Obstetrics : the science and the art . rather under size, and one inwhich the progress of ossifi-cation had not gone so far asto render the bones of the cranium very firm and resisting. But as a childs head, in its bi-parietal diameter, according to my measurements, will average ,and as, in a series of three hundred heads, I found but one , there will be in general but faint prospect here of extracting afull-grown child alive. The records, however, contain abundant ex-amples of cases in which the foetus at term was spontaneously expelledin pelves reduced as low as In the tre
Obstetrics : the science and the art . rather under size, and one inwhich the progress of ossifi-cation had not gone so far asto render the bones of the cranium very firm and resisting. But as a childs head, in its bi-parietal diameter, according to my measurements, will average ,and as, in a series of three hundred heads, I found but one , there will be in general but faint prospect here of extracting afull-grown child alive. The records, however, contain abundant ex-amples of cases in which the foetus at term was spontaneously expelledin pelves reduced as low as In the treatment of such a case asthe one now under consideration, the least reflecting Student mustperceive that, in adjusting the position of the head, it would be desir-able for him to bring the bi-parietal diameter, which is the smallestdiameter of the head, into coincidence with the anteroposterior, whichis the smallest diameter of such a pelvis; and further, that in anyattempt to assist the natural powers by means of the forceps, it would. 520 DEFORMED PELVIS. be preposterous to think of adjusting the blades upon the sides of the head in that direction. The pelvis is already perhaps fatally apply the blades of the forceps, then, would be considerably toincrease the necessity for some reduction in the transverse diameter ofthe head. Common sense, therefore, would teach him that if he mustapply the additional force, it must be applied to the face and occiput ofthe child. The blades of Daviss forceps, even when the handles areperfectly shut, are asunder. It would be impossible, therefore, toextract the forceps in that direction, much less the head containedwithin them. I believe the practitioners of midwifery in England are less fami-liar with the use of the forceps than those of the continent or of theUnited States. I think them quite too prone to refer to the aid ofthe crotchet and perforator, and cannot but indulge a disposition todissent from their almost invariable p
Size: 1804px × 1385px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectmidwifery, booksubjectobstetrics
