Food.—­The food of the pregnant woman should be simple, wholesome, nutritious, of the kind that is easily digested and enough to satisfy the demands of her system; excessive eating should be avoided.  A mixed diet is to be preferred, but the diet should be of such kind as to help to overcome the constipation, usual in pregnancy.  Meat should not be eaten in as great quantities.  It not only tends to produce more constipation but also has injurious effect upon the kidneys, and anything that in any way puts a greater burden upon the kidneys in pregnancy should be avoided.  All foods that are likely to produce indigestion, heart burn, or irritation of the stomach and liver, such as sweets, fried, greasy, highly spiced foods; greasy rich gravies, or pastry should not be eaten.

The heartiest meal should be taken near midday and the stomach, especially at night, should never be overloaded.  Water should, be drank freely, as it tends to overcome the constipation and wash out the kidneys.  Some women do better with lighter meals and taken more frequently.  Some do better by taking their breakfast before rising.

Bathing.—­Extremes in hot and cold bathing should be avoided.  The skin should be kept active by daily comfortable baths, followed by a brisk rubbing with a rough towel.  The Bowels and Bladder.—­The bowels, as before stated, are usually constipated and should be kept open by coarse foods, fruit and, when necessary, mild laxatives; mineral waters and enemas especially should not be given.  It should not be forgotten that in some women injections into the bowel are liable to bring on contractions of the womb.

No woman, and especially no pregnant woman, should ever neglect the bowels, as much discomfort and ill health are caused by improper eliminations of the bowel contents.  The bladder should also have proper care.  This is apt to be irritable during the early and later months of pregnancy, owing to being pressed upon by the womb.  A mild inflammation arises in some cases.  The woman should take plenty of water, either pure or effervescing, to induce sufficient secretion in the kidneys, and also to flush them.  This is also very good for an irritable bladder.  In order that the physician may keep himself informed regarding the condition of the kidneys, the urine of every pregnant woman should be examined, both chemically and microscopically, every two weeks from the beginning of pregnancy; during the late months of pregnancy the urine analysis should be made weekly.  Catherized specimens should be used because leucorrheal discharges, so common in pregnancy, may give the albumin reaction.  If the above advice of Dr. Manton, of Detroit, was followed in every case there would be fewer cases of trouble during the confinement.  I remember one case; the lady was seven months along when I was called.  She was feeling badly and complained much of her eyes; an analysis of the urine showed thick with albumin.  The failure of her sight was due to thc condition of her kidneys.  If the urine had been examined early and often, her condition might have been prevented.  Watch the kidneys, have the urine examined frequently and carefully.