The nature of the assistance proper to be given, in any particular stage of labor, will be evident on inspecting the structure of those parts, of both mother and child, which are brought in connection at the time, and by considering how their mutual relations require to be changed and modified. If those relations are already such as are required, and the system retains sufficient force, nothing _can_ be done with any advantage--we must _wait_, and let Nature operate herself. Even many unfavorable conditions may be spontaneously corrected, and it should always be a matter of consideration, when the means of assistance are not very obvious, whether it will not be better to rely upon the natural powers than to interfere. Great evil has resulted from teaching females that labor _cannot_ terminate, safely, without a great deal of assistance, which can only be rendered properly by those who possess a vast amount of skill and experience. They are thus led to think themselves totally dependent upon the accoucheur, and many of them actually seem to believe that he is as necessary to deliver the child as a dentist is to extract a bad tooth. If they were better informed they would feel more confidence in their own natural powers, and would not be so unnecessarily alarmed when unforeseen difficulties occur, or when professional aid cannot be immediately procured. In most cases there is more danger _after the labor is over_, from _puerperal fever_, various local inflammations and other causes, than there was during its progress. Indeed the real danger may be said properly to commence several days after, and the physician is really needed then more than at the time. SECTION VI. PROTRACTED AND DIFFICULT LABORS. The causes which may impede a labor, and increase its difficulties, are numerous, and they are of several different kinds--some depending upon the mother, and others upon the child. Some of these may be easily removed, or modified, but others present more serious difficulty. It is therefore necessary to enumerate and explain them separately. CHAPTER XVIII. THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF PROLONGED LABOR TO BOTH MOTHER AND CHILD. THE CONSEQUENCES OF PROLONGED LABOR. A labor is usually called protracted or difficult, if the head presents, when it is not completed in about _twenty-four hours_ from its actual commencement. There are many labors however, that last much longer, and yet terminate quite favorably, and many that are over much sooner and yet are very difficult. Still, generally speaking, the danger and difficulty increases as the time progresses, and it is seldom prolonged beyond twenty-four hours without serious inconvenience.