A Manual of Midwifery

The fifth edition of this standard manual of midwifery has been slightly enlarged, and shows numerous evidences of careful revision, while twenty-nine new figures have been introduced. Considerable changes have been made in the chapter on ectopic gestation, which is now in accordance with the results of recent observation. With regard to the forceps, Dr. Galabin maintains his old position. His criticism of axis traction, by means of movable traction rods, is still based upon the clumsy instrument of Tarnier, the more convenient forceps of this typo which have been introduced during the last twenty vears being completely ignored. While stating that in many cases a living child can be delivered with axis-traction forceps, where the ordinary instrument has failed, the author does not, as yet, recommend any form of axis-traction forceps for general use. The discussion of puerperal fevers now occupies forty-five pages of the manual, and has been brought thoroughly up to date. It would, however, be of advantage to students and practitioners, were it mentioned in this chapter or elsewhere that a common cause of fever during the puerperium is the absorption of toxic material from the sluggish intestine of the lying-in patient. With the aid of six micro-photograplis, Dr. Galabin points out the resemblances between the protoplasmic masses seen in retained placenta, in vesicular mole, and in deciduoma malignum. Haultain's case, in which chorionic villi were found in the malignant mass, is cited as providing