2210
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 62

which can be boiled before use and burned afterwards, such as linen,
cotton-wool, cotton-waste, or tow. When possible such materials
shall be sterilized by steam or by boiling, and, if this is impossible,
they shall be placed to soak in a basin of antiseptic lotion, in which
they shall remain for at least one hour before use.
(c.) A midwife shall not make a vaginal examination during the
third stage of labour unless some serious complication has occurred.
(9.) Whenever any midwife has been in attendance upon a patient
suffering from puerperal infections, scarlet fever, erysipelas, or from
any illness of a suppurative character, she shall disinfect herself and
her clothing, and shall sterilize all her instruments and other
appliances, in accordance with the directions of the Medical Officer
of Health, or, in the absence of any specific direction, in accordance
with the provisions of Schedule B hereto. Moreover, she shall not
attend any other patient until the Medical Officer of Health has
certified that she may do so.
(10.) Whenever a midwife has attended a case of puerperal fever
or other infectious disease she shall immediately report the fact to the
Medical Officer of Health.
(11.) A midwife when in attendance on a woman about to be
confined shall see that all unnecessary furniture, clothing, and
hangings are removed from the room in which the confinement is to
take place, and that the floor is clean.
(12.) A midwife shall not leave a patient who is in the second
stage of labour; and she shall stay with the patient for at least one
hour after the expulsion of the placenta.
(13.) In any case in which a medical practitioner has been sent
for on account of the labour being abnormal or difficult, the midwife
shall await his arrival and shall carefully carry out his instructions.
(14.) If the infant when born is in danger of death the midwife
shall inform one of the parents of the fact.
(15.) The midwife shall remove all soiled linen, fæces, urine, and
the placenta from possible contact with the patient and from the
lying-in room as soon as possible after the labour, and before she
leaves the patient’s house.
(16.) The midwife shall be responsible for the cleanliness of both
mother and infant, and shall give adequate directions for securing
their comfort and proper dieting during the lying-in period, which for
the purposes of this regulation shall be deemed to be the time which
the patient is in labour and a period of ten days thereafter.
(17.) The midwife shall take the temperature and pulse of the
patient at the beginning of labour, and during labour and the lying-in
period she shall take them twice daily as near to the hours of 8 a.m.
and 5.30 p.m. as is possible. She shall record the result on an ap-
proved chart as soon as possible after the taking, and in all cases this
record shall begin from the time the midwife first begins to attend the
patient.
(18.) When a midwife is in attendance on a patient during the
lying-in period, but is not resident in the patient’s house, she shall
visit her patient at least once in each twenty-four hours. At each
visit she shall do everything necessary and possible for the care of
her patient, and she shall take the pulse and temperature and record
the same.
(19.) Whenever a child is born in a condition of asphyxia the
midwife shall forthwith apply methods of resuscitation.
(20.) As soon as the child’s head is born, and, if possible, before
the eyes are opened, its eyelids shall be carefully cleansed by the
midwife in attendance with a weak antiseptic lotion applied on a
piece of sterilized cotton-wool, and as soon as possible after birth she
shall apply an approved solution to each eye.
(21.) Every midwife shall enter in her register of cases all occasions
on which she is under the necessity of administering any stimulant or
drug (whether scheduled as a poison or not), giving the dose and
the time and cause of its administration.

Abnormal Conditions, in which Medical Help shall be sought.

8. (1.) A midwife shall not engage to attend or continue to attend
   any patient, unless a registered medical practitioner is in charge, if
   the said patient is suffering from any ill health, disease, or abnormal