Cephalotribe; obstetric tool, Geneva, Switzerland, 1750-1850

Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cephalotribe, steel, dual-shanked, three-pronged, by Demaurex, 1750-1850

Three vicious-looking pronged hands comprise this steel cephalotribe. It is a skull-crushing instrument. Cephalotribes were used by obstetric physicians. These doctors assist at the birth of a baby. The instrument pierced and crushed the foetus head to extract it from the mother’s body. They were used as a last resort only after the foetus was dead. The foetus may have died during the pregnancy or during a difficult labour. This example was made by Swiss instrument maker Demaurex.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A158136
Materials:
steel
Measurements:
overall: 440 mm .471kg
claws (open): 310 mm
claws (closed): 140 mm
type:
obstetrical craniotomy forceps
credit:
Penon