Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-10
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field.
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY

can one remember anything before be-
ing born?
The question seems paradoxical be-
fore reading one of the classics of
physiology, "Specielle Physologie des
Embryo" by the 18th century German
biologist. Wilhelm Preyer, the first Eng
hsh translation Of which has just been
issued by the Child Development Society
OF the National Research Council.
More and more child research is turn
ing to the effects of possible expert
ences before birth on the DEVELOPMENT
OF the individual and the vast mass of
data assembled by Preyer hitherto has
been unavailable The German phy-
slologlst concluded that the pre- birth
period was one of deep, almost unbroken
sleep, from which coming into the world
was a rude awakening. He found evil
oence, nevertheless, that sometimes the
unborn does wake up-only to fall back
to sleep again almost Immediately or die.
Since" he says. "six to ten month
fetuses are awakable-they awaken
through the processes of premature birth
or birth-one must ascribe to the fetus
during this period the property of being
available. A blow against the mother,
large loss of blood by her. have so often
as consequence increased liveliness of
the fetal movements that one cannot
term as improbable an awakening of the
fetus. It is, to be sure, no awakening
in the full sense Of the word because
the higher sense organs are resting. But
even the fetus can feel some pain and
this can hence awaken it, just like the
animal In its winter sleep and the
sucking fast asleep in a dark, quiet
place. Whoever feels pain is awake.
ION the other hand it cannot be as
sumed that the waking condition lasts
long because the shock either soon brings
death or asphyxia, or the strong excite
ment will bring after it fatigue and new
sleep. Also there is no reason why
person under normal conditions should
awaken even once before birth, since the
stated newborn individual needs strong
stimuli even to be awakened, like the
animal in its winter sleep.
"One cannot deny the fetus the capac-
ity of distinguishing between pleasure
and diSpleasure. The same holds for
hunger. It is incorrectly assumed that
the unborn one cannot feel hunger. For
whence shall sufficient nourishment be
pIOuSuI 10 MIN II the UlOJNer QuQRerS
or loses much blood? Whatever the
substances may be which in the placenta
for the nourishment of the fetus 20 over
from the blood of the mother into the
fetal capillaries. their quantities must
undergo variations according to the
nutritive condition of the mother.
1T is at least improbable that the fetus.
before the meal of the mother, receives
just as much nutritive substance In 4
given time as after. Therefore, the fetus
could have stronger need for nourish-
ment at one time than another. One
condition for the occurrence of hunger
would be thus fulfilled. The other, a
sensorium capable Of having feeling Of
hunger and feeling Of safety, is not
acceptable if the fetus sleeps. It can,
however, be awakened through steady
decrease in the introduction of nourish-
ment. Muscle sensation cannot be de-
MED to the mature fetus, because it
moves: Pain also is undoubtedly felt to
a small degree"
Even more paradoxically, Preyer be-