247. Growth Of Fetus

The growth of the human young begins with the development of the fertilized ovum in the uterus. During the succeeding nine months of in utero existence, the embryo and fetus increase in substance by the deposition of Compounds the same in kind as those which are applied to constructive purposes subsequent to birth. The following analysis of the human fetus partially developed, and at time of birth, illustrates the truth of the above statement: -

Table XLI. Composition Of The Embryo And Fully Grown Fetus

TABLE XLI

Composition of the Embryo and Fully Grown Fetus1

Weight

Dry

Substance

Nitrogen

Fat

Ash

Grams

Grams

Grams

Grams

Grams

Embryo (7 months)

900-1000

150-160

16

26

26

Fully grown fetus . .

3200

850-1000

60-65

350

85-100

Addition in about 100 days .................

2250

700-850

45-50

350

60-75

Average addition per day last 100 days

22.5

7.0-8.5

.45-.50 3 grams albumin

3.5

0.6-.75

Table XLII. Other Analyses Of The Embryo And Fully Grown Fetus

TABLE XLII

Other Analyses of the Embryo and Fully Grown Fetus2

Age

Total Weight

Dry Matter

Water

Dry Matter Contains

Ash

Protein

Fat

Grams

Grams

Grams

Grams

Grams

Grams

4 mo

36.5

3.00

33.5

0.33

1.77

0.20

6 mo

361.8

39.10

322.7

7.01

24.13

2.60

Full grown . .

3294.0

855.52

2440.8

83.00

388.69

299.7

The figures in Table XLII confirm those of the previous table in a general way in showing that the growth of the fetus is mostly during the last three or four months of in utero life.

1 "Metabolism and Practical Medicine," Von Noorden, Vol. I, p. 377. 2 "Des Kindes Ernahrung," Czerny-Keller, p. 87.

Table XLIII. Composition Of The Ash of A New-Born Child

TABLE XLIII1

Composition of the Ash of a New-born Child1

In Total Ash

In 1000 Grams Body Weight

Grams

Grains

Potassium oxid (potash) . .

1.64

0.88

Sodium oxid (soda) ....

6.20

3.35

Calcium oxid (lime) ....

25.40

13.73

Magnesium oxid (magnesia)

0.67

0.36

Ferric oxid

1.15

0.61

Phosphorus pentoxid....

22.81

12.25

Chlorine

3.50

1.89

61.37

33.07

These tables set forth other facts than that the body of the fetus and new-born infant consists of ash, protein, and fat. It is evident that at least 75 per cent of the dry substance of the former is added during the last three months of intra-uterine life, and that the daily addition is small, amounting on the average, during the period of rapid growth, to about 3 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of fat, and 0.6 to 0.7 gram of ash elements.