The head and breast may be elevated, and the cord taken hold of by the left hand: the two first fingers may be carefully introduced into the vagina, and the anterior or forepart of the placenta or after-birth held in this situation for some minutes, in order to excite a contraction of the uterus. The woman may now be directed to hold her breath and press down, which forces it forward; and at the same time a little extension may be made upon the cord with the left hand, while extension is made upon the after-birth with the right; this will almost invariably extract it in a few minutes. If from any cause it should not, no farther attempts must be made for the present, but left for a few hours, when, if the natural contractions of the uterus do not remove it, it must be done in the manner recommended, with this difference, that a little more force be used. In the interval, however, everything wet must be taken away. _Subsequent Treatment._—After the labour has been thus completed, if the woman is not too weak, assistants may raise her up, and seat her upon the side of the bed or cot, while another removes all the wet clothing from the patient and her bed, and with a little warm spirits washes off the blood, water, &c., that remain on her person. This is particularly necessary, as the omission of it may give rise to puerperal fever. We know not that others have practised this method; but we have found it conducive to the comfort as well as the health of the patient. Some practitioners will not suffer the woman to be removed from the situation in which she has been delivered under twelve or twenty-four hours, for fear of hemorrhage or flooding; but this is a great and dangerous error. It is impossible to tell what mischief may arise in consequence of suffering her to remain drenched in water and blood for this length of time. After these precautions have been observed, and the bed properly prepared, on which has been placed folded blankets, skin, or oilcloth, covered with a warm sheet, she may be laid down, and a diaper or suitable piece of muslin laid to the parts to absorb the lochial discharges. A bandage may be also placed around the abdomen or belly, and made moderately tight, but not so as to render her uncomfortable. A large tub, previously well dried, may be placed by the side of the bed, and the woman directed to place her feet in it, and, when she is lifted up, everything that is around her wet to be passed into it. It prevents the necessity of afterward washing the floor and carpet, which might prove injurious by causing a check to perspiration.