Abstract Methergine ∗
∗The Methergine was supplied through the courtesy of Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. (methyl ergonovine) was synthesized from isolysergic acid by Stoll and Hofmann. 1 In 1948 it was made available commercially as Methergine tartrate. Several reports 2–12 attest to the fact that Methergine is a safe drug and valuable in the management of the third stage of labor. Methergine has been used in conjunction with other oxytocic drugs on the Boston Lying-in house service since late in 1952. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Methergine as an oxytocic in the management of the third stage of labor by comparing a series of cases in which Methergine was used alone to a series of cases in which Pitocin was used in conjunction with Methergine or ergonovine.