“n you have determined on ‘the forceps, and explained — 
] si - them to the aes and her friends, she is to. 
he‘usual position, on her left side, near the edge of the © 
the instruments, warmed in water and smeared with some 
»plication, are to be laid conveniently by you. ie 
following rules are given on the presumption that the head 
the child presents, with the face inclined, or verging towards the ~ 
hollow of the sacred bone, and that the common short forcepsareto 
be used ; but if any other kind of forceps should be preferred, the z 
es must be adapted tothe instrument. 
~ Application —First, carry the fore finger of the right hand tothe = 
ear of the child. Then take the blade of the forceps to be first in- 
troduced, by the handle in the left hand, and conduct it between 
‘the head of the child and the finger already introduced, till the pomt 
the ear. The farther introduction must be made with a 
abling a slight degree of semi-rotation, and the point of 
must be kept close to the head of the child, by gently rais- 
éas the instrumentis advanced. The blade of the for- 
2 carried up till the lock reaches the external parts, near 
f edge of the pubes. If the introduction of either of the 
blades is hindered, we must withdraw them a litle to. discover the 
_ obstacle, and never strive to overcome it with violence. ~ 
‘ When the first blade is introduced, it must be held steadily in this — 
situation, as it will be a guide to the introduction of the second 
stat 
hich must be introduced in the same cautions manner as the 
shes the fork, or soft parts below. When the. 
y intre tuation will be opposite the 
lock the forceps, the hi of which. a con= 
ince from each other, € 
Cond Diade in its first position: care being taken that | 
be entangled in the lock of the forceps, by carrying the finger round 
it.» It is convenient to tie the handles together when locked, with — 
force sufficient to keep them from sliding or shifting their position. — 
Should the handles come close together, probably the bulk of. the 
head is not included between them, and therefore, when we ac 
with them, might slip: or, if the handles, when locked, are’ at a 
great distance from each other, they are not well applied, and ma 
lip. But. e estimations, allowance must be made for the dif 
dimensions of the heads of children. 
ete gt 
. . ed 
@ forceps will never slip if judiciously applied, if the case be 
prope r for their use, and we act circumspectly with them.» Ba 
_ difficulties in their application arise from attempting to apply thent 
too soon ; from passing them in a hurry, or ina wrong direction ; or 
from e g the soft parts of the mother between the instrument! 
an of the child. Of course, we are always to be guar 
Use.—There is no occasion, and it would be hurtful to 
change the position of the head, when the forceps are-apy 
begin to extract, for if the action be slow, 
