Since eclampsia occurs only in connection with pregnancy, and the convulsions usually cease if the fetus dies or is born, one line of reasoning is that the most effective way to treat the disease is to terminate pregnancy. Formerly this was almost always done, and is still practised by some obstetricians. Those who do not agree with this theory contend that the eclamptic woman is a very ill woman whose nervous system is so irritated that the slightest stimulation or irritation works harm. In view of this they feel that manual or instrumental dilation of the cervix, preparatory to delivering the child through that channel, or delivery through an incision in either the abdominal wall or cervix, constitutes a shock that outweighs the advantages of emptying the uterus; therefore, that as a rule, less harm is done by noninterference, quieting the patient and increasing her eliminative functions, than by terminating pregnancy. This line of reasoning also takes into consideration the fact that from 15 per cent. to 20 per cent. of the cases of eclampsia are postpartum, indicating that convulsions may occur even after the uterus has been emptied. The growing tendency is to adopt a middle course and treat each individual case according to the conditions and indications which it presents. Thus the same doctor will hastily induce labor in a case where the blood pressure and albumen remain alarmingly high, or increase, in spite of all efforts to reduce them, and in another case will go to the extreme of conservatism, doing nothing but quiet the patient with morphia or chloral, or both, and stimulate all of her excretory organs with abundant fluids. But the nurse’s duties, and I may say her opportunities, for she is privileged to do much, are virtually the same no matter which course is followed, except, of course, the preparation for delivery, if this is performed. The nurse is concerned with helping to reduce the intake of nitrogenous food, or proteids; diluting the toxines retained in the body; promoting the activity of the kidneys, bowels, liver, lungs and skin; guarding the patient against all avoidable stimulation from without, such as noise, light, ungentle handling and undue resistance to the patient’s convulsive movements; and protecting her from injuring herself by biting her tongue, falling out of bed or striking the wall or head of the bed during convulsions. By striving to accomplish these general results for her eclamptic patient the nurse will aid immeasurably in saving her life.