Lime-water has been supposed to be singularly useful both in curing a disposition to, and preventing threatened miscarriages, in those who have often miscarried before. If in these cases the water was made fresh when used, and drank before the heat excited by the ebullition on quenching the lime was gone off, the efficacy has been thought to be the greater. This plan, however, wants the sanction of extensive experience.

Convulsions and Floodings coming on pregnant women demand immediate help from art, to extricate the foetus from the womb; and though properly belonging to the article of midwifery, yet very naturally fall under this of Abortion. These cases admit of no delay. Labour must be brought on, and the child turned, if necessary.

A cure is uncertain when convulsions come on in time of labour, except you can deliver the child; and as in some cases delivery is impracticable, on account of the length of the neck of the womb, if the woman cannot be relieved by medicines, death must inevitably be the consequence. If then the convulsions come on in the beginning of labour, bleed freely, and repeat the operation according to the strength of the woman and the violence of the disease. Empty the bowels with a clyster; if time admits, apply a blister on the nape of the neck and on the extremities. If the fits go soon off, if in the intervals the senses are entire, and there is no fever, wait the event; but if there is vomiting, the pulse be low, the patient comatose, the child must be taken off. If the patient is convulsed three, four, or five hours together, foams at the mouth, and the pulse is disordered, delivery must be hastened.

If convulsions come on after the labour is in some measure advanced, they will have the same effect as labour-pains, and the child will be delivered by them. If they have not this effect, if the head of the child is low enough for the forceps, these may be employed. If not, by giving opiates largely by the mouth, or by clyster, dashing cold water in the face, according to the plan of Denman, or giving the fox-glove, as recommended by Dr. Hamilton, the convulsions may be checked till weakness occasions the dilatation of the os tincae.

After labour comes on, the convulsions lessen, and during every pain cease; which shows that the irritation is on some of the nerves above the os internum. They rarely continue after delivery, and a large opiate, with a mild nourishing diet, is only requisite. They sometimes come on after delivery; either from the irritation of after-pains or some other cause. In these cases, the bowels must "be emptied by a clyster, and opium given freely either by the rectum or the mouth. Convulsions, after delivery, are seldom fatal: before delivery, about six or seven in ten will elude the most active and best concerted measures.

Floodings.] Floodings happening to pregnant women are very different in their effects, so are as differently to be regarded. Pregnant women have the menses sometimes to the last; but they are pale, thin, and do no harm. Those floodings which do not require delivery come on gradually, but generally with the usual pains of menstruation: they are not continual; and, with due care, they cease. Those which cause miscarriage or death, appear suddenly, and in large quantities; they flow with slight occasional intermissions only. In the first case, the os tincae is not affected; in the latter it opens.

In the early months, the causes are, violent shocks, sudden or great frights, etc.; but in the latter months, the separation of the placenta, in whole or in part, is always the cause: the uterine arteries pour their blood into the cellular part of the placenta; hence, when any of these cells are torn, all the blood carried by them must be discharged by the os internum. The placenta adhering to the os internum may be the cause of flooding; in which case the discharge increases as the os internum dilates.

The signs of an approaching flooding are, restless pains like labour, pain in the eye-balls, troublesome dreams: if the flooding is internal, the os tincae will be stopped with clotted blood, the belly will swell, the pulse fail and flutter, and faintness, with giddiness, come on. Floodings are more or less dangerous, according as pregnancy is advanced, because the diameters of the vessels are proportionably enlarged. Flooding preceding delivery is, for the most part, followed with a dead child: and, generally, a flooding in the first months is followed by a miscarriage.

If the flooding threatens speedy danger, attempt nothing till the patient's friends are apprised of it, and insist on your endeavours. It is seldom that any manual assistance is given in the first five months, for till this time the os tineas is but little altered, and indeed the pregnancy is often somewhat uncertain; but afterwards the os tincae Opens, so that the foetus can be brought away by force. In the latter months, if a flooding comes on, if at the same time the pulse is tolerably firm, the colour remains, the loss of blood not very considerable, and if no pains which will assist delivery come on, we must wait their effects. If the discharge abates on the rupture of the membranes, pains come on, and all seems well, a little patience is only necessary; but, if the flooding continues, if the pulse is low and unequal, if the strength fails, the face grows pale, fainting and cold sweats come on, the delivery must be hastened as fast as can be done with safety.

If death is not so near, take as much time as symptoms will permit: if the flooding is just come on, the strength and spirits not yet failing, the os tincae will be softened by the continued discharge; it will more easily dilate, and the birth will be less difficult. A little delay will be consequently advantageous.

If the violence of the symptoms demand immediate help, proceed without waiting for pains, for they seldom return after the flooding is so violent as to cause fainting or convulsions; nor must we wait for a considerable dilatation of the os tincae, which without pains is not to be expected: indeed the pains are the less necessary, the haemorrhage assists in relaxing it.