guarded against, but would be unnoticed by the accoucheur. And besides this danger that the first attack of the disease will not be met in due season, we are to consider how much connexion the occurrences of the labour may have had in the production of the disease, and how much influence they probably ought to have upon the treatment. It is in vain to say that these may be inquired into and ascertained from the accoucheur; this is not and cannot be satisfactory. There is a certain familiarity with the state of the patient, an insight into the laws by which the changes taking place during her confinement and sickness are governed, all intimate knowledge of the expense of constitutional strength at which the labour has been accomplished, and of the resources the system has yet in reserve, to support it under any farther difficulty, which are only to be acquired by an observation of the entire case. Every physician feels, though I fear none but a physician can be made to understand, how necessary is this view of the whole case to enable him to form his best judgment and give his best advice. Every one must have felt, not only in this, but in every other department of practice, how embarrassing it is to be called in to a case somewhat advanced, the treatment of which has been already commenced, without the advantage which a consultation with the previous physician affords; and even then, unless his attendance be also continued, how difficult it is to keep distinctly in the mind a fair outline of the case connected with the circumstances which occurred at first.