DR. RICHARD CATON'S PAPER 63 



to teach her some general principles in regard to 

 the course of life she should pursue to render herself 

 healthy and fit for the great responsibility of mother- 

 hood, and to explain to her the rules that should 

 guide her before and after the birth of her child, for 

 the benefit of both. This is done in part by our 

 schools for mothers. 



The vast majority of births are attended by mid- 

 wives in the mother's own house provision being 

 made for the transference of the mother to a hospital 

 if difficulty or complication should occur. In former 

 times, the midwife being too often of the school of 

 Mrs. Gamp, a dangerous degree of ignorance and 

 uncleanliness prevailed ; but by the operation of the 

 Midwives Act of 1902 the perils thus arising have 

 been greatly reduced. During the year 1.912 only 

 thirty-five births took place under the charge of 

 uncertified miclwives. Moreover, a constant super- 

 vision is exercised over the methods and apparatus 

 of the certified midwife, and any woman who is found 

 to be careless and uncleanly is dealt with. As a 

 result, the type of attendance on the parturient 

 woman is rapidly improving ; for example, it is the 

 rule that the midwife shall take and record pulse and 

 temperature at each visit. Wherever real difficulty 

 or danger occurs, skilled medical help is obtained at 

 once, or in bad cases the patient is removed to the 

 Maternity Hospital. The results, on the whole, are 

 very good. 



The child thus makes his entry into the world 

 under fairly favourable conditions. If there is any- 

 thing abnormal about him, skilled medical aid is at 

 once obtained ; if, for instance, that terrible disease 

 Ophthalmia Neonatorum occurs (a disease which 

 causes life-long blindness if not promptly treated) 

 a specially trained female Sanitary Inspector visits 

 the case, and professional aid is at once secured. 

 Provision has been made for the reception of both 



