—The prevention of perineal lacerations constitutes one of the most important advances in the art of midwifery. Adequate methods are of recent origin. Some years ago, Wigand, Meade, Jörg, Ritgeu, and in part Scanzoni, declaimed most vigororously against the act of " meddlesome midwifery." At the present day, however, accoucheurs do not affect this disregard for measures, whose object is the preservation, in an intact condition, of the female perinæum. Still, few general practitioners are disposed to value such prophylactic procedures as highly as a due regard for the physical welfare of their patients demands. Few medical gentlemen, for example, would agree with Hecker's dictum, that "the protection of the female perinæum is the most delicate, difficult and important function of the accoucheur."
As the resultant of many years' patient observation, experiment and discussion, a method of great efficiency has been developed, and is extensively practiced in Europe. For convenience