On an alteration in the handle of the forceps, &c. / by H. Davies.

  • Davies, H.
Date:
[1820]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On an alteration in the handle of the forceps, &c. / by H. Davies. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    2. That, while resting at intervals from extracting where there are no pains, or in the intervals of the pains where they still occur, a full expansion of the child’s hpad may thus be allowed; and the ill effects which might result from con- tinued compression on it will be avoided. 3. Provided the compression on the blades should require more than their usual approximation, and consequently the approximation of the extremities of the handles, this will be allowed by the pin and groove, which will still retain their firmness ; but which will be lost where the tape or napkin is used, unless it is re-adapted. My recommendation of this improvement can add little weight to the authority of the original improver. I have never myself used a tape or napkin since the addition of the pin, Sec. was made; and I think the advan- tages of it will be experienced by all who may choose to adopt it. I ain led to make another remark on the forceps, which was very forcibly suggested to me by a recent case, and which I shall relate in part for the more ready illustration of my point. A lady of robust habit fell in labour on'Sunday, the 19th of November. On the Wednesday following it was deemed advisable to deliver her. As I was some distance from home, I requested the loan of a pair of forceps which had narrow polished blades, without any lateral curvature. The blades were passed with ease; but as it required a good deal of exertion to extract the head, which was particularly large, I became greatly alarmed for the safety of the perinaeum, which, from the abrupt curvature of the blades, was stretched to a very considerable extent before the head approached it. I am in a great measure indebted for the preservation of it to the kind assistance afforded me by Mr. Woolly, of Brompton, whose forceps I used, and who saw the dis- advantages of the abruptness of the curvature, and also how' much more simple and generally useful the pin and groove would have been to the tape which I made use of, from necessity, on this occasion. What l would wish to inculcate is, that the curvature of the forceps, from the handles to the bow, should be very gradual, in order not to produce this sudden stretching of the perinaeum. As this case terminated in every way well to the mother and her child, without any particular occurrence, I shall not trespass upon the pages of the Reposituoy by detailing more of it. VOL. xv.—no. 86'. t*
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