This singular development is owing, probably, to a sympathetic connection between the uterine organs and certain parts of the brain, and large nerves in the neck.
Suppression of the Menses is one of the strongest presumptive signs of pregnancy that can be observed, but does not always accompany it, and frequently arises from other causes. In the great majority of cases, it is true, the menses cease to flow, immediately conception occurs; sometimes they will continue for one or more periods after, and occasionally during the whole time of gestation, even up to a few days before delivery. This, however, is a very unusual occurrence, and the stoppage of the menses is by no means so strong a sign that pregnancy has occurred, as their continuance is that it has not. Some females are always irregular, so that pregnancy makes little difference, and in them of course these signs are even less to be depended upon than usual. There have cases been known even of women who have conceived without having menstruated, and of others who never menstruated except when they were pregnant; and it is not at all unusual to see others who will conceive while nursing, and never menstruate between the two pregnancies. Therefore we can only say that the menses usually stop when conception occurs, and that their continuance is strong evidence that it has not occurred, but still both signs may fail.
It is also proper to remark that several medical men have advanced the opinion that the discharge which appears during pregnancy is not the menstrual fluid, but real blood. It has however been accurately examined, and found in no respect to differ from the usual discharge. In my own opinion there is no doubt but that some females really do menstruate while pregnant.
As an instance that the presence of the menses is no proof that pregnancy has not occurred, I give the following case:—Not long since I was requested to see a lady who was supposed to labor under a polypus in the womb. She had been married six years, but had no offspring. On seeing her I suggested, from certain peculiarities in her appearance and manner, that possibly she might be pregnant. The suggestion was met with a smile, particularly by the medical attendant who was present, and I was told that there was no sign of such a thing, and moreover it could not be, for she had never stopped menstruating, nor was there the slightest change in the breasts, nor any disturbance in the stomach, mind, or feelings. On making the usual examination however, I felt fully convinced I was right, and told them so, but my opinion had no other effect than to induce them not to interfere for a time. They had been talking of an operation immediately. She still continued to menstruate for three months after, but in six weeks from her last period was safely delivered, without assistance, of a very fine living child. No part of the body had undergone any material change, except the abdomen, though many of the usual changes occurred after delivery. In this case the delay probably saved the lives of both mother and child, and deeply grateful they all were for the escape. In my work on the Diseases of Woman many fatal cases will be found of pregnant females who have been killed from mistakes of this kind, owing to a blind reliance on such uncertain signs.
Disturbance of the Digestive Functions.—It is very seldom, indeed, that pregnancy does not produce more or less disturbance in these functions, though it must be remarked that marriage also does the same sometimes, even without conception. These disturbances are generally manifested by loss of appetite; sickness, particularly in the morning; vomiting, and depraved taste; the individual frequently taking a fancy to the most extraordinary articles, and making herself extremely unhappy if she cannot obtain them. Thus some have eaten flies, spiders, mice, and other living things, and others again have regaled themselves upon charcoal, chalk, slate pencils, and even earth or ashes. Such freaks are called longings, and it is thought highly improper not to indulge them, which is certainly right when they are for articles not positively injurious; but I have known this notion carried to a very injurious and absurd extent. There is no doubt but these vagaries of the stomach arise, mainly, from its sympathy with the uterus, but it is highly probable that they are often exaggerated, and frequently even produced, by a morbid state of the sensibilities, and by vacuity of mind. The tendency to imitation also, so strong in most females, often leads to the same result. A young female who is declared to be, or who fancies herself, pregnant, listens eagerly to all that is said about that interesting state, by older acquaintances, and when told that they always longed, immediately begins to long also. I have known young persons considerably advanced in gestation, who had never longed at all before, do so immediately after a conversation of this kind. It must be remembered however, that the sympathies of the digestive organs with the womb are very strong, and that the appetite and taste are frequently rendered very capricious at this time, so that the female really likes or dislikes many things that she did not before; but still I feel convinced that the absurd ways in which this caprice exhibits itself, are often owing to the causes I have stated. The wondering ignorance, in which most females are kept, makes them disposed to be led away by a morbid imagination, and constantly liable to be imposed upon by silly and erroneous statements, which they of course implicitly believe. These longings are always the strangest, and most frequently met with, among the most uninformed and unthinking, though they are occasionally met with under all circumstances. As a sign of pregnancy this longing is not much to be relied upon alone, because marriage alone often produces it, and so do many uterine derangements.
Usually all these disturbances disappear by the third or fourth month, the appetite becomes regular, and sometimes even voracious, and the digestion improves, so that the individual may become quite fat, though previously she was very thin.
Some suffer from constipation, and others from diarrhœa, but this is more rare.
Nervous Derangements.—The changes produced in the minds and feelings of pregnant females are sometimes of the most extraordinary character. Individuals who possess, ordinarily, the most agreeable tempers, and the most amiable dispositions, will become peevish and fretful, and often even violently passionate and malicious. Some have even been known to have a disposition to commit various crimes, of which they had the greatest horror in their natural state. Others, on the contrary, who are usually ill-tempered and unhappy, attain a charming tenderness of manner, and a most pleasing serenity of mind. Their likings and dislikings also change very much, so that their most valued friends will become hateful to them, and those whom they habitually dislike will seem endowed with every loveable quality. Some will become perfect misanthropes, or weep and fret without intermission, while others will exhibit the most reckless and boisterous gaiety. I have known some much disposed to study while pregnant, and others who would draw, or paint, most excellently, though at other times they were but indifferent artists. In short, it is impossible to denote half the singular changes of this kind that are thus produced. Suffice it to say that, when well marked, they are strong presumptive signs of pregnancy, especially when coming in connection with other evidences. It must be remembered however, that hysteria, and some other uterine diseases, are often accompanied by similar changes.
Alteration in the appearance of the Breast.—The direct, and sympathetic connection between the womb and the breast is so great that pregnancy usually causes corresponding changes in both, though not always. In most cases however, the breasts swell, and become painful. The nipple becomes elevated, and the circle around it assumes a dark brown color, and is dotted with small tubercles, from which a thin watery liquor may often be pressed. The nipple will also enlarge, or become erect on being rubbed, and, as gestation advances, milk may be forced from it. Most of these signs however, may be wanting in pregnancy, and may arise independent of it. Chronic inflammation, and other diseases of the womb, will frequently produce them, as may be seen in my "Diseases of Woman." Marriage alone frequently causes such symptoms, particularly in certain temperaments, and deranged menstruation will frequently produce them.
The alteration in the color of the areola, or circle round the nipple, is a sign much relied upon by some, but is frequently a deceptive one, merely from want of close observation. I have known many females, though frequently mothers, whose breasts always retained the bright rosy color they had previous to marriage; and I have known young unmarried females with the breasts quite dark. The peculiar