In the development of obstetrics, few contributions have been so worthy of note as to constitute landmarks. Invention of the obstetric forceps, recognition of the cause of puerperal infection, the use of anesthesia, the development of the various technics of delivery, and recently the fundamental studies in endocrinology with their one important practical result, the pregnancy test, might be mentioned as of great significance. The uncertainties and hazards of childbirth have been materially reduced; the end results, however, as has been pointed out repeatedly, are still not all that they might be. The newer contributions to obstetrics are unfortunately not universally applied; the incidences of morbidity and of mortality remain all too high. Apart from these, what may be termed remote morbidity, and even mortality not immediately credited to childbirth, are factors in the health of the community that receive little attention. The poor health of the woman with relaxed