Sex efficiency through exercises : special physical culture for women / by Th. H. van de Velde ; [photos, by E. Steinemann].
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in what is required. It is obvious that doctor or nurse will aid her so far as possible in these movements, e.g., by relieving the weight of her legs in the phase of transition from suspension to flexion. But at least she will know what help she requires ; she can say " lift " or " let go " and that makes all the difference I I may state, however, that I have not personally observed cases of the deliberate and protracted modelling of the child's head through repeated alternate suspension and flexion, as described by Sellheim, for I did not see his remarks at the time of publication. But I have frequently made use of this alternation of attitude in the course of obstetrical work, in order to help the release of the child's head, and this in combination with three different procedures, namely :— In the first place, together with the impression of the infantile head by the method of Hofmeier, whether between labour pains or as each pain begins. In the second place, in order to facilitate the passage of the head in certain cases of foot presentation or breach presentation, and I then combined the aforesaid directions with pressure from outside and above and, if necessary, with extraction from below as well. In the third place, together with version and extraction, because of a moderate degree of contracted pelvis.* It is hardly necessary to emphasise further what know- ledge and power of pelvic movement and adjustment may mean for a woman, and what agony and exhaustion it may save her. Of course, necessary measures of this kind are * I refer readers to illustrations such as Fig. 579 in Stoeckel's " Treatise on Obstetrics," (28) which will clearly show that, in cases in which the head is born last, and where there is also a certain pelvic disproportion, it is of great importance for the obstetrician in charge to draw or press the head through the pelvic aperture and lift or slip the symphysis upwards and away from it. If the head has not become firmly fixed through excessively small pelvic proportions, this procedure can be best carried out through the woman's movements from suspension to flexion. I need hardly add that this little technical suggestion is addressed only to the medical and nursing professions among my readers. Of course, the suggested " Indica- tions " in my text can only be fully understood by persons who have professional knowledge and experience. Nevertheless, I have preferred to insert these suggestions, even into a book which will have lay readers, both in order to interest professional circles and to remind women of the great importance and use of the whole subject for them.