of the phenomena of animal life, especially as regards mobility. After
the fourth month its motions are perceptible to the mother, and in a
short period can be perceived by other individuals on close
investigation.

"The usual impression," the authors add, "and one which is probably
still maintained by the mass of the community, is that the embryo is
perfected at the period of quickening--say the one hundred and twelfth
or one hundred and twentieth day. When the mother first perceives
motion, is considered the period when the foetus becomes animated--when
it receives its spiritual nature into union with its corporeal.

"These and similar suppositions are, as has been already shown, contrary
to all fact, and, if it were not for the high authorities--medical,
legal, and theological--in opposition, we might add, to common-sense."

At present, gentlemen, there seems to be no longer any authority to the
contrary. But many people, and some Doctors, seem to be several
generations behind the times; for they still act and reason as if in the
first weeks of pregnancy no immortal or human soul were in question.

Physicians worthy of their noble profession should strive to remove such
gross and mischievous ignorance. In many of the United States the law
casts its protection around an unborn infant from its first stage of
ascertainable existence; no matter whether "quickening" has taken place
or not, and consequently no matter what may be the stage of gestation,
an indictment lies for its wilful destruction (Wharton and Stille,
p. 861). "Where there has been as yet no judicial settlement of the
immediate question, it may be reasonably contended that to make the
criminality of the offence depend upon the fact of quickening is as
repugnant to sound morals as it is to enlightened physiology" (ib.).
"That it is inconsistent with the analogies of the law is shown by the
fact that an infant, born even at the extreme limit of gestation after
its father's death, is capable of taking by descent, and being appointed
executor" (ib.). Dr. Hodge adds this sensible remark: "It is _then_ only
[at conception] the father can in any way exert an influence over his
offspring; it is _then_ only the female germ is in direct union with the
mother--the connection afterwards is indirect and imperfect" (ib.). The
fact, therefore, is now scientifically established that the embryo from
the first moment of conception or fecundation is a human being, having