OBSTETRICS, OR MIDWIFERY 769 



should be taken that the patient is warmly covered. 

 A slight shivering will often occur, but this is gener- 

 ally from nervousness. If the patient has lost much 

 blood or is very weak, the head should be placed low; 

 only a very small pillow or none at all should be used. 

 The patient should now be allowed to rest. Simple 

 drinks may be allowed at pleasure, but stimulants are 

 rarely called for. The patient will generally fall asleep 

 if allowed to do so, and will awake after two or three 

 hours, very much refreshed. Food may be taken at 

 regular times, but should be simple and unstimulating. 

 Milk, toast, oatmeal porridge, and occasionally soft- 

 boiled eggs, should constitute the chief diet. Beefsteak 

 and other meats are better avoided. 



Attention should be given to the bowels and blad- 

 der. If the bowels do not move by the second day, an 

 enema should be administered. Either tepid water or 

 flaxseed tea may be employed. The bladder should be 

 emptied within a few hours after labor. If there is 

 inability to urinate, a warm fomentation may be ap- 

 plied over the bladder between the thighs, or a warm 

 douche administered. This will usually bring relief, 

 especially the latter measure, the patient being directed 

 to urinate while the douche is being given. If these 

 simple measures do not succeed, it will be necessary to 

 use a catheter. The bladder should be relieved two 

 or three times a day. 



The first day, the discharge from the womb is of 

 a bloody character; after this, it gradually becomes 

 watery, and in from three to five days it becomes 

 thicker. This is termed the locJiial discharge, and gen- 

 erally continues from one to three weeks. It is often 

 checked for a day or two at the time when the milk 

 secretion begins. In order to prevent the discharge 



