“…COMMENT The incidence of prolapse of the umbilical cord occurring during labour in domiciliary midwifery has been referred to by Cookson (1954), who asserts that on average one would have to be in practice for 10 years before one saw a case, and that in 40 years' general practice one could expect to see only four such cases. Bourne (1954) and Gibberd. (1951) give figures of 50% and 60% respectively for the foetal mortality of this complication, and both give its incidence as I in 300 of hospital deliveries.…”