578 MANAGEMENT OF LYING-IN WOMEN. 



wound should be dressed with lint, cerate, or cataplasms, that is to 

 say, as we would dress an abscess or any sanguine collection of a 

 common kind, and the wound generally heals very speedily. 



ARTICLE III. 

 Management of the Lying-in Woman. 



1235. The accoucheur being now satisfied as to the condition of 

 the child and delivery of the after-birth, has nothing farther to do ex- 

 cept to attend to the woman herself. After ascertaining that the 

 womb is well contracted, and every thing in a natural state, he clean- 

 ses (or orders it done) the vulva, the thighs, and all the parts that 

 have been soiled with blood, waters, or other substances during the 

 labor. Some warm water, either simple or mixed with a little wine, 

 provided the parts are soft and relaxed, is, with the addition of a piece 

 of sponge, all that is necessary in this little operation. 



We next change the woman's clothes; the chemise may be 

 long, soft and wide, and either open in front, or not, and it should have 

 long sleeves, so that the arms may not be exposed. Over this 

 chemise there is worn a cotton shirt, and then a neck-handkerchief 

 round the neck, so that the upper part of the breast, which is gener- 

 ally exposed to the air, may be rather better protected than the rest of 

 the body. In summer, and whenever the weather is not cold, these 

 two pieces, together with the head-dress, compose the whole of the 

 woman's dress; otherwise she puts on a long wadded silk-gown open 

 in front all the way down; in this gown there is the double advan- 

 tage of being warm, and very light. However, like the dress of the 

 child, that of the mother is a matter which we generally leave to the 

 nurse; and provided the several pieces be sufficiently large, and their 

 number and thickness suited to the temperature of the weather, or 

 the habits of the patient, she should always be allowed to arrange 

 her dress as she pleases. The same may be said as regards the 

 head-dress, except that it would not always be safe to permit the pa- 

 tient, which she sometimes requests, to have her hair cut, or sprink- 

 led with salt. 



The breasts do not require to be supported, or provided with wad- 

 ded cushions, unless they are very large, and where there is fear 

 of taking cold. The bandage which some women use for the pur- 

 pose of compressing them, and preserving their shape, produces 

 quite a contrary effect; besides, by impeding the action of the respi- 



