Though we recommend due care for preventing abortion, we would not be understood as restraining pregnant women from their usual exercises. This would generally operate the quite contrary way. Want of exercise not only relaxes the body, but induces a plethora, or too great a fulness of the vessels, which are the two principal causes of abortion. There are, however, some women of so delicate a texture, that it is necessary for them to avoid almost every kind of exercise during the whole period of pregnancy.
OF CHILD-BIRTH.
Many diseases proceed from the want of due care in child-bed; and the more hardy part of the sex are most apt to despise the necessary precautions in this state. This is peculiarly the case with young wives. They think, when the labour-pains are ended, the danger is over; but in truth it may only then be said to be begun. Nature, if left to herself, will seldom fail to expel the fœtus; but proper care and management are certainly necessary for the recovery of the mother. No doubt mischief may be done by too much as well as by too little care. Hence females who have the greatest number of attendants in child-bed generally recover worst. But this is not peculiar to the state of child-bed. Excessive care always defeats its own intention, and is generally more dangerous than none at all[[181]].
During actual labour, nothing of a heating nature ought to be given. The woman may now and then take a little panado, and her drink ought to be toast and water, or thin groat-gruel. Spirits, wines, cordial waters, and other things which are given with a view to strengthen the mother, and promote the birth, for the most part tend only to increase the fever, inflame the womb, and retard the labour. Besides, they endanger the woman afterwards, as they often occasion violent and mortal hæmorrhages, or dispose her to eruptive and other fevers.
When the labour proves tedious and difficult, to prevent inflammations, it will be proper to bleed. An emollient clyster ought likewise frequently to be administered; and the patient should sit over the steams of warm water. The passage ought to be gently rubbed with a little soft pomatum or fresh butter, and cloths wrung out of warm water applied over the belly. If nature seems to sink, and the woman is greatly exhausted with fatigue, a draught of generous wine, or some other cordial, may be given, but not otherwise. These directions are sufficient in natural labours; and in all preternatural cases, a skilful surgeon, or man-midwife, ought to be called as soon as possible.
After delivery, the woman ought to be kept as quiet and easy as possible[[182]]. Her food should be light and thin, as gruel, panado, &c. and her drink weak and diluting. To this rule, however, there are many exceptions. I have known several women, whose spirits could not be supported in child-bed without solid food and generous liquors; to such, a glass of wine and a bit of chicken must be allowed.
Sometimes an excessive hæmorrhage or flooding happens after delivery. In this case the patient should be laid with her head low, kept cool, and be in all respects treated as for an excessive flux of the menses. If the flooding proves violent, linen cloths, which have been wrung out of a mixture of equal parts of vinegar and water, or red wine, should be applied to the belly, the loins, and the thighs: these must be changed as they grow dry; and may be discontinued as soon as the flooding abates[[183]].
If there be violent pains after delivery, the patient ought to drink plentifully of warm diluting liquors, as groat-gruel, or tea with a little saffron in it; and to take small broths, with carrawayseeds, or a bit of orange-peel in them; an ounce of the oil of sweet almonds may likewise be frequently taken in a cup of any of the above liquors; and if the patient be restless, a spoonful of the syrup of poppies may now and then be mixed with a cup of her drink. If she be hot or feverish, one of the following powders may be taken in a cup of her usual drink every five or six hours[[184]].
An inflammation of the womb is a dangerous and not unfrequent disease after delivery. It is known by pains in the lower part of the belly, which are greatly increased upon touching; by the tension or tightness of the parts; great weakness; change of countenance; a constant fever, with a weak and hard pulse; a slight delirium or raving; sometimes incessant vomiting; a hiccup; a discharge of reddish, stinking, sharp water from the womb; an inclination to go frequently to stool; a heat, and sometimes total suppression of urine.
This must be treated like other inflammatory disorders, by bleeding and plentiful dilution. The drink may be thin gruel or barley-water; in a cup of which half a drachm of nitre may be dissolved, and taken three or four times a-day. Clysters of warm milk and water must be frequently administered; and the belly should be fomented by cloths wrung out of warm water, or by applying bladders filled with warm milk and water to it.