g the coma attending
apoplectic attacks. King reports the histories of two married women,
fond mothers and anticipating the event, who gave birth to children,
apparently unconsciously. In the first case, the appearance of the
woman verified the assertion; in the second, a transient suspension of
the menstrual influence accounted for it. After some months epilepsy
developed in this case. Crawford speaks of a Mrs. D., who gave birth to
twins in her first confinement at full term, and who two years after
aborted at three months. In December, 1868, a year after the abortion,
she was delivered of a healthy, living fetus of about five or six
months' growth in the following manner: While at stool, she discovered
something of a shining, bluish appearance protruding through the
external labia, but she also found that when she lay down the tumor
disappeared. This tumor proved to be the child, which had been expelled
from the uterus four days before, with the waters and membranes intact,
but which had not been recognized; it had passed through the os without
pain or symptoms, and had remained alive in the vagina over four days,
from whence it was delivered, presenting by the foot.

The state of intoxication seems by record of several cases to render
birth painless and unconscious, as well as serving as a means of
anesthesia in the preanesthetic days.

The feasibility of practising hypnotism in child-birth has been
discussed, and Fanton reports 12 cases of parturition under the
hypnotic influence. He says that none of the subjects suffered any pain
or were aware of the birth, and offers the suggestion that to
facilitate the state of hypnosis it should be commenced before strong
uterine contractions have occurred.

Instances of parturition or delivery during sleep, lethargies, trances,
and similar conditions are by no means uncommon. Heister speaks of
birth during a convulsive somnolence, and Osiander of a case during
sleep. Montgomery relates the case of a lady, the mother of several
children, who on one occasion was unconsciously delivered in sleep.
Case relates the instance of a French woman residing in the town of
Hopedale, who, though near confinement, attributed her symptoms to
over-fatigue on the previous day. When summoned, the doctor found that
she had severe lumbar pains, and that the os was dilated to the size of
a half-dollar. At ten o'clock he suggested that everyone retire, and
directed that if anything of import o