EXTRACTION OF THE HEAD. 537 



always obviate the necessity of having recourse to craniotomy, or, 

 even to the sharp crotchet. It is true, that for the purpose of avoid- 

 ing the latter measures, a great variety of extractors [tiretetes) have 

 been proposed; but none of them can be regarded as good substi- 

 tutes. The double cross of Bacquie, the bascule of Levret, the ba- 

 siocester of Metzler, the sling of Mauriceau, the T of Stein, the nets 

 of Araand, the cap proposed by M. Desormeaux, Sen. the forceps 

 with three branches of Levret, the small piece of stick, to the middle 

 of which is attached a string, or the one made of iron fixed to the 

 end of the metallic rod in such a way that it may be introduced pa- 

 rallel to the rod, and after reaching the interior of the cranium, be al- 

 tered so as to stand crosswise to it, the invention of which is attribu- 

 ted to Danavia, and also to Assalini, and which has been too much 

 praised by many authors; all of these means have ceased to be made 

 use of at the present day. The crotchet planted somewhere near the 

 occipital foramen, in the upper jaw, or in some other firm part, whilst 

 the opposite part of the head is supported with the fingers, is in this, 

 as in some other cases, the last resource; but, nevertheless, it forms 

 the only really efficient extractor in all cases where the hand, the 

 common forceps, the toothed forceps, the extracting forceps with 

 three branches, or the crotched forceps, or the forceps of M. Baude- 

 locque, Jun. are either inapplicable or insufficient for the delivery of 

 the head. 



