Midwifery for Nurses

This well known book has been ably revised by Victor Lack. The chief alterations are in the chapters on antenatal care, infection in labor, aseptic technic, puerperal sepsis and infant feeding. Data have been added concerning maternal mortality, stillbirths and anesthetics. The book is intended for nurses and nurse-midwives, and the subject matter is presented in a masterly way. It is unfortunate that rectal examinations are not even mentioned in the book. Nurses are instructed as to the proper way of making vaginal examinations during labor, but rectal examinations are certainly easier and usually less dangerous than vaginal examinations. In cases in which the cervix is fully dilated and the membranes are intact, the nurse is advised to "rupture the membranes by scratching through them with the finger-tip while they are made tense by a pain." This procedure may not be easy with the gloved finger. Furthermore, the nurse should