assistant or nurse. The female blade is then passed upward and anterior to the first. To avoid embarrassment in passing the second blade, the patient's hips should well overhang the edge of the bed ; otherwise there cannot be free play for the handles. When in position the two handles may be brought together, using caution not to pinch the soft parts, then to be securely locked, and nothing now remains but to apply the extractive force. The lithotomy position, or that on the back, derived from

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... he custom the French and Germans, is much in vogue at present. I do not condemn it, but the side position has always done well with me, and I like it. By unlocking the forceps at the point when the head distends the perinaeum and is about to emerge, and withdrawing the blades singly and gently, perineal rupture may be avoided. But if, unfortunately, rupture should occur, a few sutures or the application of two or three serres-fines and binding the woman's knees together will soon repair the damage. (To be concluded.) PUERPERAL CONVULSIONS.1