16.  SWOLLEN AND PAINFUL BREASTS.  The breasts are, at times, during pregnancy, much swollen and very painful; and, now and then, they; cause the patient great uneasiness, as she fancies that she is going to have either some dreadful tumor or a gathering of the bosom.  There need, in such a case, be no apprehension.  The swelling and the pain are the consequences of the pregnancy, and will in due time subside without any unpleasant result.  For treatment she cannot do better than rub them well, every night and morning, with equal parts of Eau de Cologne and olive oil, and wear a piece of new flannel over them; taking care to cover the nipples with soft linen, as the friction of the flannel might irritate them.

17.  BOWEL COMPLAINTS.  Bowel complaints, during pregnancy, are not unfrequent.  A dose either of rhubarb and magnesia, or of castor oil, are the best remedies, and are generally, in the way of medicine, all that is necessary.

18.  CRAMPS.  Cramps of the legs and of the thighs during the latter period, and especially at night, are apt to attend pregnancy, and are caused by the womb pressing upon the nerves which extend to the lower extremities.  Treatment.  Tightly tie a handkerchief, folded like a neckerchief, round the limb a little above the part affected, and let it remain on for a few minutes.  Friction by means of the hand either with opodeldoc or with laudanum, taking care not to drink the lotion by mistake, will also give relief.

19.  THE WHITES.  The whites during pregnancy, especially during the latter months, and particularly if the lady have had many children, are frequently troublesome, and are, in a measure, occasioned by the pressure of the womb on the parts below, causing irritation.  The best way, therefore, to obviate such pressure is for the patient to lie down a great part of each day either on a bed or a sofa.  She ought to retire early to rest:  she should sleep on a hair mattress and in a well ventilated apartment, and should not overload her bed with clothes.  A thick, heavy quilt at these times, and indeed at all times, is particularly objectionable; the perspiration cannot pass readily through it as through blankets, and thus she is weakened.  She ought to live on plain, wholesome, nourishing food; and she must abstain from beer and wine and spirits.  The bowels ought to be gently opened by means of a Seidlitz powder, which should occasionally be taken early in the morning.

[Illustration:  A PRECIOUS FLOWER.]

20.  IRRITATION AND ITCHING OF THE EXTERNAL PARTS.—­This is a most troublesome affection, and may occur at any time, but more especially during the latter period of the pregnancy.  Let her diet be simple and nourishing; let her avoid stimulants of all kinds.  Let her take a sitz-bath of warm water, considerably salted.  Let her sit in the bath with the body thoroughly covered.

21.  HOT AND INFLAMED.—­The external parts, and the passage to the womb (vagina), in these cases, are not only irritable and itching, but are sometimes hot and inflamed, and are covered either with small pimples, or with a whitish exudation of the nature of aphtha (thrush), somewhat similar to the thrush on the mouth of an infant; then, the addition of glycerine to the lotion is a great improvement and usually gives much relief.