It is prudent, by judicious precaution and care, to remove obstructions, prevent accidents by holding or supporting the child in a proper position, and giving such aid as reason and judgment will dictate. Receiving the child, preventing its fall, securing the navel cord, assisting in the removal and disposal of the after-birth, are objects which are to be accomplished, and all in the most calm and simple manner; no hurry or excitement is necessary, but, on the contrary, they embarrass. Yet how common is it that females in general, married and unmarried, are so uninformed and ignorant, that, instead of attending to those duties, if necessary, or in cases of emergency, they are thrown into the greatest consternation, and perhaps run out of the room and let the child suffocate by the bed-clothes, or by the navel cord twisted about the neck, and die merely for the want of a little common sense and knowledge, which might be acquired in an hour. Is it not highly disgraceful, if not criminal, that farmers can, and do, attend to those duties toward their stock, and yet remain entirely ignorant of them toward their nearest relations? Young women and men are taught music, dancing, drawing, needle-work, and many ornamental branches considered so essential to a polite education; yet they are suffered to remain entirely ignorant on a subject of so much vital importance. Is there any hope or prospect of enlightening this generation, or must it be delayed till the next, and have them look back with amazement at our ignorance? We hope there is something yet redeeming in a large proportion of the community; that the people will yet awake to their own interests. When the head is delivered, all that is necessary to do is, to support it, and wait for the pains to expel the child; except it seems livid and in danger of injury, or when the cord is twisted around the neck, when assistance must be rendered, to accomplish the delivery. The face of the child must now be turned upward, and the cord freed from the neck or body; the person who assists will pass a narrow piece of tape around the cord or navel-string, about an inch from the body, and tie as tight as it can be drawn, otherwise hemorrhage or bleeding will take place; and another must be tied at a little distance from it, above, and be separated between them with a pair of scissors. The child is then to be given to the nurse, to be washed, dried, and dressed. The woman must now be covered, and directed to lie quiet. _The After-birth._—The after-birth or placenta must be detached or removed, if nature does not accomplish it in a short time. Generally, after about twenty or thirty minutes, a pain is felt, which may be sufficient to expel it; if it should not, and should there be no pain, gentle manual attempts may be made to remove it.