146 Description of an Obstetrical Forceps. 



Its spoons are nearly similar to those of Levret's 

 forceps : its lock and handle are of the size and form 

 of those of the Smellian forceps. 



On the outside of each of the branches, near to the 

 lock, are two small hooks, marked, in the plate, A. B. 

 These hooks are fitted to receive the fore and middle 

 finger of the operator. By this contrivance, he is 

 enabled to draw much stronger, more steadily, and 

 with less inconvenience to himself; not being sub- 

 jected to that pain and fatigue of the finger, which are 

 unavoidable, when he is obliged to draw with one 

 finger put above the lock, between the two branches 

 of the instrument: for in this latter encheiresis he 

 very often moves the branches out of their lock, and 

 thus occasions a slipping of the instrument. 



These great and serious inconveniences, which so 

 frequently occur in the extraction of the foetus by the 

 forceps, have been entirely obviated by Mr. Her- 

 holdt's instrument. I am even of opinion, that we 

 are now enabled to accomplish the delivery by the 

 forceps, in many cases, which, before the addition of 

 the two hooks (A. B.), rendered it necessary for the 

 operator to have recourse to the most horrid of all 

 surgical operations ; I mean the exccrebration of a 

 living foetus. 



It is another advantage of this contrivance, that in 

 fixing or applying the two branches upon the head of 

 the foetus, the accoucheur, as well as his assistant, 

 can each of them keep the branch committed to their 



