Having satisfied ourselves that the child is dead, we are to proceed to such inquiries, as may enable us to furnish the best possible evidence on the case, in a court of judicature, viz. 1. _To ascertain whether the Child was born alive?_ In the absence of all direct testimony, our investigation is to be conducted upon principles very similar to those which we have already recommended in those obscure cases of death in which “the person is found dead, and the history of his dissolution is unknown.” See _vol._ iii, _p._ 2. The appearances of the corpse—the character of the spot in which it was found—the report of competent witnesses—and the phenomena displayed on dissection, are, in both cases, the circumstances from which we are to elicit data for the solution of our difficult problem. A. _The inspection of the body of the infant._ By this we are first to learn, whether it had arrived at that degree of maturity which is essential for enabling it to sustain an independent existence—“_etoit il viable?_”[68] If it can be fairly shewn that the child had not reached the end of the seventh month of uterine gestation, the charge of infanticide ought to be withdrawn, although we are well aware that various opinions might be cited in support of a contrary position. (See _Physiological Illustrations_, _vol._ i, _p._ 243.) The weight of the child is a circumstance which should always be ascertained, as being capable of throwing some light on the question at issue. If the fœtus has passed the period of seven months, it will generally weigh four pounds, although upon this point again a difference of opinion has unfortunately existed.[69] The length of the fœtus, at the full term, is said to vary less than its weight. It is generally from nineteen to twenty-two inches. Seventeen and twenty-six will include the two extremes. _Professor Chaussier_ has presented us with a scale of relative admeasurements, from which he thinks we may deduce the age of a child. He asserts that at the full term of gestation, the middle of the body of the fœtus corresponds exactly with the umbicus; at the eighth month it is two or three centimeters higher; that it approaches still nearer the sternum at the seventh month; and at the sixth falls exactly at the abdominal extremity of that bone.[70] If this statement is to be relied upon, we should be able to conclude, says _Dr. Smith_, that when the middle of the length of the body falls at the cartilago ensiformis, the fœtus must be under the seventh month, and consequently could not have continued to live after birth.