mysterious manner brought into existence, how wonderful its formation!
Imperfect in the first instance, nay, even invisible to the naked eye,
the embryo is nevertheless endowed, at once, with the principles of
vitality; and although retained in the system of its mother, it has, in
a strict sense, an independent existence. It immediately manifests all
the phenomena of _organic_ life; it forms its own fluids and circulates
them; it is nourished and developed; and, very rapidly from being a
_rudis indigestaque moles_, apparently an inorganic drop of fluid, its
organs are generated and its form perfected. It daily gains strength and
grows; and, while still within the organ of its mother, manifests some
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 fœtus 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.