and also
cases where menstruation was never established and pregnancy occurred.
Nevertheless, the non-appearance of the period, with other signs, may be
taken as presumptive evidence.

5. "ARTIFICIAL IMPREGNATION.--It may not be generally known that union is
not essential to impregnation; it is possible for conception to occur
without congress. All that is necessary is that seminal animalcules enter
the womb and unite there with the egg or ovum. It is not essential that the
semen be introduced through the medium of the male organ, as it has been
demonstrated repeatedly that by means of a syringe and freshly obtained and
healthy semen, impregnation can be made to follow by its careful
introduction. There are physicians in France who make a specialty of
"Artificial Impregnation," as it is called, and produce children to
otherwise childless couples, being successful in many instances in
supplying them as they are desired."

* * * * *

Signs and Symptoms of Pregnancy.

1. THE FIRST SIGN.--The first sign that leads a lady to suspect that she is
pregnant is her ceasing-to-be-unwell. This, provided she has just before
been in good health, is a strong symptom of pregnancy; but still there must
be others to corroborate it.

2. ABNORMAL CONDITION.--Occasionally, women menstruate during the