FLOODING. 385 



downwards by the shoulders or head, would necessarily raise great 

 obstacles to the operation. 



The method followed by P. Portal, M. Dubois, &c. is in all re- 

 spects to be preferred. Without any regard to the edge of the 

 placenta, the hand, after reaching the os uteri, is to be tirst carried 

 in front, and then to the right of the woman if it be the left hand, 

 and to her left if it be the right hand that is made use of, and in 

 less than a second, the membranous part of the ovum is reached, 

 and must be perforated; the feet are now prompdy seized, and the 

 fcEtus may be delivered before the after-birth.* 



887. In the other species of hemorrhagy, when the turning has 

 been effected, and the hips are at the vulva, it seems to be wise, pro- 

 vided there be no inertia of the womb, to leave the closing of the 

 labor to nature, whereas, in cases of implantation over the cervix, 

 when the operation is once begun it cannot be terminated too soon. 

 The reason of this difference strikes us at once: in the first mention- 

 ed case, as the omphalo-placental circulation continues to go on, the 

 life of the child is not compromitted, and that of the mother is no 

 longer in danger as soon as the blood ceases to flow; in tlie second, 

 the functions of the placenta ceasing, a few moments of delay might 

 occasion the death of the fcetus. 



Is it necessary for me, in closing, to state that the reader must look 

 to the articles on abortion and delivery of the placenta for the details 

 which I cannot introduce here? 



§. II. &f CoaavsiSslve Uystocia. 



The agitation, the agonies of a woman in the midst of tlie most 

 violent labor pains are sometimes carried to such an extent, that to 

 have been witnesses of them is sufficient to make us feel diat such a 

 state borders closely upon the convulsive afTections, and convince us 

 that convulsions must be frequently met with in women in labor. 



The convulsions of pregnant women, like those of other women, 

 may be general or local; affect only one or all the limbs; the face or 

 any other part separately; or they may bring into play all ilie mus- 

 cles of the life of relation: most commonly none but the muscles that 

 are habitually subject to the will are afiecled; but in certain cases, 



* I saw a patient in labor with placenta previa, under the care of Dr. R. M, 

 Huston of this city. The hemorrhage which had been very great was arrest- 

 ed before my arrival, by means of a tampon, w^hich he introduced. In the 

 mean time the pains continued to dilate the os uteri more and more, until, infer- 

 ring that the organ was sufficiently dilatable, he removed the tampon, and then 

 successfully delivered by turning. — M. 

 34 



