. , during the progress of delivery, 
ee divisions, or stages; the first 
before the complete dilatation of 
- ofthe child ; the third embraces every thing connected with the de- 
Symptoms preceding labor.—For several days before the actual 
xistence of labor, there are certain premonitory symptoms, which, 
women who have borne children, are viewed as precursors of that 
1 hour which many of them so much dread. Among these 
less, particularly at night, which frequently precedes de- 
days and weeks. The “ mother’s cordial” effectually 
alleviates this troublesome accompaniment, and ad- 
mirably prepares the woman for a quick and astonishingly easy 
_ delivery, in comparison with that of those who have not made use of 
this preparation. 
Subsidence of the womb and abdomen, is not an unusual monitor - 
__ of the approach of suffering. It may be viewed favorably, inasmuch 
_ as it indicates room in the pelvis. 
_ A glairy mucus secretion from the neck of the womb and vagina, 
_ popularly termed show, sometimes occurs for days before the more” _ 
_ urgent symptoms of labor. It is often streaked with blood, and 
eems to lubricate the parts concerned in parturition. 
lity of the bladder and rectum, demanding their freq 
ther occasional sign of labor, ea 
1s accompanying labor.—Owing to the resistance which 
womb encounters during its contractile efforts, pain follows 
every such contraction; but the pain attendant on parturition dif 
_ fers very materially in its nature, and in its influence in the womb. 
_ These paroxysms of pain are either intestinal or uterine. 
_. Paroxysms of intestinal pain, or such as are termed false or spu- 
ious, may be distinguished from genuine labor-pains, by being un- 
ected with contractions of the womb; by attacking different 
of the abdomen ; and by recurring irregularly. These pains 
; in some source of intestinal irritation, and almost always 
be removed by emptying the bowels, and administering the 
her’s cordial.” —This determines immediately whether they 
or spurious pains, for if the latter, they will be presently 
pains are either dilating or expulsive. ~abape oF: | 
: ng pains, or as they are popularly termed, grinding pains, 
result from the contraction of thewomb. 'They are principally : i - 
ed to the back, and occur in the earliest stage of labor, and are often 
_peculiarly distressing to the patient, who expresses herself by rest- 
sness, despondency, and moaning. They s : es con! 
