The average duration of pregnancy is 28I days. The most accurate way of calculating the probable date of confinement is by counting back three months from the date of the cessation of the last menses and adding seven days.

The expectant mother should place herself under the doctor's care in the early stages of pregnancy, as not only her own but the infant's after health depends largely on the care the mother takes of herself at this time. The principal rules of hygiene to be followed are:

1. Daily exercise in the open air.

2. At least eight hours' sleep out of twenty-four.

3. A daily bath, a sponge bath if the tub bath is too exhausting. A brisk rub after the bath will cause a good reaction.

4. The bowels should be moved daily, with mild cathartics if necessary.

5. The urine must be carefully watched and any abnormality reported to the doctor. Frequent specimens should also be sent him, as there may be danger of serious kidney troubles.

6. Freedom from excitement, worry, hurry, and too heavy manual labor.

7. The clothing should be worn loose enough to allow of free circulation.

8. A nourishing, but not too stimulating diet should be adhered to.

9. The nipples require attention, especially during the last two months, and should be washed twice daily with boric acid solution and treated with fresh cocoa butter or albolene.

What to provide:

1. Two large rubber sheets.

2. If possible, a Kelly Pad, if not, make an obstetrical pad, consisting of four thicknesses of cotton wadding, covered with a layer of absorbent cotton, the whole encased in absorbent gauze and tacked to keep the cotton in place. This pad should be three-quarters of a yard square.

3. Two dozen pads for dressings, half a yard long, ten inches wide and two inches thick, made of the same materials.

4. Two dozen smaller pads.

5. Five boxes of sterile gauze (each containing one yard of gauze), to be used both for the mother's dressing and to cover the baby's cord.

6. One roll of adhesive plaster.

7. Six abdominal binders of unbleached muslin.

8. Six breast binders of unbleached muslin.

9. One pair long stockings made of flannel or an old blanket.

10. Two dozen paper bags in which soiled dressings can be put and burnt.

11. At least two hot water bottles.

Kelley Pad

12. Bed pan-"Perfection" is the best.

13. Douche pan.

14. Douche can or new fountain syringe bag.

15. Two glass douche nozzles.

16. Two glass catheters.

17. One agate basin to boil nozzles and catheters in.

18. Two large agate pitchers in which water can be sterilized, solutions made, etc.

19. Clinical, room, and bath thermometers.

20. One bottle carbolic, 4 per cent.

21. One bottle Lysol.

22. One bottle bichloride tablets.

23. New nail brush and fresh cake of soap for the doctor's use.

For the baby:

1. A tube of sterile tape.

2. A rubber sheet, or, preferably, a nursery cloth to protect the crib mattress.

3. Talcum powder.

4. Sweet oil or sterile vaseline.

5. Pure castile soap (never use perfumed soap of any kind).

6. Bath tub-good rubber ones are the best.

7. Old table linen makes excellent towels and wash cloths for the baby.

8. A large square of soft, thick flannel to roll baby in after it is greased.

9. Basket containing sewing materials and safety oins.

10. Crib and bedding.

11. Scales to weigh the baby in are very desirable.

12. A rubber or padded lap protector for the attendant to use while bathing the baby.

13. A large flannel apron for the same purpose. The latter is especially desirable as the baby can be rolled in it, when taken from the bath.

14. Baby's clothing: Six flannel bands, not hemmed, 6 inches wide, three-quarters of a yard long. Four knitted or woven shirts. Six flannel petticoats. Six white petticoats; these should all be made without bands, and the fastening on the shoulders, running a draw tape through the hem of the flannel petticoat, will keep the baby's feet warm without confining them. Six slips for night wear. Six dresses. Diapers, two sizes, eighteen and twenty-two inches square.

As in other cases of sickness, the room should be as large, light, and airy as possible, scrupulously clean, and have no superfluous furniture.

In this instance the foot of the bed should be towards the light. It should be made as shown in the section on bed-making, with the addition of a second rubber covered with a clean sheet, and either a rubber Kelly pad or an obstetrical pad (made as already described).

The furniture and floor should be protected in the same manner as they are for operations.

Besides the bed a table for the doctor, wash stand, nurse's table, extra table or bureau and chair will be required. See that there is a hook on which to hang the douche bag.

On the wash stand have hot and cold water, soap, nail brush, scissors, and nail cleaner, towels, and bowl of bichloride, 1-1OOO.

On the doctor's table, bowl of bichloride, 1-3000, with towels and sponges in it; bowl of lysol, sterile towels, sterile douche tip, also rubber and glass catheter.

On the nurse's table have (for baby) sterile scissors and tape wipes in boric acid (these consist of small squares of gauze), two large squares of gauze to put over the baby's mouth if necessary to blow into it, soft flannel square to wrap baby in, dressing for cord as ordered by the doctor.

For the mother-chloroform, mask, pus basin, sterile dressing and pads. Under the table the douche pan (which has been washed in bichloride and kept covered with towel, wrung out in same), slop pail and basin, paper bags for soiled dressings and placenta, foot tub, hot and cold water.

On the bureau-room, bath and clinical thermometers ; salt, vinegar, alcohol, whisky, hypodermic syringe, binders, pins, hot water bag, tray and alcohol lamp.