_ Management of the afjer birth— —T 
centa constitutes a very important pz 
womb be not permitted to empty itself graduall ls 
alarming circumstances may occur in this stage of delivery. 
rally from fifteen to thirty minutes elapse between the birth and the. 
_ expulsion of the placenta. The woman then complains of a sli ight 
pain in the back or abdomen, and this. secondary, contraction o ie 
womb detaches the placenta, although it but rarely expels its 
the passages; whence, however, it may usually be easily removed ; 
by coiling the cord round two of the fingers of the right hand, whilst, 
guided by the cord, the thumb and index finger of the other ha: 
should be passed up to its insertion in the placenta, which, if 
be felt, is a pretty certain indication of the detachment of the w 
from ‘the sides of the womb. By this means, also, the navel- 
string is prevented from breaking off, and a firmer hold of the pla- a5 
centa is obtained, 
To prevent the possibility of inverting the womb, or from its oc- 
currence without our knowing it, the placenta should be permitted | 
to slip by the fingers of the left hand into the vagina; and the with-_ 
drawing of it should alvw ays be done in the easiest and most 
manner possible. The hand of the accoucheur should 
wards be laid on the abdomen, and the forefinger int 
the vagina, to ascertain, whether the womb is well contr 
in its natural place. ‘This i is of much ean Be as 7 
it, inflammations take place in the womb whic often prove fé 
The pulse should now be #el internal hemorrhage, redistend- é 
ing the womb, may be going on, to the endangering of the patier it’s 
Teas of great importance that a bandage be passed over the 
ofthe womb ; this being done, a napkin. should be applied wet with 
Spirits or vinegar to the external parts. 'The woman should then 
have her soiled linen withdrawn ; and if she be able, andthere isno 
flooding present, she should stand on her feet, or walk a few steps, 
which will assist in discharging off the clotted blood that may re- 
main unexpelled, and tend to prevent after pains. — She may | 
be put in bed, without any exertions of her own, and light: 
= 
2 gt =o es in small quantities, when she ney be left o rest. 
' KK When the labor proves redial and difficult, 
it will ‘generally y prove a sufficient relief to give the woman freely of — 
the ‘‘ mother’s cordial.” ‘This will allay the irritating, fruitless, and 
false pains, and preserve the strength of the patient fora more pow- 
erful and successful effort, which will arrive in due time, and must 
not be hurried. If inflammation should take place in any part of: 
abdomen, the “ anodyne wash” should be applied. An emollier 
elyster ought frequently to be administered. If the pulse seems 
; the woman is greatly exhausted, a draught of generous 
some other cordial, may be given, but not otherwis : 
i-spasmodics are necessary, castor, musk, & 
Warm tamomile teas may also bei 1 
