Any method, no matter how improbable-seeming it may be, calculated to render labor or operations upon women less of an ordeal, is worthy of consideration by physicians, midwives, and the laity. Therefore there may be something well worth “trying out” in the “pressure” method of inducing relief from pain.

A number of physicians have reported results that, if confirmed by further experiences, warrant us in believing that zone pressure promises to be a boon to womankind.

To those who have had experience with pressure analgesia in dentistry, and in the relief of rheumatism, lumbago, neuralgia, and other painful affections, mitigating—or even entirely relieving—the pains of childbirth seem quite within the bounds of possibility. In any event, it will not be difficult to put it to a broad conclusive test. And it is absolutely harmless, there is no danger to mother or child in its employment, and no indication that it might be responsible for a “blue baby.” For in almost every case in which it has been tried, labor has been accelerated six hours or more—instead of retarded.

The methods are so simple that they can be utilized by any one—even by women who may, in their hour of labor, chance to be remote from medical attention. Two combs (broad aluminum combs about four inches in length have been found to be the best) to clench the fingers and thumbs over (see Fig.14), and some sharp or edged surface to press the soles of the feet against (see Fig.15), are all the instruments that are required, altho a clamp has now been devised (see Fig.16) which can be fastened on the hands to include both surfaces and all zones. It is applied when contractions begin, and is kept in position intermittently until delivery is completed. Rubber bands, bound around the great and “index” toes, also afford a gratifying help.

To relieve the after-pains and facilitate the expulsion of the afterbirth, it has been found that “stimulating” strokes, with the teeth of the aluminum comb, or the “bristles” of a wire hair brush, are most effective. It may require that these strokes be given from ten minutes to one-half hour. But they assist wonderfully in contracting the uterus.

Dr. R.T.H. Nesbitt, of Waukegan, Ill., is one of a number of physicians who have had practical experience with pressure analgesia in childbirth. He sends this very interesting report:

“During the past week I have been attending the lectures of Dr. George Starr White. In this most interesting and helpful series, Dr. White explained and exemplified biodynamic diagnosis by means of the magnetic meridian (a remarkable discovery of Dr. White, which enables one to diagnose diseases otherwise undiagnosible. This by means of changes in the “tension” of organs—which occurs when a properly grounded patient is turned from North or South to East or West). Dr. White also demonstrated zone therapy. He asked if any of the doctors present expected a confinement case soon. If so, he wished to give them some suggestions in zone anesthesia in connection with delivery.

“As I was expecting a ‘call’ every hour I told Dr. White, and he gave me some special points concerning this work. Last night I was called to attend what I expected would be my last case in confinement, as I have been doing this work so many years that I intended to retire. From my last night’s experience I feel as if I should like to start the practice of medicine all over again.

“The woman I delivered was a primipara (one who had never had a child before, and who therefore, because of the rigidity of the bones and tissues, has a more difficult labor), small in stature.

“When severe contractions began, and the mother was beginning to be very nervous and complained of pain, at which time I generally administer chloroform, I began pressing on the soles of the feet with the edge of a big file, as I could find nothing else. I pressed on the top of the foot with the thumbs of both hands at the metatarsal-phalangeal joint, (where the toes join the foot). I exerted this pressure over each foot for about three minutes at a time. The mother told me that the pressure on the feet gave her no pain whatsoever.

“As she did not have any uterine pain, I was afraid there was no advancement. To my great surprise, when I examined her about ten or fifteen minutes later, I found the head within two inches of the outlet. I then waited about fifteen minutes, and on examination found the head at the vulva. I then pressed again for about one or two minutes on each foot, the edge of the file being on the sole of the foot, and my thumbs over the tarsal-metatarsal joints as before. In this way I exerted pressure on the sole of the foot with the file, and pressure on the dorsum of the foot with my thumbs, doing each foot separately. The last pressure lasted about one and a half minutes to each foot. Within five or ten minutes the head was appearing, and I held it back to preserve the perineum (the tissue joining the vagina and the rectum). It made steady progress, the head and shoulders coming out in a normal manner. Within three minutes the child—which “weighed in” at 91/2 pounds—was born, crying lustily. The mother told me she did not experience any pain whatever, and could not believe the child was born. She laughed and said, ‘This is not so bad.’

“Another point that is very remarkable is that after the child was born, the woman did not experience the fatigue that is generally felt, and the child was more active than usual. I account for this on the principle that pain inhibits (prevents) progress of the birth, and tires the child. But as the pain was inhibited, the progress was more steady, and thus fatigue to both mother and child was avoided.”

A Massachusetts doctor supplements this case with several others—equally ridiculous or revolutionary—depending upon our viewpoint. To insure brevity and accuracy I quote the Doctor’s own words.

“Case 1. Multipara (a woman who has had previous confinements)—mother of four. Shortest previous labor eight hours. Had had a laceration of cervix (neck of the womb) with her first child. Also one forceps delivery.

“When labor commenced she was given two aluminum combs to hold (as shown in Fig.14), and instructed to make strong pressure upon them, with a view of inhibiting pains, particularly in the first, second and third zones. These combs were four inches in length and slightly roughened on the ends, so that the lateral (or side) surfaces of the thumbs could more effectively be stimulated.

“Was called at four a.m., arrived at 5:05, and the babe had just been born. The patient reported that she had been in bed for only 15 minutes. There had been only one severe pain. This was when the head delivered.

“There was no exhaustion following, as with her previous labors, and she said laughingly, ‘I believe I’ll be able to get up this afternoon. Doctor.’

“The afterbirth delivery seemed to be stimulated, and the pains controlled by stroking the backs of the hands with the teeth of the combs. She became relaxed and drowsy from this stroking, and finally fell asleep and slept almost through the night—perfectly free from pain.

