SUDDEN DEATH IN LABOR AND CHILDBED.Read before the Section on Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the Thirty-eighth Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association, June, 1887.

This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.

On January T4, 1887, I was summoned to attend a lady, aged 24 years, in her first confinement. I had been engaged some months before, and by reference to my visiting book I find that she was expected to be confined on January 27. The note summoning me stated that there had been a slight haemorrhage from the vagina for several hours, and that a premature delivery was imminent. An examination proved that labor had begun, and the os was dilated to an extent-to admit the index finger. There were no distinct contractions, but the os was slowly dilating, and very satisfactorily. The haemorrhage continued constantly but scantily. I ordered a warm vaginal douche, left the house and returned after four hours. There had been some progress made, the parts were splendidly lubricated, the pains coming on periodically and increasing in force—in a few words, the labor was progressing naturally.

I