On the craniotomy forceps of Dr. Davis, in reply to Mr. Rawlins of Oxford / by David D. Davis.

  • Davis, David D., 1777-1841.
Date:
[1820]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the craniotomy forceps of Dr. Davis, in reply to Mr. Rawlins of Oxford / by David D. Davis. 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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    denominated craniotomy forceps that I have ever seen or heard of are connected together by some sort of joint, situated in or about the centre of the instrument, and common to each half of it. But this connection may be effected either by a rivet joint which is only moveable on its own axis, or by some other mode of junction admitting of the separation at jneasurc of the two blaaes It is probable that all the instruments of this kind known to the antients were fastened together upon the principle of our rivet joint. Here also are to be classed all the forceps of this tribe best known in modern times. viz. those of Puisseau, Schurer*, Lyon, and the lithotomy forceps of La Motte-|*. Of these, the power is nearly equal; all of them, with the exception of La Motte’s, being armed with long transfixing teeth. The instrument of l)r. Lyon’s (formerly of Edinburgh) is best known in this country. To the instrument makers here it is better known under the designation of ITaighton’s tooth-forceps ; because, I apprehend, that Dr. Haighton is in the habit of recommending it in his estimable lectures upon midwifery. In common with those of Puisseau and Schurer, it is really a very useful and convenient instru- ment, and, like them, well adapted for the extraction of the foetus in cases of moderate confinement or distortion. But it unfor- tunately happens, that a great majority of difficulties of this kind depend upon want of sufficient space at the superior aperture of the pelvis, where the application of rivet-jointed forceps might be attended with much difficulty and inconveni- ence, and where generally, and in all cases of great confinement, the purchase would of necessity be too limited to admit of a sufficiently powerful exertion of extracting force. This remark, T am very certain, is perfectly intelligible to such of my readers as are practically acquainted with the difficulties to which it refers. For want of power to introduce the blades singly, so as to enable the operator to command an ample purchase above the confinement or distortion occasioning the arrest, the profession was still under the necessity, in the more difficult eases of embryotomy, to have recourse to its blunt-hooks and crotchets. But such a power has for many years been accessible to ' it; perhaps, like some objects of sensation, too near the organ to excite a distinct impression ; it having been presented to us in a great variety of forms in those instruments which are most familiar to us: viz. the modern obstetric forceps for extracting the living child. But the merit, as in this instance, of transferring the application * Disput. Chirurg. loc. ci/at. t La Motte. Obs. pp. 247> 250, 403, 404.