The Prospective Mother | Page 2

pelvis and that of the child's head.
Timely recognition of such conditions makes appropriate treatment possible and
practically insures a successful outcome; while tardy recognition is frequently followed
by disastrous results.
These few examples give some idea of the benefits of prophylaxis in the practice of
obstetrics. Prospective mothers should understand not only that there is an advantage in
taking such precautions, but that they may be risking their lives, or at least their future
well-being, unless they insist upon competent medical attention. It is true, of course, that
pregnancy and childbirth are generally normal processes, but they are not always so.
Fortunately, most of the abnormalities give timely warning of their occurrence, and in
most instances may be relieved by comparatively simple measures; or, if not, they afford
indications for treatment which should lead to a happy termination. The recognition of
the existence of such conditions, however, is not always easy, and their ideal treatment
requires careful training and sometimes the utmost nicety of judgment. Consequently, if
prospective mothers wish to be assured of the best care, they should be cautious in the
choice of their medical attendant. As the ordinary layman has no means of determining
the real qualifications of a physician, the choice should not be made upon the advice of
casual acquaintances; but, instead, the family physician should be consulted, who, should
he feel unwilling to assume the responsibility of the case, will be able to recommend a
thoroughly competent substitute.
From my own experience as a teacher and consultant, I state without hesitation that in no
other branch of medicine or surgery are graver emergencies encountered than in certain
obstetrical complications whose treatment involves the greatest responsibility and
requires the highest order of ability to insure a successful outcome for the mother and her
child. For these reasons a physician should be chosen only after mature deliberation, and
his services should be esteemed much more highly than is usually the case.
In order that the principles of prevention may receive their fullest application during
pregnancy, labor, and the lying-in period, it is also advisable that intelligent women
should possess some knowledge of the Reproductive Process in human beings. This
information is imparted by Doctor Slemons' book, which I can thoroughly recommend to
prospective mothers. The subject matter has been carefully chosen, and the author has
wisely refrained from giving advice with regard to treatment which can be satisfactorily
directed only after careful study by a physician. At the same time he has given a clear
account of the physiology of pregnancy and labor, and has laid down sound rules for the
guidance of the patient.
One of the most important facts emphasized by Doctor Slemons is the value of medical
supervision for several weeks after the child is born; this precaution contributes greatly
toward a rapid and complete convalescence. During the lying-in period the physician
should supervise the care of the mother and the child, should insist upon the necessity for
maternal nursing, and should keep the mother under observation until perfectly normal
conditions are regained. If the latter duty is conscientiously fulfilled many years of
invalidism may be saved and thousands of operations rendered unnecessary.

Although there have been notable advances in the science and in the art of obstetrics
since the middle of the eighteenth century, a great many fundamental facts must yet be
learned. For example, we are almost totally ignorant of the stimulus which causes the
mother to fall into labor approximately 280 days after the last normal menstruation.
There are two points which I desire to impress especially upon the readers of this book.
Firstly, that the advance of the science of obstetrics, and consequently improvements in
its practice, must depend greatly upon the cooperation of intelligent women. They must
come to realize that they will secure the best treatment only as they demand the highest
standard of excellence from their attendants; and they can aid in securing this for their
poorer sisters and their children by interesting themselves in obstetrical charities.
Secondly, they must realize that real progress in the science of obstetrics can be expected
to proceed only from well equipped clinics connected with strong universities, and in
charge of thoroughly trained and broad-minded men. As yet such institutions scarcely
exist in this country. Women who are anxious to promote the welfare of their sex can find
no better way of doing so than by bringing this need to the attention of wealthy men
interested in philanthropy and education. Furthermore, they should bear in mind that most
of our important discoveries would not have been made had animal experimentation not
been available, as it is solely by this means that modern surgical and obstetrical technique
has been brought to its present degree of perfection; and further progress can scarcely