Read before the Obstetrical Section of the American Medical Association, May, 1884.
On the first of January of the present year at six o'clock in the morning I received a summons to attend a case of confinement. The patient belonged to the clientéle of Dr. Bangs, but owing to the illness of one of his children with scarlatina, he had from conscientious motives, requested the family to call upon me in case the labor should occur before the recovery of his child should place him at liberty to resume his midwifery practice. The patient was a very beautiful young woman, a primipara, 23 years of age, to all appearances in the enjoyment of excellent health, and full of happiness at the prospect of becoming a mother. In the bright sunshine of the early morning there was nothing to suggest the tragedy with which the day closed. The examination made upon