Copy 1, Volume 3

A treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery / [William Smellie].

  • William Smellie
Date:
1756-1764
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the theory and practice of midwifery / [William Smellie]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    30/568 (page 18)
    the fame time defiring the woman to force down with all her ftrength. To prevent as much as poflible any in¬ jury to the parts of the woman, I repeat¬ ed thefe efforts by intervals, which at laft brought along the head, fqueezed in along and flat form. This being effected, the body was delivered in a flow manner, but not without a good deal of force. On examining the child’s head, I found the firft hold of the hook was above the car, and the fecond, on the oppofite fide, above the under-jaw; the opening with the fcilfars was made thro’ the left parietal bone. My fingers and thumb had fo firm a hold, as to aflift in pulling the head back¬ wards from the Pubis, while the force above, with the hook, made the bones collapfe, as the Cerebrum was difcharged through the perforated part; but, although the head was fmall, it required a great deal of force to bring' it through the narrow part of the Pelvis. The woman recovered tolerably well, but did not live to have another child. [Fide Collet, xxxiv. N°. 2. Cafe 10.] CASE