│ │ │ │ │Considerable │ │ │ │ │ │Feb. │Natural │ hæmorrhage, │Feb. 22│ „ │ │ │ │ 7 │ │ puerperal │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ fever │ │ │ │ │ │„ 8 │Natural │Puerperal fever │Feb. 22│ „ │ │ │ │April│Turning │Puerperal fever │April │ „ │ │ │ │ 12 │ │ │ 22 │ │ │ │ │May │Natural │Pyæmia │May 27 │ „ │ │ │ │ 18 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │June │Natural │Puerperal fever │June 19│ „ │ │ │ │ 4 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │July │Natural │Puerperal fever │Aug. 11│ „ │ │ │ │ 26 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Nov. │Twins: 1st │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 5 │ dead, 2nd by│Puerperal fever │Nov. 10│ „ │ │ │ │ │ turning │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Laceration of │ │ │ │ │ │„ 8 │Forceps │ vagina, │Nov. 14│ „ │ │ │ │ │ │ puerperal │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ fever │ │ │ ├─────┼──────────┼─────┼──────────────┼────────────────┼───────┼───────────┤ │Total│ 781│ │ │ │deaths:│1 in 28·9 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 27 │ │ └─────┴──────────┴─────┴──────────────┴────────────────┴───────┴───────────┘ Under these deplorable circumstances the closing of the wards was a matter of course; and since that event we have been anxiously enquiring whether it would be justifiable to re-open our Midwifery Nursing School under other conditions. This question is discussed in the following pages, from a basis of statistical facts supplied by the best authorities; and a few proposals have been added, with the view of turning to the best account our past experience, by extracting from it any leading principles which may present themselves for practical application in the future construction and management of Lying-in Institutions, and more especially in connection with means of training Midwifery nurses. These Introductory Notes, collected and put together under circumstances of all but overwhelming business and illness, are now thrown out merely as a nucleus, in the hope that others will be kind enough to supplement, to add, and to alter; in fact, only as a hook with a modest little fish on it—a bait to catch other and finer fish.