these details. An interview early in pregnancy, soon after the nurse
has been selected, provides an opportunity to lay plans and
especially to review the list of articles needed at delivery. Such
articles as are already in the house may be checked off; the others
may be procured at leisure. Eight to ten weeks before the expected
date of the confinement the nurse should pay a second visit and
should inspect the supplies to see that they are complete. Certain
articles which I shall indicate must be sterilized. As this procedure
is more reliable when carried out by an experienced person it will be
convenient to have all the dressings finished by the time of the
nurse's second visit, in order that she may sterilize them.

The question may arise as to whether the nurse shall come to the
patient upon the date for which she has been engaged or shall wait
until summoned. From the physician's standpoint it is often more
acceptable to have the nurse in the house a few days before the
confinement, though some patients strongly object to this. Provided
the nurse may be got quickly at any time of day or night, there can
be no objection to leaving the decision to the patient herself.

THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES FOR CONFINEMENT.--As to just what a
confinement outfit should contain physicians differ to some extent;
but this disagreement pertains rather to luxuries than essentials. In
the lists here suggested nothing essential has been omitted, although
economy, as far as is consistent with good judgment, has been kept in
mind. Any article not included in my list which the doctor or nurse
in attendance recommends may be noted in the space for memoranda.

Some patients prefer to take no part in preparing the supplies for
confinement. Indeed, the demand for a ready-made confinement outfit