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Intra-abdominal (vesical), intra-uterine and intra-vaginal pressures were measured in 12 healthy women early in the first stage of labour. Ten subjects were primigravidae and two gravidae-2.Seven subjects exhibited no significant change of intraabdominal or intra-vaginal pressures during uterine contractions.Five subjects (4 primigravidae) exhibited no significant change of intra-abdominal pressure but a large and significant increase of intra-vaginal pressure concomitant with uterine contractions. In spite of having higher intrauterine peak pressures during contractions, these subjects exhibited significantly smaller expulsive uterine pressures than the former group because of high vaginal counterpressures. It is believed that increased tension of pelvic floor muscles contributes to the elevated vaginal pressure during contraction.Our findings may offer a better understanding of why pain relief in selected patients will aid in accelerating labour and make the birth process less hazardous for the fetus.

Cervical incompetence was present in 0.8 per cent of 5,984 pregnancies progressing beyond the stage of viability. Forty-eight patients were followed through 61 pregnancies after a modified cerclage operation. Fetal salvage improved from 50 to 86.9 per cent, and prematurity was significantly reduced. Congenital weakness of the cervix is an important etiologic factor, and vaginal pressure is an unique symptom which is often the clue to diagnosis.

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The brief paper which I have to present this evening was suggested by some remarks, with which the society was favored at its last meeting by Dr. Etheridge, entitled a "Preliminary PreliminaryNoteonc Tamponnement of the Vagina in the Treatment of Pelvic Inflammation." It would have afforded me pleasure to endorse the treatment which was advocated at that time, had an opportunity been given for so doing, for I have had occasion to make frequent use of it, and to learn its advantages, during the past eight or nine years. My attention was first called to this subject by reading a paper which was published by Dr. V. H. Taliaferro, of Atlanta, Ga., in 1878, on "The Application of Pressure in Diseases of the Uterus," in which the writer presented many facts and arguments to prove the great therapeutic efficacy of the principle of pressure as applied to the treatment of