I gave her remedies, hoping to arrest the suffering until relaxation could be produced, and left her. At 10 o’clock I returned, armed with one of Dickens’ novels, for a two days’ pastime. Found the pains increased in severity, attended with rigidity of os, still no dilatation, but pressure of the uterus upward. Although a woman of great self-control, she could not repress the most piercing screams with each pain. A hot sitz-bath was administered, increasing the temperature until most copious perspiration was induced, after which, enveloping her in blankets, I bade her sleep, while I sat down to Dickens. She obeyed orders, slept soundly, having contractions every fifteen minutes, when she would rouse and exclaim, “What relief!” “Heaven surely can be no sweeter than this rest!” “What a blissful change!” I would say, “Don’t talk, don’t bear down, sleep all you can,” and still read Dickens. About one o’clock expulsive pains came on. Examination revealed full dilatation of cervix, and head advancing. At 3:30 P. M. the child was born, no spasms, no instruments, and no medicine had been required. This is only one of many that I have seen relieved in the same way, and always find the bath effectual where there is no deformity of the pelvis. I am confident that this hot bath, if generally used, would save thousands of instrumental deliveries. Mrs. N. was a very grateful patient, and believes that the same means would have given relief in former labors, as the first symptoms were the same. The only unpleasant sequel in the case was, the novel remained unfinished. Mrs. L----, primapara, aged thirty-three, a severe, tedious labor, with slow dilatation. Gave the hot bath with the happiest effect; patient, nurse, and all but the husband went to sleep. Contractions continued, accompanied by profuse perspiration, but for two hours did not awaken the patient. Expulsive efforts finally setting in, labor was completed in one hour. It was, however, almost immediately followed by violent hemorrhage inducing fainting. Examination revealed the placenta attached, the fibers so closely adhering to the uterus that the least attempt at removal caused the greatest suffering. The placenta was grasped and partially brought down into the cervix. By this interference the hemorrhage was arrested, and the placenta allowed to remain for about twelve hours, when it was expelled without any assistance. The patient made a rapid recovery. At first I feared that the excessive relaxation from the bath caused the flowing, but became convinced that it was only exposure of the bloodvessels from the partial adhesion of the placenta. Its removal from the body of the womb allowed the organ to contract upon the exposed bloodvessels, and consequently the hemorrhage ceased.