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Duration of Pregnancy.14 calved between the 241 st and the 266th day. 53 calved between the 269th and the 280th day. 68 calved between the 280th and the 290th day. 5 calved between the 290th and the 308th day. The extreme difference was, therefore, sixty-seven days ; a matter of considerable interest, especially because the natural term of pregnancy in the cow averages about the same as in the human female. Observations upon mares have shown an even greater latitude in this process. Observations have shown a similar and almost equal variation in the duration of pregnancy in woman. The following table of cases observed by Dr. James Reid is a fair example of such observations. Of 500 cases, 23 were delivered in the 37th week - 255 to 259 days. 48 were delivered in the 38th week - 260 to 266 days. 81 were delivered in the 39th week - 267 to 273 days. 131 were delivered in the 40th week-274 to 280 days. 112 were delivered in the 41 st week - 281 to 287 days. 63 were delivered in the 42d week - 288 to 294 days. 28 were delivered in the 43d week - 295 to 301 days. 8 were delivered in the 44th week - 302 to 308 days. 6 were delivered in the 45th week-309 to 315 days. There is, of course, an element of uncertainty as to the exact date of conception in the human species, which from the very nature of our social and sexual relations can rarely be excluded; but making due allowance for this - say two weeks - it is evident that the duration of pregnancy may vary in the human as in other animals over a considerable range of time. This fact is also demonstrated by the observation of instances in which pregnancy had been unquestionably the result of a single sexual act ; instances which prove that pregnancy has endured 265, 302 and even 313 days after the last coitus. As this matter of the possible limits of pregnancy has often times important legal bearings, enactments with regard to it have been incorporated in the legal code of various nations. The Code Napoleon fixes 300 days as the utmost possible limit for pregnancy, a period adopted also in Scotland ; in Prussia 301 days is the utmost limit recognized by law ; in these countries, therefore, the child of a woman who is confined 302 or more days after the death or departure of her husband, is considered illegitimate. In America, while there is no uniform law upon the subject, yet two cases are on record in which judicial decisions recognized the possibility that delivery might occur even 317 days after the last intercourse. " Some reliable information in regard to this subject may, as we believe, be derived from observation of pregnancy in Jewish women. The author is mainly indebted to a very able physician accoucheur of that persuasion for the following information. Among Jews the sexes are separate during menstruation, and for seven clear days thereafter. The shortest period allowed for menstruation is five days, even should it last for an hour or two, so that the minimum period of separation every month is twelve days ; and in anything approaching menorrhagia, of course, much longer. This law is observed by the vast bulk of the Jewish women, the exceptions being very few. After the period of separation, whatever that may be, the woman, besides an ordinary bath for cleansing purposes, must take what is called the 'bath of purification.' She simply dips in this, but does not wash. This gives a fixed day from which a Jewish woman reckons, as she knows the day she went to the bath, and calculates accordingly. Any one who may have an opportunity of making observations in this direction will find, first, that Jewish women calculate more accurately as to the duration of pregnancy; second, that according to their experience the duration of pregnancy seems to be rather less than is usually supposed ; and third (although this has less to do with 'the subject more immediately under consideration), that, as has been observed by a late writer in Germany, this frequent and protracted abstinence from sexual intercourse may be admitted as a possible cause of the undoubted vitality of the Jewish race. "-Leishtnan. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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