panies time salina the intermissions being 
appear almost exclusively to dilate the x 
little influence over the body of the ‘ 
When the mouth of the womb is 
pains, sometimes termed forcing, or be 
mence in the loins and gradually procee 
they meet at the region of the pubes, and dart down the labia and 
thighs. If the accoucheur’s hand be placed on the flaccid sides of © 
the abdomen, previous to the accession of a paroxysm or bearing. 
down pain, before the woman is aware of it, the womb may be felt 
contracting to a hard, tense, incompressible tumor. These 2 
observe regular intervals of ease, which become shorter, whils 
pains, in an inverse ratio, increase in their duration and i 
and now it is that the abdominal muscles and diaphragm afford their , 
assistance. 
During each propulsive effort a larger portion of the meri biswees 
distended with the liquor of the egg, is forced through the mouth of _ 
the womb, performing to it, and all the parts through which the child — 
is to pass, the office of an easy but powerful wedge. With these — 
pains there is often a frequent disposition to empty the reetum ; and 
sometimes this inclination is ‘so harassing as to require the adminis- 
tration of a small clyster, with half a drachm of the 
opium. Bae 
Vomiting is a common attendant on parturition 4 
pally occurs during the dilating pains, and asinine § assists in 
the relaxation | and dilatation of the mouth of the womb. If this ~ 
- yomiting should continue severe, afier the mouth of the ‘womb is 
sufficiently dilated, and a substance like dark coffee grounds is ej 
ed, means must be used to allay it. 
The process of natural labor.—The process of natural ages is i 
once so simple and beautiful, that it cannot fail to excite the admi- — 
ration of those who look beneath the surface of the operations of 
nature. Without repeating what has already been advanced rese 
pecting the accompanying symptoms of delivery, we shall merely 
calf to mind those statements as constituting a part of the history 
of this process. The symptoms which announce the E 
ment of natural labor having continued for an indefinite length of 
time ; oa in he loins, darting through the pelvis, with an 
of ‘ the approach of unequivocal evidences of this 
x ition. From time to time these pains are of the 
s kind, ‘and on an examination by the vagina will be found 
to be d ininishing the thickness of the neck of the womb more than 
to be opening its mouth. When the neck of the womb becomes 
reduced to the thickness of the other parts of that organ, it begins. 
to open, and as soon as it can admit the extension of any part of th 
membranes distended with the liquor, the pains rather assume 
expuilsive character, and there will be a sensible bearing down of t 
né tumor. Successive paroxysms of pain dilate the 
more and more, whilst the protruded memb: 
a tense bladder, fill up the opening, and . 
ne a 
