. On the theory and practice of midwifery . e to confess that I do not like the craniotomy forceps, althoughI have tried them repeatedly. They are by no means so manageable asthe crotchet; and the interposition of the hand of the operator will alwaysprotect the mother from injury by the latter. There is one case, however, in which the forceps may be more useful,and that is, when the bones of the head are extremely hard, so that it isalmost impossible to fix the point of the crotchet.* 17. M. Baudelocque, jr. has invented an instrument, which he calls a cephalotribe, for the purpose of crushing
. On the theory and practice of midwifery . e to confess that I do not like the craniotomy forceps, althoughI have tried them repeatedly. They are by no means so manageable asthe crotchet; and the interposition of the hand of the operator will alwaysprotect the mother from injury by the latter. There is one case, however, in which the forceps may be more useful,and that is, when the bones of the head are extremely hard, so that it isalmost impossible to fix the point of the crotchet.* 17. M. Baudelocque, jr. has invented an instrument, which he calls a cephalotribe, for the purpose of crushing the head (fig. 115.) It consists of a very strong pair of forceps, about two feet in length, the handles * Professor Meigs uses the forceps and perforator represented in figures 116 and forceps possess advantages over the ordinary instruments for extraction after 346 CRANIOTOMY. of which are connected by a screw which pierces them, and which isturned by a handle until the blades are so closed as to effect their object. Fig. Velpeau states that instruments somewhat similar have been formerly usedby Assalina, Osiander, Delpech, Colombe, &c. M. Baudelocque is saidto have used it three times successfully (and safely as regards the mother)in the year 1832, and once again in 1834. It is also said that M. Cham-pion has tried it with success. Its appearance is so formidable, that I doubt if it could be used in thiscountry. I am not aware that the attempt has been made. 548. The object of the operation of craniotomy is to terminate the labourwith safety to the mother, in cases where from the disproportion betweenthe size of the foetal head and the pelvis, a living child can neither be ex-pelled by the natural powers, nor extracted by the forceps. Such a case,if left to nature (as it is called) will terminate fatally for both mother andchild; consequently, although the child is destroyed to facilitate the de-livery, and to save the mother, it can hardly be said to be sac
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