1. CONCEPTION OR IMPREGNATION.--Conception or impregnation takes
place by the union of the male sperm and female sperm. Whether this
is accomplished in the ovaries, the oviducts or the uterus, is still a
question of discussion and investigation by physiologists.
2. PASSING OFF THE OVUM.--"With many women," says Dr. Stockham in her
Tokology, "the ovum passes off within twenty-four or forty-eight hours
after menstruation begins. Some, by careful observation, are able to
know with certainty when this takes place. It is often accompanied
with malaise, nervousness, headache or actual uterine pain. A minute
substance like the white of an egg, with a fleck of blood in it, can
frequently be seen upon the clothing. Ladies who have noticed this
phenomenon testify to its recurring very regularly upon the same day
after menstruation. Some delicate women have observed it as late as
the fourteenth day."
3. CALCULATIONS.--Conception is more liable to take place either
immediately before or immediately after the period, and, on that
account it is usual when calculating the date at which to expect
labor, to count from the day of disappearance of the last period. The
easiest way to make a calculation is to count back three months from
the date of the last period and add seven days; thus we might say that
the date was the 18th of July; counting back brings us to the 18th
of April, and adding the seven days will bring us to the 25th day of
April, the expected time.
4. EVIDENCE OF CONCEPTION.--Very many 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 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.
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