PREGNANCY. In Medical Juris prudence. The state of a female who has within her ovary, or womb, a fecundated germ, which gradually becomes developed in the latter receptacle. Dunglison, Med. Diet. Pregnancy.
2. The signs of pregnancy. These acquire a great importance from their connection with the subject of concealed, and also of pretended, pregnancy. The first may occur in order to avoid disgrace, and to accomplish in a secret manner the destruction of off spring. The second may be attempted to gratify the wishes of a husband or relations, to deprive the legal successor of his just claims, to gratify avarice by extorting money, and to avoid or delay execution.
These signs and indications have a two fold division. First, those developed through the general system, and hence termed con stitutional ; second, those developed through the uterine system, termed local or sensible.
3. The first, or constitutional, indications regard—first, the mental phenomena, or change wrought in the temperament of the mother, evidenced by depression, despond ency, rendering her peevish, irritable, ca pricious, and wayward ; sometimes drowsiness and occasionally strange appetites and anti pathies are present.
Second, the countenance exhibits languor, and what the French writers term decompo sition of features,—the nose becoming sharper and more elongated, the mouth larger, the eyes sunk and surrounded with a brownish or livid areola, and having a languid ex pression.
Third, the vital action is increased ; a feverish heat prevails, especially in those of full habit and sanguine temperament. The body, except the breasts and abdomen, some times exhibits emaciation. There are fre quently pains in the teeth and face, heart burn, increased discharge of saliva, and costiveness.
4. Fourth, the mammary sympathies give enlargement and firmness to the breasts ; but this may be caused by other disturbances of the uterine system. A more certain in dication is found in the areola, which is the dark-colored circular disk surrounding the nipple. This, by its gradual enlargezuent, its constantly deepening color, its increasing organic action evidenced by its raised ap pearance, turgescence, and glandular follicles, is justly regarded as furnishing a very high degree of evidence.
Fifth, irritability of stomach, evidenced by sickness at the stnmach, usually in the early part of the day.
Sixth, suppression of the menses, or monthly discharge arising from a secretion from the internal surface of the uterus. This sup, pression, however, may occur from diseases or from a vitiated action of the uterine system, 5. The second, termed local or sensible signs and indications, arise mainly from the development of the uterine system consequent upon impregnation. This has reference- First, to the change in the uterus itself. The new principle introduced causes a determination of blood to that organ, which developes it first at its fundus, second in its body, and lastly in its cervix or neck. The latter constantly diminishes until it has become almost wholly absorbed in the body of the uterus. The os uteri in its unimpreg noted state feels firm, with well-defined lips or margins. After impregnation the latter becomes tumid, softer, and more elastic, the orifice feeling circular instead of transverse. Second, to the state of the umbilicus, which is first depressed, then pushed out to a level with the surrounding integuments, and at last, towards the close of the period, protruded considerably above the surface.
Third, to the enlargement of the abdomen. This commences usually by the end of the third month, and goes on increasing during the period of pregnancy. This, however, may result from morbid conditions not affecting the uterus, such as disease of the liver, spleen, ovarian tumor, or ascites.
6. Fourth, to quickening, as rendered evident by the foetal motions. By the former we understand the feeling by the inother of the self-induced motion of tbe foetus in utero, which occurs about the middle of the period of pregnancy. But as the testimony of the motber cannot be always relied upon, her interest being sometimes to conceal it, it is important to inquire what other means there may be of ascertaining it. These move ments of the foetus may sometimes be ex cited by a sudden application of the hand, having been previously rendered cold by immersion in water, on to the front of the abdomen. Another method is to apply one hand against the side of the uterine tumor', and at the same time to impress the opposite side quickly with the fingers of the other hand.