A laboris usually called protracted or difficult, if the head presents, when it is not completed in abouttwenty-four hoursfrom its actual commencement. There are many labors however, that last much longer, and yet terminate quite favorably, and many that are over much sooner and yet are very difficult. Still, generally speaking, the danger and difficulty increases as the time progresses, and it is seldom prolonged beyond twenty-four hours without serious inconvenience.
It appears, from the statistics of the Dublin Lying-in Hospital, that inseventy-eight thousand deliveries, one out of everyninety-twoof the mothers died, and one out of everyeighteenof the children was stillborn. Of those mothers who were in labor with first children, fromthirty to forty hours, one in everythirty-fourdied, and one child in everyfivewas stillborn. Of those who were in labor from forty to fifty hours, one died in everythirteen. Of those who were in labor from fifty to sixty hours, one died in everyeleven. And of those who were in labor from sixty to seventy hours, one died in everyeight, and nearlyone-halfof the children. It is evident therefore that, as a general rule, the danger increases with the length of time.