A dissertation on the structure of the obstetric forceps : pointing out its defects, and especially of those with double curved blades: at the same time, shewing particularly the safe application of those with single curved blades, as geometrically proportioned and constructed: and likewise, shewing the necessity and good effects of several new forms of the single curved blade, as the narrow, fanged and reflected, in certain cases of retarded labors: together with cautions, remarks, and reflections on the conduct and management of labors in general / By R. Rawlins, surgeon, Oxford.

  • Rawlins, R.
Date:
1793
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation on the structure of the obstetric forceps : pointing out its defects, and especially of those with double curved blades: at the same time, shewing particularly the safe application of those with single curved blades, as geometrically proportioned and constructed: and likewise, shewing the necessity and good effects of several new forms of the single curved blade, as the narrow, fanged and reflected, in certain cases of retarded labors: together with cautions, remarks, and reflections on the conduct and management of labors in general / By R. Rawlins, surgeon, Oxford. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    ( >3 ) more aptly fitting the child's headg and confequentlj more efFe<flual in extract- ing it. But and eiFe6tual in the extra6lion of the head than the fingle curved blades, I fliould think, on a very little refle^iion concerning the axis of the double curved Forceps, that it would immediately appear to every one to be a mif- take; for, let us fuppofe that in extracting the child's head with the double curved Forceps, the chief hold of the Forceps mult certainly be very near the ends of the blades, confequently the axis oh which the power in ex* trailing depends, muft proceed in a ftraight line acrofs the curvature from the ends of the blades to the handles, which is in la£l the dire61: adlion of the fino-Ie curved Forceps.—What advantages or fuperiority then has the Forceps with double curved blades over that which is fingle curved in Its blades ? Certainly none ; but, on the contrary, the double curved Forceps has its defects, as it may, for the reafon juft given, very much deceive the operator in the axis in which he is to dire£l the power of his inftrument when extracting the head, and there- fore, inftead of facilitating the delivery, may retard it, dnd render it more painful, as drawing and preffing the head into a contrary direction to what the operator in- tended j and again, it may deceive the operator even in introducing the blades; for as it is the invariable rule with Dr. OJborn always to place the convex edge of his Forceps towards the infant's face, fo in face prefenta- tions towards the pubes, in thus introducing fuch double curved blades, thsir ends will be very apt to be forced, unthinkino;]v\