476 USE OF THE FORCEPS. 



other part of the woman is not taken hold of; the mode of acquiring 

 a degree of certainty upon this point, consists in moving the instru- 

 ment gently from handle to handle, in the direction of the axes of 

 the pelvis. If it moves readily, and without making the woman 

 suppose that she is getting torn ox pinched, there is nothing to fear; 

 in the contrary case, it is almost certain that some fold of the genital 

 organs has got pinched in the clams of the instrument, and until the 

 head shall have been more properly embraced, all pulling and every 

 species of pressure should be carefully avoided. 



1070. In operating with a view to lessen the size of the head, a 

 loop of ribbon, of thread, or of a fillet is fixed on one of the blunt 

 hooks of the forceps; a turn is then made over the other branch, and 

 the handles are brought as near together as is deemed necessary; the 

 fillet is then carried over the first handle, then brought back over 

 the second, and so in the form of a figure 8 until it is all used; 

 it being well understood that the pressure exerted must be greater or 

 less, according to the degree of reduction which it is desirable to 

 obtain. 



1071. Where the passage is capacious and the forceps is only 

 had recourse to for the purpose of speedily delivering the woman 

 this compressing method may indeed be dispensed with; neverthe- 

 less, as it is always well to have both hands disposable, so as to be 

 able to rest them from time to time, it seems to me better to apply 

 the fillet as recommended in all cases, with this difference, that 

 under the circumstances now supposed, it is employed solely for the 

 purpose of keeping the branches of the forceps in a fixed and pro- 

 perly approximated situation. 



After having wrapped the handles in a napkin, the right hand is 

 placed near the blunt hooks, above as long as it is necessary to pull 

 in the axes of the superior strait, and below, on the contrary, when 

 the head is at the inferior strait; the left hand is applied at the roots 

 of the blades, beyond the pivot, below when the right hand is above, 

 and above when it is underneath. 



1072. The forceps being properly held, and the head firmly 

 grasped, before we begin to pull downwards the occiput must be 

 directed diagonally, provided it be still at the superior strait; if it 

 be in the excavation, it is brought behind the symphysis pubis. To 

 compel it to descend to the centre of the pelvis, and to prevent the 

 forehead from descending prematurely, it has been recommended to 

 sustain the latter with a couple of fingers of the left hand; but I think 

 it would be wrong to place much dependence upon this precaution, 

 which, besides, deprives the accoucheur of a great portion of his 



