APPENDIX. (41) 



-^ relaxed, allowing themfelves to be bent in any diredion, and w.'SiiL. 

 when the uterus is ftill large. This is the condition of the ute- ', 



rus ; when the child has been forced away, either by the acftion 

 merely of the abdominal mufcles and diaphragm, or by the af^ 

 fillance, as it is called, of the midwife, fhould the placenta ad- 

 here to the very fundus or near it, a fmall degree of force, ap- 

 plied to the cord, may invert the uterus while large, flaccid, and 

 empty. 



" The fureft method of preventing fuch an accident, then, 

 is to produce a complete and regular contra6lion of the uterus, 

 which may be accomplifhed more eafily than fome have imagin- 

 ed. For we know, that as long as any flimulus is applied to 

 the cavity, and efpecially to the mouth, which is the moft irri- 

 table part of the womb, a contraiflion will take place, in order to 

 €xpel the ftimulating caufe. Therefore, by allowing the child 

 to be born folely by the pains of labour, by giving no alTiflance 

 in the extradUon, (except where the lize of the child, or the mal- 

 conformation of the pelvis, render affiflance abfolutely necef- 

 fary), and by preventing the delivery of the body from being 

 accomplifhed by the abdominal mufcles folely, we force the ute- 

 rus to contrad: itfelf, and to expel its contents. After the deli- 

 very of the body, by allowing the legs to lie for a fliort time in 

 .the vagina, and to prefs on the mouth of the womb, we enfure 

 its contra(5lion. 



"By fuch management, the uterus having been made to con- 

 trad: itfelf properly, we have the placenta feparated, and ready 

 for extradion. Thus, together with the danger of inverfion, we 

 are freed from two more common accidents, viz. a retained pla- 

 centa and a flooding. Befides, the child is lefs hurt, when the 

 flow delivery allows time for the dilatation of the paffage ; audit 

 runs no rifk of thofe fprains and bruifes which often happen in 

 . attempting to pull a^^'ay the child without the affiflance of a la- 

 .bour-pain. 



(F) ' *M 



