346 HYGIENIC TREATMENT. 



looks for her sentence of death in remarks only half heard, in ges- 

 tures, or in the expression of sadness and compassion she observes 

 in her attendants. 



821. Parturition is a function that seeks the shade, that may be 

 obstructed by indiscreet looks, and which as far as possible is made 

 a mystery of by modest women. The accoucheur ought to under- 

 stand that the mother, the aunt, grandmother or sister, are not always 

 considered as the most agreeable attendants in this painful moment. 

 As a discreet as well as a circumspect and prudent interpreter, he 

 ought to dismiss without distinction every one whose presence is not 

 desired by the woman. How careful should he be himself! impas- 

 sible and firm, of an imperturbable coolness, he must, notwithstand- 

 ing, know how to compassionate the distress of which he is a wit- 

 ness, encourage, console, amuse; inspire her with boundless confi- 

 dence, and great familiarity, by the affability of his conduct, by rea- 

 sonings that everybody can understand, by his patience, the amenity 

 of his temper and the gravity of his manners; he should be able to 

 procure obedience without constraint, and by all the means which 

 are suggested by moral philosophy, his own understanding and 

 education, incessantly combat the discouragement and dread of all 

 sorts, and the sadness and alarms to which the most resolute as well 

 as the most timid women sometimes give way. 



822. The dress of a woman in labor was formerly a matter of 

 great consequence; there were gowns, jackets and head dresses 

 devoted to this purpose alone; every country, each province, and 

 even each family, had its peculiar fashion; a woman of good family 

 would think she could not lie-in decently without her gown and 

 other lying-in clothes; at present these old customs are no longer 

 to be found, except in a few countries or families, where, out 

 of a mistaken feeling of respect, people obstinately resolve not to 

 live differently from the mode adopted by their ancestors. To this 



^e accoucheur has nothing to say, provided the form of the dress 

 and its arrangement are not of a nature to interfere with the free 

 exercise of any of the functions, provided there be no constriction 

 of the abdomen, the breast or the neck, that the motions of the 

 limbs are left free, that the materials are light, neither too hot nor 

 cold, and that the circulation does not suffer from their employ- 

 ment. 



833. The bed for child-birth, which is also called lying-in bed, 

 bed of labor, bed of pain, bed of misery, little bed, &c., is also a 

 matter of fashion or custom, which has singularly varied as to its 

 form, according to times, places and whims. There are some wo- 

 wen who will not make use of them, and who are delivered stand. 



