THE SICK HA7IS COUFATTIOX. 7$ 



throes, which take place naturally, are caused 

 by the contraction of the womb; and with them 

 alone the practitioner can, in proper season, safe- 

 ly bring it away. It is altogether a mistaken 

 notion, that in general iome external mechanic- 

 al force is necessary in order to expel the placen- 

 ta, or after-birth: we cannot, therefore, approve 

 of the modes occasionally recommended, of 

 coughing, sneezing, blowing in the hands, or 

 making general pressure over the belly, with a 

 view of helping its descent, or by any kind of 

 tight bandage applied to the abdomen, immedi- 

 ately after the birth of the child. There is, how- 

 ever, a general action of the hand on the belly, 

 which the patient herself may perform, by which 

 the uterus is tenderly excited to contract, and 

 the placenta of course detached in the most fa- 

 vorable manner, that will be found more useful 

 than any bandage, or any extraordinary exer- 

 . tlons of the patient, for that purpose. But as 

 this may not be. necessary in every case, it must 

 be left to the judgment of tlie practitioner to di- 

 rect. When the effects of nature do not tend to 

 disengage the after birth within an liourafter the 

 birth of the infant, the interference of art ought 

 to be submitted lo. For if it be not thrown off, 

 in a short time after the infant is born, it becomes 

 putrid, and induces alarming consequences. 

 But in assisting the expulsion of the afterbirth, 

 unless the practitioner wait for the contraction of 



