282 DR. CHASET 8 RECIPES. 



These alarming hemorrhages are often brought about by accidenta, such 

 as blows or falls, or by the lifting of heavy weights. But when flooding first 

 makes its appearance, at the seventh month or later, and there has been no 

 such accident to account for it, the probability is that the case is one of placenta 

 frosvia, in which the after-birth is in an unusual position — namely, over thf 

 mouth of the womb, constituting a very dangerous complication. The tem- 

 porary treatment of flooding due to this condition in no way differs, however, 

 from that already described. 



When previous pregnancies have been cut short by miscarriage, it is very 

 necessary that the greatest precautions should be observed to avoid the repeti- 

 tion of such an accident. Now, we know from experience, that miscarriages 

 are most apt to take place at those times which, in the absence of pregnancy, 

 would have been the ordinary menstrual pf riods. It it on these occasions, 

 therefore, that preventive measures are most needed and most likely to be 

 useful. Every month, then, during the time that the patient would, under 

 other circumstances, have been unwell, she should maintain the recumbent 

 posture, if not in bed, at any rate on a couch. If this simple rule were attended 

 to, many a miscarriage would be averted. A woman known to be liable to 

 abortion should, moreover, be specially careful to avoid all its most common 

 causes; she should abstain from exciting entertainments, violent exercise, 

 fatiguing or rough journeys, strong purgative medicines, and exposure to cold. 

 And, lastly, as it is very doubtful whether any of the causes I have named are 

 sufficient in themselves to bring on abortion, without a predisposition thereto 

 from some local or general weakness or disease, it is very desirable that patients 

 who have formed the so-called "habit" of aborting, should consult their med- 

 ical attendant at the commencement of pregnancy with a view to being placed 

 under a regular course of treatment. 



The after-treatment of patients who have miscarried is a most important 

 matter, and one which receives far too little attention. It is no uncommon 

 thing among patients of the laboring and middle classes for women to go about 

 their ordinary duties as early as the second or third day, and some do not even 

 Test for more than a few hours. Now, although this neglect of proper pre- 

 caution may not result in any immediate ill-effects, it frequently lays the 

 foundation of chronic disease with much attendant misery and suffering. 

 Whenever nurses have an opportunity they should tell their patients what 

 there is in store for them If they resume their ordinary duties too soon after 

 such an occurrence. No absolute rule can be laid down as to the length of 

 time during which rest is necessary ; it depends so entirely on circumstances 

 that vary in different cases. Thus, in a caje of abortion during the early 

 months, for instance, where the loss has been small and the health has not 

 suffered, four to six days' absolute rest in bed, followed, during the next ten to 

 fourteen days, by the greatest care and prudence, will, in the absence of special 

 directions from the medical attendant, be generally found sufficient. When 

 the health is unaffected it becomes very irksome to lie in bed for the time here 

 mdic^ted : nevertheless, this rule cannot be neglected without running grava 

 'Tsk. 



