ABSTRACT
Aß a matter of fact, a 1arge number of women are attended by midwives, and tbe practice has a certain sanction from both law and custom. Not on1y 80 it is very desirable that medical men sbould be saved from tbe drudgery of very cheap midwifery. It is very doubtful. indeed, wbether tbe physical strength of wornen ia equal to the duties of a large obstetric practice. The affirmative view of this question ia too rEadily asBumed; but it has to be proved. Be tbis aB it may, a very large midwifery practice is injurious in a bigh degree to men wbo bave all the other duties of medical practice to dö, and it is so especially aIDong tbe poor, the bygienic condition of whose dwellings terribly enhances tbe bad effects of loss of sleep and tedious waiting. Sir Robert Christison gave it as tbe result of his large observation tbat notbing was more injurious to the health of rural medical men than heavy midwifery duties. Even in the interest of medical men, then, we think it very desirable that wornen should be educated in the practice of midwifery, lind as a matter cif prudence and humanity tbere cannot be any doubt about it.
