_Areola._ Among the earliest of those symptoms which must be considered as diagnostic are the changes observed in the appearance of the breasts; "they increase, become full; they are occasionally painful and grow hard: the veins in them are rendered conspicuous from their blue colour; the nipple becomes more bulky and appears inflated, its colour becomes darker, the surrounding disc undergoes a similar change, increases in extent, and is covered with little prominences like so many diminutive nipples."[36] "The several circumstances (says Dr. Montgomery, p. 59,) here enumerated at least ought in all cases to form distinct subjects of consideration, when we propose to avail ourselves of this part as an indication of the existence or absence of pregnancy. One other, also, equally constant and deserving of particular notice, is a soft and moist state of the integument, which appears raised and in a state of turgescence, giving one the idea that if touched by the point of the finger it would be found emphysematous. This state appears, however, to be caused by infiltration of the subjacent cellular tissue, which together with its altered colour, gives us the idea of a part in which a greater degree of vital action is going forward than is in operation round it, and we not unfrequently find that the little glandular follicles, or tubercles, as they are called by Morgagni, are bedewed with a secretion sufficient to damp and colour the woman's inner dress. These changes do not take place immediately after conception, but occur in different persons after uncertain intervals. We must therefore consider, in the first place, the period of pregnancy at which we may expect to gain any useful information from the condition of the areola. I cannot say positively what may be the earliest period at which this change can be observed, but I have recognised it fully at the end of the second month, at which time the alteration in colour is by no means the circumstance most observable; but the puffy turgescence, though as yet slight, not alone of the nipple, but of the whole surrounding disc, and the development of the little glandular follicles, are the objects to which we should principally direct our attention, the colour at this period being in general little more than a deeper shade of rose or flesh colour, slightly tinged occasionally with a yellowish or light brownish hue. During the progress of the next two months the changes in the areola are in general perfected, or nearly so, and then it presents the following characters: a circle around the nipple, whose colour varies in intensity according to the particular complexion of the individual, being usually much darker in persons with black hair, dark eyes, and sallow skin, than in those of fair hair, light-coloured eyes, and delicate complexion.[37] The extent of this circle varies in diameter from an inch to an inch and a half, and increases in most persons as pregnancy advances, as does also