The kneeling posture, like some other positions which
appear to us peculiar, is a historical one. It is referred to
in the Bible, as well as by the Roman poets. It was taught
in ancient Rome, among the Arabs, and in Germany during
the Middle Ages, and definite rules were laid down for
the circumstances under which it should be resorted to.
At this present day it is still, at times, adopted in the rural
districts of our own States, and more frequently than we
should suppose in our cities. It is that position which is,
perhaps, most universal among our Indians, that is, among
what we may call the blanket Indians, those who have not
yet partially succumbed to the advances of eastern civilization.
Some of our ablest obstetricians, Fellows of this Society,
who have given me their opinions upon the kneeling
posture in labor, differ in their views in regard to its
advantages and disadvantages; to one it seems physiologically
correct, and appears most practically to favor the expulsion
of the child, whilst it is frowned upon by another
as liable to be followed by hemorrhage. We, however, do
not hear of this as a frequent occurrence among the Indians,
where the position is so common; in fact, we neither
hear of this nor any other accident consequent upon labor,
not even of prolapse, which might be supposed to follow;
probably, because the position is only assumed during the
advent of the more severe pains, and in the very last stage
of labor.
If I may make a broad assertion, the kneeling posture
seems most common among the red and yellow races; our
Indians mainly being delivered kneeling, with the body inclined
forward; whilst the Mongolians seem, as a rule, to
retain the body more erect. I have classified the kneeling
positions as follows:—
(a.) The body inclined forward.
(b.) This position overdone; that is, with the body thrown
completely forward, the patient resting on the hands and
knees, or knees and elbows.
(c.) The body erect or inclined backward, sometimes
clinging to a rope.
(d.) Kneeling postures, where precise descriptions are
lacking.
