Hitherto we have considered gestation only; it remains now to follow the consequences which result from it. Those ladies who have already passed through the ordeal know by experience what the discomforts are that result from the old routine of bandages; how imperfect, clumsy, heavy, and heating they are; they know the inconvenience of pins; how often they require regulating, and upon the whole, how loose, shifting, and disagreeable they become. But if it was only the discomfort of the moment, it might be easily borne, and would be of little consequence. The ordinary evil that follows is the spreading of the figure, which never should, and indeed never would happen, if proper care had been exercised. What is wanting is a regular and progressive compression, with an even, cool, and smooth surface; and if this be given during the inflammatory process, the muscular fibres will return again to their normal position, and resume their original firmness and solidity. Nor will this process cause the least injury to the particular parts under consideration, nor to the general health of the mother; for the muscles having again attained their state of health, will be prepared to repeat the same process without injury.
