270 STAGES OF LABOR. 



not unfrequently remain below their ordinary temperature; at length, 

 when the contraction is just about to cease, this agitation gives place 

 to rapid sobs, which soon restore calmness to the functions. 



683. After a certain length of time, generally very short, another 

 pain comes on, accompanied with the same anguish, and followed 

 by the same phenomena. -As it begins, a small quantity of liquor 

 amnii is seen to flow off, because the child does not exactly fill up 

 the cervix during the interval between the pains: but by forcing the 

 presenting part to engage in the utero-vaginal orifice, the uterine 

 contraction soon puts a stop to this discharge, which re-appears 

 towards the close of each pain, because the foetus, ceasing to be 

 pressed downwards, returns into the cavity of the womb. If the 

 pains be somewhat strong, the head soon passes through the cervix 

 into the upper part of the vagina, which gradually dilates to receive 

 it, and it descends into the excavation, exerting an increasing pres- 

 sure on the rectum and bas-fond of the bladder; the bearings down 

 are now redoubled, strangury comes on, and cramps are felt in the 

 thighs and legs; if any fsecal matters are contained in the rectum be- 

 low the superior strait, they are mechanically forced out; the ampli- 

 tude of the vagina increases in every direction by the unfolding of 

 the wrinkles, always, except during labor, observable on its interior. 

 The head approaches the inferior strait, the coccyx retires back- 

 wards, the anus projects; the whole perineum is elongated, and be- 

 comes thinner as the inferior angle of the vulva is carried forwards, 

 and the plane of this opening at last comes to be almost parallel with 

 the axis of the body, instead of representing, as before, the plane of 

 the lesser strait of the dried pelvis ; the labiae being put on the 

 stretch are undoubled, and even drag a portion of the skin of the 

 thighs towards themselves: the mons veneris is lessened in size; 

 but it is false, entirely false, to say that the nymphae are also unfold- 

 ed : at length a pain, which is stronger than any preceding one, 

 which forces the woman to utter cries of despair, and which is com- 

 posed of two pains of unequal violence, for which nature seems to 

 have rallied all her remaining muscular power, triumphs over all re- 

 sistance; the most powerful contraction that has yet occurred brings 

 the parietal protuberances on a level with the tuberosities of the 

 ischia ; one more last degree of power is about to force them 

 through, but that power is just about to diminish; nature, who has 

 almost overcome all obstacles, seems to be ready to fail in her last 

 effort; just as she is about to attain the object of so many exertions, 

 she is seen ready to yield once more to the reactions of the peri- 

 neum; but one more attempt of the organism gives rise to anew 

 pain which comes to the assistance of the preceding one before it 



