(from ab, defect, and orior, to arise.) Aboriri quasi intempestive oriri. Abortion- or miscarriage. The birth of a child before its due time; or, the destroying a child in the womb: termed also convulsio uteri, deperditio, diaphthora, ectrosis, exambloma, examblosis, amblosis, apopallesis, apopalsis, apophthora.

Miscarriages happen at any period of pregnancy, and from innumerable causes; most frequently in the third and beginning of the fourth month: but those which happen in the sixth, or later, are more difficult and dangerous.

Women who are very fat, who have miscarried before, and who easily or without any particular inconvenience, during the time of miscarriage, or soon after, part with their burden, are most subject to this accident.

The causes are various; violent emotions, frights, poi-sons, violent purges, immoderate exercise, particularly in riding or dancing, an obstinate diarrhaea, the small-fiox, and other acute diseases; too much blood, great loss of blood, and not unfrequently an incautious use of the lancet. See Dr. Wallis's Essay on Injudicious Bleeding in Pregnancy. Habitual miscarriages happening at stated periods, without manifest cause, are very common among women of fashion, from the more general causes of weakness, viz. indolence, sitting up late at night, fear, grief, etc. In general, the causes may be reduced to what immediately affects the child, the placenta, the membranes, or the mother. Thus, the death of the child; membranes too weak; the funis too short; the placenta separated or diseased, are causes of abortion.

As to the mother, besides the causes above enumerated, the two following are very common ones. The first is too great a stricture of the uterus; in which case it is not capable of a dilatation sufficient to make room for the foetus as it increases in bulk: this is known by violent pains, a great tension and hardness of the belly. Bleeding, and whatever relaxes, are indicated in this case. The second is a relaxation of the uterus, which renders it unable to support the inosculations of the vessels of the placenta into itself, after the foetus and placenta, etc. are grown to a certain weight; and of all others, this is the most frequent. In these two cases, the miscarriage always happens about a stated time of the woman's pregnancy.

An approaching miscarriage, or the death of the child. is to be apprehended by the breasts growing suddenly flabby; a painful weight in the loins, which reaches to the thighs; pains about the navel, head, and eyes; coldness in the extremities: when violent means have been used to expel the fetus, convulsions occasionally come on; pains in the belly, like a cholic, and sometimes more like labour pains; shiverings; fainting; and after the time of quickening, the motion of the fetus is more languid. and less frequent than usual: as the miscarriage draws nearer, the pains of the loins increase, extending to the hips; the orifice of the womb begins to be dilated; a watery discharge is perceived, which becomes bloody; at length blood, pure or clotted, comes away. The most certain sign is the discharge of a flesh-coloured Flaky Substance, Which Comes Away with the waters; this is the tunica decidua, or spongy chorion; and when it peels off from the womb, and appears with the waters, a miscarriage is unavoidable.

Healthy women, who have naturally a loose belly, a moist uterus, and have brought forth large infants with easy labour, who are lean, but not very sanguine, bear miscarriages more easily; but in general, they are ever to be considered as more dangerous than natural labours; for more violence is necessary to discharge the imperfect foetus than when it has arrived at its full maturity; the placenta is also more firmly attached during the growth of the foetus than when it is full grown; and besides the danger of a fatal haemorrhage from the adhesion of the placenta, the os tincae does not so easily dilate before the full period of gestation. If a part of the placenta is separated before the burden is delivered, the uterus cannot contract sufficiently to close the bleeding vessels. These haemorrhages are extremely dangerous, and often fatal.

In constitutions subject to this misfortune, be careful to avoid whatever has been formerly suspected to cause it, and also guard against every known cause that may possibly endanger the patient. In the first months keep the belly gently open with laxatives; and avoid all exertions, even the most moderate. If violent pains come on, at the third month, in a robust habit, some blood may be taken; and if symptoms of plethora should be strong, this may be done, though nervous weakness may be otherwise evident.

If pains come on after bleeding, tinct. opii camphor-ata, or tinct. opii cum infus. cinchonae, is necessary.

In very relaxed habits, the bark is useful; but in general, the tincture of opium, or the pulvis opiatus with nitre, are the best remedies. The bowels must however be kept open with castor oil or moderate doses of salts; and should a tenesmus keep up local irritation, it may be quieted by an opiate or a starch clyster with from 80 to 100 drops of the tinctur. opii. Rest.

with opiates, cool drinks, gentle laxatives, and moderate but not violent astringents, are the best remedies. Should miscarriage be connected with any other general disease, this must be the chief object of attention.

As precautions to prevent miscarriages during pregnancy are not so efficacious as those used betwixt a miscarriage and the next impregnation, the advantage of this interval should be embraced, the particular disorders should be attended to and removed, and the general vigour restored so far as possible: to this end cold-bathing will greatly contribute, if it is used near bed-time, or after the dinner is well digested. The chalybeate waters are excellent in this case; they should be drank at the spring, early in the morning, to the quantity of three or four half pints; their use must be continued two or three months, and exercise within the strength should be used at the same time.