ABNORMALITIES IN THE PARTURIENT PASSAGES 175 



Formerly the os uteri was dressed with an ointment con- 

 sisting of extractum belladonna and adeps suillus 1:4; some 

 used soap instead. These remedies are mostly unreliable. 

 A clyster of chloral hydrate per os has been recommended 

 to modify the excessive activity of the abdominal muscles. 

 Straining is thus greatly decreased and the danger of rupturing 

 the uterus lessened. Many advise to douche the vagina every 

 two hours with warm water (40° C). This practice has been 

 followed by excellent results. 



Beichenbach gives warm irrigations of flaxseed gruel and 

 camomile tea ; orders spirituous liniments to the lumbar region, 

 warm clothing, and internally twice daily a pint of warm wine ; 

 he positively prohibits vaginal explorations by the attendant. 



"When the os uteri after some time dilates sufficiently, so 

 that two fingers may enter, further dilatation may be effected by 

 means of rotary and boring movements of the fingers and hand. 

 When the foetal membranes are filled with the " waters," enter 

 the cervix, they must not be ruptured, but left to produce 

 further dilatation. Incising the cervix or mechanically opening 

 the cervix are to be avoided. 



[In two cases of spasm of the cervix uteri good results were 

 obtained by chloroforming the animals. — W.] 



Spasm of the cervix uteri, as an obstacle to parturition, is 

 rarely met with. This condition is often but erroneously sup- 

 posed to be met with, but at a time when parturition is yet out 

 of the question,— that is, during false pains. The latter may 

 manifest themselves some days, even weeks, before birth occurs. 



They consist of feeble uterine contractions, supported by 

 severe straining, all of which resemble labor pains. Since 

 they occur at a time when preparations for parturition are yet 

 wanting, the udder flabby, the cervix closed, the ligaments 

 tense, they are termed false pains. 



The cetiology of false pains is yet unknown, although it is 

 reasonable to presume that they depend on disturbance in the 

 blood supply of the gravid uterus. 



Symptoms.— A few days or two or three weeks before the 

 termination of pregnancy, certain phenomena become manifest, 



