CAUSES Or AllowiloN. may be due to disease of the father, to morbid changes in the ovum, to morbid changes in the placenta, or to maternal causes. (1) Of the diseases of the father that nay cause abortion, syphilis is the most important. Ilabitual abortion leads to the suspicion of syphilitic taint, although other causes may bring about this condition. Old age, tuhereulosis, or kidney disease of the father may so affeet the vitality of the germ at conception that. although pregnancy may occur, there is not enough strength to complete the development. (2) Causes due to disease or death of the ovum itself. apart from other causes, are rare. They are usually associated with some defect in the formation of the young embryo. (3) Placental causes are frequent. If the placenta does not have a sufficient area from which to draw a blood supply for the fodus, the latter may die; or if Ilse placenta is fastened low in the uterus, hem orrhage and abortion are very liable to occur. (•) The causes which are due to disease or in jury of the mother are the most frequent. Dis eases of the &china of the uterus and of the other generative organs, such as tumor of the ovary, distention of the Fallopian tubes, inflam matory adhesions about the uterus, and badly formed pelvic organs. are the local causes.
Certain constitutional diseases may also cause abortion, as syphilis. Alcoholic excesses are almost as pernicious. Poisoning with metals, as lead or mercury, with phosphorus and other poisons, as coal gas and many volatile oils, and some of the acute diseases, pneumonia, yellow fever, smallpox, and peritonitis, have brought about abortion. Shock and injury are very im portant causes. Excessive muscular fatigue, bi cycle riding, horseback riding, lawn tennis, use of the sewing-machine, and SW limning are espe cially to be avoided. Lack of hygiene is also responsible for numerous cases. Insufficient food, contaminated air, change in climate, and tightly laced corsets, all interfere with the proper nour ishment of the fictus and thus induce abortion. After abortion has once taken place, others are very likely to occur, even in comperative healthy women. A normal healthy mental atti tude is a saving grace from this accident.