Chapter XI: Section II

SIGNS OF PREGNANCY, AND THE MEANS OF DETECTING IT; ITS DURATION, AND THE PERIOD AT WHICH THE FŒTUS CAN LIVE.

It is always desirable, and frequently of the first importance, to be able to know whether a female is pregnant or not, both to the accoucheur and to the individual, or even to be able to judge whether she is probably or possibly so, or not. Sometimes this can be decided positively, but more frequently it is a matter of great uncertainty. The presumptive and positive signs on which a judgment can be formed are of various kinds, most of which can be readily observed, and easily made use of by any person in possession of the information already given in the preceding section. They will be set forth in the following Chapters, together with such other matter as appertains to this part of the subject, in such a manner as will make them available either for professional or for private use.