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.

    32/158 (page 14)
    But notwithftandiiig all thefe alterations in the Obftetric Forceps, and although granting that the double curved Forceps of Dn unthinkingly, againft the upper part of the facrum of projecliou of the lumbar vertebrae, and there hurt the woman, and this merely owing to the double curva- ture of the blades deceiving the operator in the axis of the Forceps: vi^hereas the fingle curved Forceps would freely pafs up over the ears of the child in the middle or dire6l axis of the pelvis, confequently not fo liable to in- jure any part therein. But not to mention at prefent any more fuch inftances which tend to prove that the double curved P'orccps is not by far fo fafe and effectual as the fingle curved Forceps in many cafes of retarded labors, I fiiall now only point out an omillion of Dr. QJborn refpecling his double curved Forceps, and then any candid pradtitioner may readily judge how very at- tentively the Do6l:or has confidered the ftru6lure and application of his double, or rather triple curved For- ceps ; in the engraving of it in his plate, he has only given us the view of one fide of it, not confidering that, if any future or foreign artift was to attempt to make a pair of double curved Forceps therefrom, the ends of the two blades, when locked together, would point different ways, inftead of being oppofite to each other; this Dr. OJhorn will find to be true, if he will be fo kind as once more to take a view of the different curvatures of his Forceps' blades, one evidently inclining over the groove of the locking part, the other turning from it; it there- fore behoves the Dodlor, in his next or fecond edition of' his