To practitioners of this description, I would also say, that especially in lingering cases, the management of mind is truly important. The mind is in the condition of the quickest sensibility. Every thing transacted about the patient should be done openly. All whisperings or attempts at secrecy, excite the utmost curiosity, and essays at evasion only heighten the distress. All allusion to unfavourable cases should be most sacredly avoided. Nothing should tempt the individual on whom reliance is placed in these instances, to concede the truth―a falsehood once detected, contravenes all future trust; and however there may be exhibited the external signs of belief the mind will be harassed with the most painful suspicion. A most guarded prognostic too, not only in reference to the issue, but the duration, is essentially requisite. The endurance of pain, ever raises more or less anxiety for ease; and as in child-birth it is known there is a limit―a period when the trouble shall instantly cease―there is peculiar desire to ascertain the probable duration of suffering. The hopes and wishes of practitioners often seduce them into a definition. The period arrives, and is succeeded by disappointment―another is fixed, which equally disappoints the expectation, and ceaselessly enervates the patient. A disposition in the attendants to excite unwarrantable expectation too, should be early checked. The solicitous inquiries of the patient, must be met by a candid avowal of her situation―a decided assurance, that although it is not possible to define the duration, the procedure is perfectly safe. A distinct assurance should be given, that although there are numerous little circumstances which retard or expedite delivery, they do not affect the termination. That with the prospect of a safe deliverance, a somewhat prolonged suffering is comparatively trivial. And, in most cases, however serious, it is easy to suggest some exemption, for the absence of which thankfulness should be cultivated. Varied as the cases of parturition are, if the _principle_ is kept in view, an intelligent mind will supply the deficiency. And a female will be conducted through a lingering labor with much less suffering, and much less exhaustion than under more unguarded treatment. The choice of food under these circumstances, certainly is not indifferent. In the time of labor, all the functions are disturbed―not only by sympathy, but by the positive influence of pain. Such diet should be adopted as is least irritating, and with most facility is converted into nutriment. Gruel, preparations of arrow-root, sago, &c., without wine (except under peculiar circumstances) are best, and the patient should be encouraged to take them at proper intervals.