At this time a very thorough-going colonic flushing should be administered. The patient takes the "knee-chest" position, or the "lying-down" position, and there should flow into the lower bowel three pints of soapy water; this should be retained for a few moments; and after its expulsion, a short, plain water injection should be given. Now follows the preliminary general bath. Just prior to the bath, the pubic hair should be clipped closely, or better shaved. Then should follow a thorough soap wash, with patient standing up in the tub, using plenty of soap, applied with a shampoo brush or rough turkish mit. The rinsing now takes place by either a shower or pail pour. _Do not sit down in the tub._ This is a rule that must not be broken, because of the danger of infection in those cases where the bag of waters may have broken early in the labor. A weak antiseptic solution, prepared by putting two small antiseptic tablets into one pint and a half of warm water, is now applied to the body from the breasts to the knee. Put on a freshly laundered gown, clean stockings and wrapper. The head should be cleansed and hair braided in two braids. THE PROGRESS OF LABOR If all the mothers who read this volume could bear children with the comfort Mrs. C. does, I should be happy, indeed. At four o'clock one morning a very much excited father telephoned me, "Hurry, quick, Doctor, it's almost here." It was well that we did hurry, for the first sign the little mother had was the deluge of the waters--at this point the husband ran to telephone for the doctor--no more pains for thirty-eight minutes (just as we entered the door) and the baby was there. But such is not usually the case, nor will it be, as labor usually progresses along the lines of conscious dilating pains, occurring at intervals twenty minutes apart at first, later drawing nearer together until they are three to five minutes apart. This "first stage of labor" lasts from one to fifteen hours--during which time the tiny door to the uterine room which was originally about one-eighth of an inch open--dilates sufficiently to allow the passage of the head, shoulders and body of the fully developed child. About this time the bag of waters usually bursts, and, as a rule, this marks the beginning of the "second stage of labor." The amount of water passed varies in amount. Should the rupture take place before the door is fully open, then labor proceeds with difficulty and the condition is known as "dry labor."