up of cocoa made with
milk, a piece of toasted bread, and a light boiled egg; or if preferred a
cereal with milk and toasted bread. This will be the breakfast for the two
following days also. The milk, or the cocoa (whichever is taken), must be
sipped, while the attendant supports the patient's head. The cereal, or the
egg (whichever is taken), must be fed to the patient out of a spoon. The
patient must not make any physical effort to help herself; she must remain
relaxed. Even when she sips her milk, or cocoa, she must not make any
effort to raise her head; the nurse must support its entire weight. This
will be the absolute routine of every meal until the physician gives
permission to change the procedure. It is a waste of time to formulate
rules only to disobey them.

Shortly after breakfast the patient's toilet should be attended to. She
should have her hair combed, and her face and hands washed. The hair on the
right half of her head should be combed while the head rests on the left
side, and vice versa. The water used for washing the hands and face should
be slightly warmed. It is best to keep the hair braided and to consult the
wishes of the patient as to the frequency of combing it. [Page 106]

THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPTYING THE BLADDER AFTER LABOR.--An effort should be
made now to have the patient urinate. This is very important at this time,
as it is not an uncommon experience to find that the abdominal muscles are
so worn out and overstrained with the fatigue of labor that they refuse to
act when an effort is made to urinate. As a consequence the bladder becomes
distended and may have to be emptied by other means. This condition is a
temporary and a painless one, and will rectify itself in a day or two;
meantime, if this accident has occurred, it is essential that the bladder
should be emptied from time to time until the patient can do it herself. To
test this function place the patient on the bed pan into which a pint of
hot water has been put, and give her a reasonable time to make the effort
to pass her water. Should she fail, take an ordinary small bath towel and
wring it out of very hot water, just as hot as she can tolerate, and spread
it over the region of the bladder and genitals: if there is running water
in the room, turn it on full and let it run while the towel is in position
as above. If the bladder is full, there is a peculiar, irresistible desire
to urinate when one hears running water. If this effor