of complete rest will often make these pains disappear without further trouble.
When a woman, however, has reached her full term, she may suddenly awake one night to find herself in labor. Still, let her remember that labor is very rarely an instan- taneous process. There are preparing pains, and many are they, before the actual presence of the physician is necessary.
Pains coming at regular intervals, commencing in the back, and running down the loins, causing the womb to Jiarden under the hand, and to relax after the pain is gone, should be considered labor-pains. When these pains are accompanied by a serous bloody discharge, there can le no doubt that labor has commenced.
As long as the pains do not return oftener than every fifteen minutes, the physician need not be summoned, if it is night. The nurse should be sent for, however with- out delay.
When the intervals are gradually getting shorter, until they are no longer than five minutes apart, the physician should be summoned.
The physician's attendance should also be immediately required after the breaking of the bag of waters. This may happen suddenly, without giving any premonitory symptoms.
When the symptoms of labor occur during the day, the physician should be informed of the fact without delay; for he may find it convenient to call, and ascertain for himself the condition of things. If early in the momin'g, let him know it before he leaves his office, lest he cannot be found when he is wanted later in the day.
A sudden gush of blood, or a continuous stream of it, should warn the patient, or the attendants, to have the
