of untoward symptoms should not be awaited before consulting a
physician; on the contrary, prospective mothers must be taught that
they should be under competent medical supervision throughout
pregnancy.

At present intelligent women demand some knowledge of the anatomical
and physiological changes incident to the development of the embryo
and the birth of the child. These subjects do not readily lend
themselves to popular description, but I have told the story as
simply as possible, following in a general way the text-book of my
teacher and friend, Professor J. Whitridge Williams; indeed, my main
purpose has been to reproduce his book "in words of one syllable."
The use of a number of technical words has been unavoidable, and,
though their meaning has been given in the context, it has not been
feasible to repeat the definition every time an unfamiliar term was
used. On that account a glossary has been provided.

It is with pleasure that I avail myself of this opportunity to
acknowledge the cheerfully given assistance of many friends. In
particular I wish to thank Doctor Henry M. Hurd, until recently
Superintendent of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, for his interest and
advice. I am also under deep obligation to my friend John C. French,
of the English Department of the Johns Hopkins University, for
helpful criticism of the manuscript, and to my colleagues, Doctors
Rupert Norton and Thomas R. Boggs, for valuable assistance. To many
others--doctors, nurses, and patients--I am indebted for numerous
suggestions which have been made either consciously or unconsciously.

J. MORRIS SLEMONS.