. On the theory and practice of midwifery . adding to thebulk of the childs head, and to diminish the risk of injury to mother andchild. I doubt whether the object be attained by this arrangement, andwhen the forceps are introduced antero-posteriorly, the additional breadthof the blade which is underneath the arch of the pubis, may prove verymischievous to the sides of the outlet. 5. In other forceps the breadth of the blade is continued to the handle,for the purpose of containing an opening, through which the other blade(which is slightly narrower) is passed, so as to insure their apposition.
. On the theory and practice of midwifery . adding to thebulk of the childs head, and to diminish the risk of injury to mother andchild. I doubt whether the object be attained by this arrangement, andwhen the forceps are introduced antero-posteriorly, the additional breadthof the blade which is underneath the arch of the pubis, may prove verymischievous to the sides of the outlet. 5. In other forceps the breadth of the blade is continued to the handle,for the purpose of containing an opening, through which the other blade(which is slightly narrower) is passed, so as to insure their apposition. 6. Certain contrivances have been added to the handles of the instru-ment, to prevent their being pressed too closely together; and in someforceps the blades do not cross, in order to avoid compressing the childshead. 7. The blades have been wrapped wTith leather, to prevent injury tothe scalp of the child. This plan is now very properly abandoned, as itcould not be of any use, and rather added to the difficulty of introduc-tion. Fig. 99. Radfords Forceps. 3. Mr. Hactfbrr1 has altered the long forceps, and, as he states, withgreat advantage. The blade, which is to be applied over the occiput, is 2b2 318 THE FORCEPS. much shorter than the other, so that when it touches the neck, the other(owing to the oblique position in which the head descends) will embracea great extent of the anterior part of the head. He has also lessened thecompressing power of the instrument, by placing the joint nearer the outerend of the forceps. 9. Dr. Davis, of University College, London, has shown much ingenuityin varying the forceps, so as to meet the different circumstances in whichthey are required. In London, a modification of Levrets forceps is used for the higheroperation, and Smellies for the cavity of the pelvis. In Edinburgh, boththe long and short forceps are employed, with the single or double Dublin, the long forceps is rarely used; and the short one resemblesSmellies, without th
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