APPENDIX. (41) 



^ relaxed, allowing themfelves to be bent in any diredion, and w.X"iit«. 

 when the uterus is ftill large. This is the condition of the ute- ' , 



rus ; when the child has been forced away, either by the adlion 

 merely of the abdominal mufcles and diaphragm, or by the af- 

 fillance, as it is called, of the midwife, Ihould the placenta ad- 

 here to the very fundus or near it, a fmall degree of force, ap- 

 plied to the cord, may invert the uterus while large, flaccid, and 

 empty. 



" The fureft method of preventing fuch an accident, then, 

 iS to produce a complete and regular contracSlion of the uterus, 

 which may be accompliflied more eafily than fome have imagin- 

 ed. For we know, that as long as any ftimulus is applied to 

 the cavity, and efpecially to the mouth, which is the moft irri- 

 table part of the womb, a contradion will take place, in order to 

 expel the ftin[iulating caufe. Therefore, by allowing the child 

 to be born folely by the pains of labour, by giving no ailiflance 

 in the extra(flion, (except where the fize of the child, or the mal- 

 conformation of the pelvis, render affiftance abfolutely jiecef- 

 fary), and by preventing the delivery of the body from being 

 accomplifhed by the abdominal mufcles folely, we force the ute- 

 rus to contract itfelf, and to expel its contents. After the deli- 

 very of the body, by allowing the legs to lie for a fliort time in 

 .the vagina, and to pi'efs on the mouth of the womb, we enfure 

 its contradtion. 



"By fuch management, the uterus having been made to con- 

 trad itfelf properly, we have die placenta feparated, and ready 

 for extradlion. Thvis, together with the danger of inverfion, we 

 are freed from two more common accidents, viz. a retained pla- 

 centa and a flooding. Befides, the child is lefs hurt, when the 

 flow delivery allows time for the dilatation of the pafl^ige ; and it 

 i-uns no rifli of thofe fprains and bruifes which often happen in 

 . atjtenipting to pull away the child withoiit the affiftance of a la- 

 ibour-pain. 



(F) « I 