“Case 2. Primipara, thirty-seven years old. This woman had a badly retroflexed uterus (a womb which is tilted back), which seemed to retard the advancement of labor, for she required five hours for delivery.

“She also used the comb pressures, and, in addition, was provided with a rough-edged shallow box, upon which she pressed firmly with the soles of her feet.

“Four hours after delivery she had sharp afterbirth pains, which were controlled by the stroking method before described. This seemed to give complete and satisfactory relaxation.

“There were three other cases, all of which responded equally well to treatment by zone analgesia.

“It should be added that, while the pain was inhibited, there seemed to be no diminution in the strength of the uterine contractions.”

Dr. Thomas Mournighan, of Providence, R. I., has been, for more than two years, one of the staunchest advocates of my methods. He has had phenomenally successful experiences in goiter, deafness, female irregularities, and in the relief of pain and cure of conditions in the general practice of medicine.

Dr. Mournighan has also had almost uniformly successful results with zone analgesia in childbirth. I quote from a few of his cases.

“Case 1. Primipara, nineteen years of age. Suffered from furious attacks of vomiting at the beginning of her pregnancy. Her family physician wanted to abort her, fearing for her life, unless the attacks were checked.

“She finally came under my care. I instructed her to bite her tongue as hard as she could, about one-third the distance from the tip—thus, as you see, ‘attacking’ the entire zone connection. This procedure controlled the vomiting almost immediately, and instead of becoming accustomed to it, thereby losing its beneficial effect, she became, if anything, even more susceptible to its influence.

“When she came to term I placed a rough-edged box in the bed, for her to press the soles of her feet on. I also provided her with a sheet, tied to the bed post, which she gripped and pulled upon during pains. This, I feel certain, helps pain relief by zone analgesia—as well as by assisting in the mechanics of labor. She made traction upon the sheets and pressed her feet on the box as the condition seemed to require, and, as she expressed it, ‘got great comfort from it.’

“When the second stage of labor came on—that stage where I generally resort to chloroform—I made strong pressure over the feet, sinking my thumbs well in over the articulation of the toe and foot joint. She was delivered in less than five hours. The afterbirth came away without the slightest pain. I was peculiarly struck by the almost complete absence of labor exhaustion.”

“Case 2. Mother aged forty, ninth child. She had had ‘the devil’s own time’ with the last three or four, the attendant having been compelled to use forceps in these births. With her last child she had had a bad laceration of the cervix, which, however, had been skillfully repaired.

“I gave her two aluminum combs, the edges of which I had nicked with a file, so as to roughen them for the thumb to press over. There being no box handy I covered a coal shovel with a towel, and, when the pains became severe, let her press the soles of her feet against the sharp edge of this.

“Within 3 hours she was delivered—without forceps this time—of a 10 1/2 pound boy—as clean a delivery as I ever saw.

“I know it seems crazy, but any method that will, practically without pain, stimulate women who were formerly in labor for from twelve to fifteen hours to complete delivery—in many instances within three hours—is a good method. I shall continue its use, no matter how foolish it may appear.”

Another physician, who has had a large and successful experience with zone therapy, writes:

“In obstetrics I have almost completely discarded chloroform at the close of the second stage, where I used to almost always use it. In the first stage, zone therapy relieves the nagging pains without retarding, but rather promoting dilatation. In the second stage delivery is hastened. Women seem so quiet and easy one would think ‘there was nothing doing,’ until on examination, you are surprised to see what has been accomplished. For this work I use a serrated strip of aluminum 1/16in. thick, imbedded in a piece of wood of convenient size, or else I use a seven inch aluminum comb, pressing the teeth against the inner part of the sole of the foot, or near the ball, alternating from one foot to the other. When I have an assistant both feet are manipulated at a time, and that aids very materially. I exert as much pressure as the patient can bear without pain. When I have an assistant well trained I am going to try zone therapy for instrumental delivery.”

In connection with the subject of confinement and operations upon women this report from Dr. G. Murray Edwards, of Denver, Colorado, is of peculiar interest:

“Mrs. McK., age 35; pregnant four and a half months; multipara. Placenta praevia (a grave condition, in which the afterbirth precedes the child in delivery), aborted Dec.5, 1915, curettement (scraping out of the uterus), Dec.7, 1915. Temperature 99, pulse 80. This case occurring during Dr. White’s lecture course in Denver, when Dr. Fitzgerald’s pressure method of analgesia was being discussed, I decided to try it out for the first time on this patient. She being a very nervous woman, I felt a little reluctant in the experiment. I did not tell her, however, I was going to use a new method, but quietly placed three elastics, an eighth of an inch wide, on each foot, one around the large toe at the first joint, and one around the others similarly in pairs.

“After fifteen minutes, preparing my instruments in the meantime, I told her we were ready, and while we did not intend to use chloroform, instructed her carefully to tell me immediately if she felt any pain whatsoever. The curettement was conducted in every detail as though she were under general anesthesia, and as I questioned her frequently as to pain, she always came back with a smile and a negative reply.

“We removed fully a teacupful of placental tissue in about ten minutes, while the patient passed the time joking, and when finished assured me she felt much better than when we started, as she was nervous looking forward to the anesthetic. This I consider a typical case, and have no misgivings as to its working generally.”

In similar strain scores of letters tell of the successes attending the employment of this method in labor, and in operations upon women.

Now, I do not contend that a few score, or a few hundred swallows make a summer, but their presence undoubtedly indicates that summer may be well on the way.

All this may sound foolish in the extreme. Yet there are many other things equally foolish in the practice of medicine. And if zone analgesia will do what we claim for it, it may well be taken gently by the hand, lifted out of the foolish class, and placed among the ultra-sensible procedures—where, by right, it belongs.