The movement was due to spasmodic movements of the abdominal muscles, the causes being unknown.

Madden gives the history of a primipara of twenty-eight, married one year, to whom he was called.

On entering the room he was greeted by the midwife, who said she expected the child about 8 P.M.
The woman was lying in the usual obstetric position, on the left side, groaning, crying loudly, and pulling hard at a strap fastened to the bed-post.

She had a partial cessation of menses, and had complained of tumultuous movements of the child and overflow of milk from the breasts.

Examination showed the cervix low down, the os small and circular, and no signs of pregnancy in the uterus.