. Obstetrics: the science and the art. crotchet at the end of the handle; the opening or fenestra is wellrepresented in the drawing, which is from my camera lucida. Thefigure cannot represent the head-curve of this vectis, which is some-what faulty in consequence of the slightness of that curve: still, itis an instrument of which one might make a fortunate use in a caseof labor requiring nothing more than the vectis. The form of thehook at the other end of the handle, and the sharpness of its point,though they may perhaps entitle it to the character of the blunt-hook, might leave one, upon a n
. Obstetrics: the science and the art. crotchet at the end of the handle; the opening or fenestra is wellrepresented in the drawing, which is from my camera lucida. Thefigure cannot represent the head-curve of this vectis, which is some-what faulty in consequence of the slightness of that curve: still, itis an instrument of which one might make a fortunate use in a caseof labor requiring nothing more than the vectis. The form of thehook at the other end of the handle, and the sharpness of its point,though they may perhaps entitle it to the character of the blunt-hook, might leave one, upon a narrower examination, under the im-pression that the Chamberlens must have employed it rather as asharp crotchet than as a proper blunt-hook. Fig. 120 represents,probably, the second attempt of the inventor to carry out his happyidea of the obstetric forceps; it consists of two separate pieces, with Fig. both the handles terminated by blunt-hooks; both possessing theold curve; and capable, therefore, of grasping the headwhen once applied to it while lying within the genital passages. Isay separate pieces, since the two pieces may be taken apart by un-screwing the pivot, which in the figure is seen passing through thelock. The right hand branch was forged out of one piece of iron, 542 THE FOECEPS. like the vectis at Fig. 119 ; but tlie left hand branch was a piece ofthick iron wire carried out to the extremity of the clamp, and thenreturned towards the lock, where its end, being flattened, forms asquare head for the reception of the screw-pivot. If this instru-ment, as I suppose, does really represent Chamberlens secondattempt at invention, it must be regarded as a remarkably success-ful effort; for, setting aside some imperfection in the amount of the Fig. 121.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, booksubjectobstetrics, bookyear1
