The woman may be delivered upon a bed or a cot, as is most convenient; if a bed be used, all but the mattress should be turned back toward the head, and it should be so prepared that the moisture from the uterus and other discharges may not add to the discomfort of the woman. A dressed skin, oilcloth, or folded blanket may be placed on that part of the mattress on which the body of the woman is to rest; a coarse blanket folded within a sheet, ought to be laid immediately beneath the patient, to absorb the moisture, which must be removed after delivery; the rest of the bed-clothes are to be put on in the ordinary way. The woman, when she is no longer able to remain up may lie down, with her head elevated in any position which is most desirable; and in nearly every case that I have ever attended the back has been preferred, although most all writers recommend that the woman be placed upon her side: the latter practice is unnatural and wrong, for obvious reasons; it retards the labor pains, and prevents the midwife from superintending the progress of the labor; the pillow that is directed to be placed between the knees, to keep them widely separated, soon gets displaced by the motion or change of the female; and the legs, instead of being kept apart, again come in contact, and thus the passage of the child is obstructed: but when the female is placed upon her back this difficulty is obviated, a free passage is permitted, the pains are more effectual, the spine is better supported, and better access can be had to the parts during labor and after the delivery of the child; in short, there is a decided advantage in this position in every respect. The dress of women in labor should be light and simple, both to keep themselves from being overheated, and to prevent anything from being in the way of what assistance is necessary. In addition to the means recommended, I direct a sheet to be placed around the waist of the woman, to prevent the blood, excrements or waters from coming in contact with the linen or clothes, and, as much as possible, the bed; her linen may be tucked or pushed up so far that there will be no necessity of a removal after delivery. Every thing being thus adjusted, very little more will be necessary but to wait patiently the efforts and operations of nature. There should be but few attendants in the room, and these are not to whisper to each other, or to express any fears or doubts.