Rodet and Engelmunn, in their most extensive and interesting papers on the modes of accouchement among the primitive peoples, substantiate the fear, pain, and difficulty with which labor is attended, even in the lowest grades of society.
In view of the usual occurrence of pain and difficulty with labor, it seems natural that exceptions to the general rule should in all ages have attracted the attention of medical men, and that literature should be replete with such instances.

Pechlin and Muas record instances of painless births.

The Ephemerides records a birth as having occurred during asphyxia, and also one during an epileptic attack.

Storok also speaks of birth during unconsciousness in an epileptic attack; and Haen and others describe cases occurring during the coma attending apoplectic attacks.

King reports the histories of two married women, fond mothers and anticipating the event, who gave birth to children, apparently unconsciously.