le time to your case when he is wanted. He may not
be at home at the moment, but can be notified, and can arrange to be on
hand when your case progresses far enough to need his personal attention.
It will relieve your mind to be assured that he will be with you in plenty
of time. [Page 94]

Don't worry unnecessarily if he does not come immediately when you notify
him, provided you notify him at the beginning of labor. There is plenty of
time. You have a lot of work to do before he can be of any help. Many women
entertain the idea that a physician can immediately perform some kind of
miracle to relieve them of all pains at any stage in labor. This is a
mistaken idea. No physician can hasten, or would if he could, a natural
confinement. He waits until nature accomplishes her work, and he simply
watches to see that nature is not being interfered with. If something goes
wrong, as it does now and again; or if the pains become too weak, or if the
proper progress is not being made, he may help nature or take the case out
of her hands and complete the confinement. If it is thought best to do
this, there will be plenty of time.

THE PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT AND THE CONDUCT OF ACTUAL LABOR.--It is
assumed that the patient has adhered to the instructions of the physician
given during the early days of her pregnancy. These instructions included
directions as to exercise, diet, bathing, etc.

Having calculated the probable date of the confinement, it is the better
wisdom to curtail all out-of-door visiting, shopping, social engagements,
etc.,--everything in fact out-of-doors except actual exercise, for two
weeks previous to the confinement date. The usual walk in the open air
should be continued up to the actual confinement day. The daily bath may be
taken, and it is desirable that it should be taken, up to and on the
confinement day.

THE MEANING OF THE TERM "LABOR."--By labor is meant, the task or work
involved in the progress by means of which a woman expels from her womb the
matured ovum or child. After the child has been carried in the womb for a
certain time (estimated to be 280 days) it is ripe, or fully matured, and
is ready to be born. The womb itself becomes irritable because it has
reached the limit of its growth and is becoming overstretched. Any slight
jar, or physical effort on the part of the patient, or the taking of a
cathartic, is apt to set up, or begin the contractions which nature has
devised as the process