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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    it -iftay be obferved, that when the face or vertex of the head is brou2;ht fo low as to point diredly through the os externum, and the other parts of the head reft on the perinaeum, that then the blades of the For- ceps fhould be taken off* and removed, and the head left entirely to be expelled by the natural efforts of the woman's pains; by thefe means the perinaeam will be na- turally diftended, and a laceration of it * In general it is directed, that the child's head fhould be entirely extratled with the Forceps, in very weakly won^en where the pains are too flight and infufEcient to protrude the child, and where alfo the perinceum is in a lax, yielding ftate, the labor may be i'o far finifbed, and the head extraiSted flowly, gradually, and regularly; but when the perinseum is rather rigid and not very yield- ing, and the woman of a healthy robuft conftitution, and the pains ftrong, it is much better to remove the Forceps as foon as the head begins to dilate the os ex- ternum, than to extraft the head forcibly with the For- ceps, for fear the perinaeum fhould be lacerated; and It will be more agreeable both to the woman and to the by- flahding women, when they perceive that you a£l with caution and deliberation, and not with force ; and be- fides, it is al;ways then in our power to refix the Forceps inflantaneoufly, and that with eafe and facility, if any unforefeen accident fhould happen to arife, which I be-r iieve never will. (which