Note 9 — OF THE MODE BY WHICH PREGNANCY MAY BE DETERMINED.

A remarkable case is mentioned by Morgagni:—“I was acquainted,” he says, “with a maiden of a noble family, who married before menstruation took place, though the menses had been expected for some years; nevertheless she became exceedingly fruitful. We were the less surprised at this circumstance because the same thing had happened to her mother.

Frank attended a patient who gave birth to three children without ever having been unwell. Capuron, also refers to several cases of this description, and Foderé assures us of the fact. A case of the kind occurred too in the practice of Mr. Montgomery. Low likewise mentions a similar instance. Sir E. Moore relates the case of a young woman who married before she was seventeen, and never having menstruated, became pregnant, and four months after delivery was pregnant a second time; the same thing occurred again, and after the third pregnancy she menstruated for the first time, continued to do so for several periods, and became pregnant again.

It should be remembered, however, that some women are very irregular in the return of their menstrual periods—having them prolonged much beyond the usual interval. Mr. Montgomery once attended an unmarried woman of forty, who assured him that returns of the menses had frequently been delayed more than six months without causing ill health. Instances of menstrual suppression for shorter periods are frequent. Zacchias mentions that he attended a patient who used to menstruate regularly, but who never conceived until the discharge had been suppressed for three or four months previously. Mauriceau relates a somewhat similar case, and remarks that cases of this character give rise to the supposition of protracted pregnancy.