Henning and Ahlfeld, two German observers, vouch for the opinion of Thomas, and Thornburn states that he has witnessed the effect of nux vomica and strychnin on the fetus shortly after birth.

Over fifty years ago, in a memoir on "Placental Phthisis," Sir James Y.Simpson advanced a new idea in the recommendation of potassium chlorate during the latter stages of pregnancy.

The efficacy of this suggestion is known, and whether, as Simpson said, it acts by supplying extra oxygen to the blood, or whether the salt itself is conveyed to the fetus, has never been definitely settled.
McClintock, who has been a close observer on this subject, reports some interesting cases.

In his first case he tried a mixture of iron perchlorid and potassium chlorate three times a day on a woman who had borne three dead children, with a most successful result.

His second case failed, but in a third he was successful by the same medication with a woman who had before borne a dead child.