ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12474, 26 February 1909, Page 4

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT.

Maternal Impressions and Birthmarks. "A Mother," Tapanui, writes: — "Could you kindly let me know through your column how birthmarks are caused, and if there is any truth in the idea that if you get a fright or if your mind is thinking of any particular thing, and if you touch yourself, will the mark of the object be there on that certain spot on the child. I have been told that it happens in the early mouths of pregnancy. Reply. . There is no reason to suppose that bhere is any connection between the mother's thoughts or such so-called "maternal impressions" as Tyou instance and birthmarkd. l?ii*i:i:iarlfs arise from some slight local deviation from the normal in the course of growth and development while the baby is still in the womb, just as similar departures may take place after birth. Nature drops. a few stitches . as it were, or puts in a few extra, and the effect of this may be to mar the pattern over a considerable area, es- : pecially if it occurs very early in ; pregnancy. According to the extent or position of the defect the result may be a mere birthmark or a distinct malformation. A mistake at the start may spoil the whole stocking, but an srror in the last row can only, affect the finish. The mother's thoughts, feelings, or impressions have no powjr of directly exercising any influence jver the structure of her unborn -babe ; 'but a severe shock or fright may even cause abortion, by setting i up irregular contractions of the) .vomb, etc. In an indirect way the! .Bother's mental or' emotional state can and does influence the whole body ' and mirCd of L her offspring, bh rough the beneficial effect exercised by happiness and contentment, for instance, as contrasted with worry and discontent, on the mother's ap.petite, digestion, nutrition, blood secretion, excretion^ and bodily P r °" cesses and health generally. Before jirth the baby is built cell by cell out of the- mother's blood,; and Nature cannot make good stockings out of poor yarn, or good bricks without straw -after birth the baby should be built out of the mother's milk, and here again the health, happiness, and contentment of the mother make all the world of difference to the offspring.