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by a higher degree of obstetric specialisation in those undertaking
ante-natal care and conducting labours. With regard to the
conduct of labour, there are good reasons for doubting whether
even if practicable this would be a profitable policy and as regards
ante-natal care, it should be remembered that a large proportion
of these neonatal deaths and in fact those most likely to be
capable of reduction are not due to obstetric faults but to
disease during pregnancy or deviation from normal health in the
mother, which, if they require specialist attention may well be
more within the province of the physician than the obstetrician.
Obstetric disasters due to pelvic deformities are practically
a thing of the past. It may be a salutary reminder now the
health services of the country are so much motivated by the
curative side that we do not owe this to progress in obstetrics but
mainly to improvements in nutrition.