“Case 1. Multipara (a woman who has had previous confinements)—mother of four. Shortest previous labor eight hours. Had had a laceration of cervix (neck of the womb) with her first child. Also one forceps delivery.
“When labor commenced she was given two aluminum combs to hold (as shown in Fig. [14]), and instructed to make strong pressure upon them, with a view of inhibiting pains, particularly in the first, second and third zones. These combs were four inches in length and slightly roughened on the ends, so that the lateral (or side) surfaces of the thumbs could more effectively be stimulated.
“Was called at four a.m., arrived at 5:05, and the babe had just been born. The patient reported that she had been in bed for only 15 minutes. There had been only one severe pain. This was when the head delivered.
“There was no exhaustion following, as with her previous labors, and she said laughingly, ‘I believe I’ll be able to get up this afternoon. Doctor.’
“The afterbirth delivery seemed to be stimulated, and the pains controlled by stroking the backs of the hands with the teeth of the combs. She became relaxed and drowsy from this stroking, and finally fell asleep and slept almost through the night—perfectly free from pain.
“Case 2. Primipara, thirty-seven years old. This woman had a badly retroflexed uterus (a womb which is tilted back), which seemed to retard the advancement of labor, for she required five hours for delivery.
“She also used the comb pressures, and, in addition, was provided with a rough-edged shallow box, upon which she pressed firmly with the soles of her feet.
“Four hours after delivery she had sharp afterbirth pains, which were controlled by the stroking method before described. This seemed to give complete and satisfactory relaxation.
“There were three other cases, all of which responded equally well to treatment by zone analgesia.