The truth seems to be that while frequently the crime is committed in the very earliest period of pregnancy, in the belief that possibly all alarm may be false, in most cases the woman waits a month or two to be sure that she really is pregnant. After the sixth month the comparative rarity of the crime is undoubtedly owing to the fact that fœtal life is then rendered certain by the perceived movements of the child, the more strongly as pregnancy advances. It was formerly thought that the induction of criminal abortion was confined to the unmarried alone; there exists, however, abundant proof to the contrary. Had such been the fact it would be reasonable to suppose that with the increase of marriages, the number of premature and still-births would have lessened. In proportion, however, as the number of marriages has increased, so has the number of fœtal deaths, and in similar ratio the number of living births has declined; proving, as Husson was compelled to acknowledge of Paris, “a decrease in the fecundity of legitimate unions,”[96] explainable in nowise but by a criminal cause. Direct statistics on this point are still wanting, and must come, almost entirely, from medical men. The writer’s published experience has been already referred to; subsequent practice has only confirmed it. Again, the victims of abortion are not confined to the inhabitants of cities. Of the prosecutions in France during 1851-53, it appears that but little more than a tenth of the whole number occurred in the Department of Seine.[97] But we have already furnished much stronger evidence on this point. Finally, though the excessive extravagance of the day, entailing as it does to so many an annual expenditure incommensurate with their income, is accountable in no small degree for the crime, yet it cannot always be alleged. There is too much reason to believe that with our communities it is as with others. In France it appears that the poor and uneducated have on the whole the largest families, contrary in some respects to established hygienic rules; while, on the other hand, the rich are inclined as far as possible to restrict the number of their children, often indeed stipulating beforehand, at marriage or previously, that such shall be few or none.[98] But not only must we believe that this crime prevails in our midst to an almost incredible extent among the wealthy and educated and married; we are compelled to admit that Christianity itself, or at least Protestantism, has failed to check the increase of criminal abortion. It is not astonishing to find that the crime was known in ancient times, as shown by evidence previously given, nor that it exists at the present day among savage tribes, excused by ignorance and superstition; but that Christian communities should especially be found to tolerate and to practice it, does almost exceed belief.