. An American text-book of obstetrics. For practitioners and students. ooth in its contour, larger vertically than trausversly, and by proper pal-pation it will be felt to contract spontaneously. (b) Coloration.—On inspection of the abdomen of pregnant women therewill be recognized not only the condition of the navel, but also a changedcolor of the abdominal surface, and the preseuce of striae, due to distention ofthe abdomen. The pigmentation may extend from the pubis to the xiphoidcartilage—the brown lines. On the sides of the abdominal walls and downthe thighs red, blue, or white markings,
. An American text-book of obstetrics. For practitioners and students. ooth in its contour, larger vertically than trausversly, and by proper pal-pation it will be felt to contract spontaneously. (b) Coloration.—On inspection of the abdomen of pregnant women therewill be recognized not only the condition of the navel, but also a changedcolor of the abdominal surface, and the preseuce of striae, due to distention ofthe abdomen. The pigmentation may extend from the pubis to the xiphoidcartilage—the brown lines. On the sides of the abdominal walls and downthe thighs red, blue, or white markings, like cicatrices, may be seen. (c) Fetal Movements.—Fetal movements are generally visible after the sixthmonth through the abdominal parietes. 7. Ballottement.—Ballottement is a passive motion of the fetus, consist-ing of the peculiar sensation felt by the examining fingers upon giving thefetus a motion in utero. Vaginal ballottement is usually employed, althoughabdominal ballottement is also practicable at times, and may be noticed for a PREGNANCY. Plate DIAGNOSIS OF PREGNANCY. 167 longer period of time, even during the beginning of labor. For the ballotte-meut impulse to be perceptible there must be a mobile fetus, not too large, anda sufficient quantity of the liquor amnii to permit the entire fetal displace-ment in utero. The woman stands or reclines during its performance. In thevaginal ballottement the finger is placed within the vagina, anterior to thecervix, the pulp of the finger being applied to the anterior vaginal fornix bya direct brisk motion. The fetus is propelled upward into the uterine cavity,and, falling back by its gravity, an impulse is imparted to the finger againstwhich it falls. Ballottement distinctly noticed is a pathognomonic sign of pregnancy,there being no other condition in which a solid body is found floating in theuterine cavity. The absence of this sign does not preclude the possibility ofpregnancy, for different conditions may preve
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectobstetrics, bookyear1
