that the feet be put into a tepid mustard foot-bath, and considerable friction applied to the soles of the feet by the hands of an attendant. During the attack, great benefit will be derived from the regular use of the sitz-bath at 85°, every night upon going to bed, for a quarter of an hour, which will greatly alleviate these troublesome sensations, and sometimes entirely remove them without the use of medicine. This may be persevered in, even up to the time of confinement, without hesitation, if the symptoms continue to demand it.

Sect. 14.-Violent Movements of the Child.

Before the third month of pregnancy, the child is not sufficiently developed to enable it to move. When a little farther advanced in growth it moves, but so feebly and imperfectly that the mother is not yet sensible of it. A period, however, soon arrives when its movements, although at first like the mere fluttering of a bird, acquire a power and force that enable it to give decided proof of life. It is instantly recognised ; the woman knows she has quickened, and perhaps the sensation experienced is so sudden that she faints. After this time the motions of the child increase both in frequency and degree, and are readily perceived by the mother; but after a time the womb, accustomed to this action within itself, is less sensible of its effects, and, except as a satisfactory evidence of the life of the child, it is little regarded.

Sometimes, however, the child is disagreeably active -so violent as not merely to alarm the mother but occasion much sickness and uneasiness, sleepless nights, and feverish symptoms-and all this to such an extent as to require medical interference. If this is not

thought necessary, great relief will be found from fomenting the abdomen before going to rest after the following manner. Let the attendant put a piece of flannel, three times folded, into a basin.

Pour upon it

boiling water just sufficient to soak it. Wrap it in a dry towel and wring it out; spread it upon the abdomen, cover it with a double fold of dry thick flannel, and immediately draw the bed-clothes over. After eight or ten minutes apply a fresh hot flannel, and let this plan of fomentation be pursued for half an hour. The immediate effect will be to relieve pain and soreness, and to induce calm and refreshing repose. This remedy will afford the greatest relief; and if the symptoms are not altogether removed by it, the woman must then endure her sufferings patiently, recollecting they are a proof that the child is alive and vigorous.

Sect. 15.-Soreness and Cracking of the Skin of the Abdomen.

It will sometimes happen, during the latter months of pregnancy, that the skin covering the abdomen will not yield readily. This produces much uneasiness; the skin becomes tender and fretted, and, if there is a very great distension, cracks. It forms a source of great discomfort, and renders the sufferer miserable whenever she moves.

It is to be relieved by fomenting the parts for half an hour night and morning, after the plan pointed out in the previous section, with decoction of poppy-heads; 1

1

1 This decoction is made by taking four ounces of poppyheads, breaking them up, putting them into a vessel, pouring upon them four pints of boiling water, boiling the whole for fifteen minutes, and then straining off the liquor.

H

then by freely lubricating the parts with warm almondoil, and subsequently dressing them with spermacetiointment, thickly spread on pieces of soft linen, which are to remain on during the intervals.

Sect. 16.-Inconvenience from Size.

Many women in the latter months of gestation experience considerable annoyance, and sometimes severe suffering, from the great size of the abdomen, and from want of support even when it is not so very large. This is a rare occurrence in a first pregnancy, owing to the firmness of the abdominal muscles, but very frequent in subsequent ones. Little women especially suffer from this unpleasant cause; and, in fact, it is so universally the case with all who have borne children rapidly, that it is highly important to be provided with the means of relieving it.

There is but one remedy with which I am acquainted; but I have usually found it answer every purpose. It is, wearing during the daytime a wellapplied belt next the skin. It must be sufficiently broad for its upper edge to surround the abdomen above the point of its greatest diameter, and its lower edge to come down to and be supported by the hips. It must be drawn tight by a lace-string behind, as circumstances may require. Such a belt, if properly made, can be put on by the patient very quickly, and without assistance; and the degree of support required from day to day can be regulated with ease and accuracy. It must, however, be made with care, in order to fit well.

Those who suffer much from this cause ought also to lie down upon a couch or bed for an hour or two

every day. This will give great relief to the muscles. After confinement the belt should be worn for some weeks.

Sect. 17.-Being Unwell during Pregnancy.

A woman may be pregnant, and yet be unwell for one period or more whilst in that condition. Indeed, it may take place every month to the time of quickening, and has even continued in some rare cases up to time of delivery. Now, although this can scarcely be called one of the diseases of pregnancy-for it ordinrily in no way interferes with the health-still, while the discharge is actually present, as it predisposes to miscarriage, it is necessary to give one or two cautions.

Anyone thus circumstanced should manage herself with great care immediately before the appearance, during the existence, and directly after the cessation of the discharge. She should observe the most perfect quiet of body and mind-keeping upon the sofa while it lasts, and carefully abstaining from any stimulating or indigestible article of food; and if any symptoms of pain, uneasiness, or such as threaten miscarriage come on, immediately seek medical advice.

The following case, showing the necessity of carefulness under such circumstances, occurred to me some time since :

A lady, resident in Gloucestershire, missed one period; suspected herself to be pregnant, but, being unwell on the following month, supposed herself to be mistaken. She had occasion, however, to come to London on the second day of her being unwell-Monday. On the Wednesday following she suffered considerable uneasiness from the exertion attendant upon the journey, and on Friday, whilst from her hotel, was obliged to return home in haste, and before night miscarried.

Here, then, is a case in point-first proving, what some persons deny, that a woman may be unwell and yet be pregnant; for she could not perceive the slightest difference in the appearance of the discharge from what ordinarily took place, and it was exact as to the time of its return-and, next, showing how necessary is great caution, and the most perfect quiet, since there is no reason to suppose this lady would have miscarried if her journey had only been delayed another week.

Sect. 18.-Affections of the Bladder.

The bladder is often affected by pregnancy. In the early months it may, like the intestines, become more torpid than formerly, or, on the other hand, unusually iritable. In the latter months there may be an inability to retain the urine.

1. Torpidity of the Bladder.-In this case the water is long retained, and then expelled with some difficulty, and in considerable quantity at a time. This state requires great attention on the part of the sufferer; for if it occur about the third or fourth month, serious consequences might attend its neglect -miscarriage, for instance.

There is not much to be done by medicines ; the relief that is to be obtained from soda and similar remedies is very partial. But all that is required for its relief is the regular effort of the individual to pass her water. She must never allow the bladder to become distended, and therefore never permit six hours to elapse without attempting to relieve herself. If she fail to do this, and an inability to pass water arises, the medical attendant must without delay be called in.