womb, a woman is taking a risk, and inviting trouble by getting out of bed
before that time.

WHY DO PHYSICIANS PERMIT WOMEN TO GET UP BEFORE THE WOMB IS BACK IN ITS
PROPER PLACE?--Without offering the excuse that a woman will not stay in
bed as long as a physician knows she should, there is, however, a large
degree of truth in this excuse. And we are of the opinion that, if a
physician made it a rule to keep all his confinement cases in bed for one
month, [Page 116] he would very soon find himself without these patients.

Experience has taught us, however, that it is safe, under proper
restrictions, and in uncomplicated confinements, to allow patients to sit
up in bed on the 12th and in certain cases on the 10th day, and to get out
of bed on the 12th or 14th day. When the patient is allowed to sit up, out
of bed, it should not be for longer than one or two hours, and during that
time she should sit in a comfortable rocking or Morris chair, which should
be placed by the side of the bed. Each day the time can be lengthened, and
the distance of the chair from the bed increased. This procedure gives her
the opportunity to walk a little further each day, thereby to test her
strength and ability to use her limbs. On the fourth day, if all has gone
well, she may stay up all day and she may walk more freely about the room.
She should be just to herself, however. As soon as she is fatigued she
should not make any effort to try to "work it off." When a feeling of
fatigue appears she should rest completely. If she has any pain or distress
she should acquaint the physician with it at once. She should not try to
hide anything on the mistaken idea that "it isn't much." She does not know,
and she is not supposed to know what the pain may mean; it may be
exceedingly significant. Many women have saved themselves needless
suffering, and their husbands unnecessary expenditure of money, by calling
the physician's attention to conditions, which in time would have been
serious, and would have necessitated long, expensive treatment.

LACERATIONS DURING CONFINEMENT, THEIR MEANING AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.--The
only interest a laceration or a tear has to a physician, is whether the
laceration or tear is of sufficient importance to need surgical
interference. The laceration can take place at the mouth of the womb, or on
the outside, between the vagina and rectum.

Those of the mouth of the womb always take place, in every confinement, to
some