The caul is the membrane that is usually ruptured and expelled at the onset of bearing-down pains but that in rare cases does not rupture-the child coming into the world surrounded by membrane.

It was after six in the evening when the woman arrived in St. Cloud's; although it was not his usual practice, the stationmaster escorted her to the hospital entrance because the woman was already engaged in the second stage of labor-her membranes were ruptured, and her bearing-down pains were at regular intervals.