The medical evidence relative to the duration of human pregnancy, given in the Gardner peerage cause, before the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords in 1825-6 : with introductory remarks and notes / by Robert Lyall.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. Committee for Privileges
Date:
1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical evidence relative to the duration of human pregnancy, given in the Gardner peerage cause, before the Committee for Privileges of the House of Lords in 1825-6 : with introductory remarks and notes / by Robert Lyall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ISABELLA LEIGHTON was then called in, and, having beeu sworn, was examined by Mr. Tindal as follows: You are the mother of one of the witnesses, Mrs. Parker, who was examined yesterday, are you not?—Yes. How many children have you had ?—Eleven. Amongst those children, have any of them been born at a longer period than when you were ten months with child ?—Yes. Do you mean one, or more than one ? —With only one; but I cannot recollect how long; it was not the last. I have gone a mouth, or near six weeks, I think. With which ?—The last but one. With your last child but one you went how long ?—A month or six weeks nearly. Beyond what?—Beyond what I thought. What did you think ; at what time did you expect your child would be born ?—The last of April or the beginning of May. Why did you expect your child to be born the last of April or the beginning of May ?—Because I thought by my reckoning. When did you begin to reckon ; from how long before that last of April or beginning of May ; how many months before that?—Nine months. Reckoning that way, how long was the child born after the last of April or the beginning of May?—It was born on the 15th of June. Did that happen on any other occasion, or only on the one you were mentioning ?—That was the only one 1 have thought of in so long. Cross-exujnined by Mr. Adam. Are you a married woman ?—Yes. Were you living with your husband at that time?—Yes; I always live with him. Were you living Avith him then?—Yes. You cannot recollect, you say, whether you went a month or six weeks beyond the time you speak of; how long was it sitrce this child was born ?—Twelve or thirteen years ago. Does not your memory enable you to say Avhether you were a month or six weeks longer than you expected ?—I think it was be- tween a ?nonth and six weeks. You are not sure whether it was a month or six weeks, or some period between the two?—No, I looked upon the latter end of April or the beginning of May as my time. From what period did you begin to count, so as to make yon sup- pose you should be brought to bed at the end of April or the begin- ning of May ; Avhat did you count from ?—No more than I thought I should go till the latter end of A])ril or the beginning of May. Why did you think so; from what circumstance did you begin your counting?—From no more than what other women do. Was that your only reason ?—Yes. Can you state Avhcn it was that that circumstance happened.