Obstetrical forceps, Glasgow, Scotland, 1865-1900

Obstetrical forceps, steel, nickel-plated and ebony, by Dick of Glasgow, 1865-1900

Obstetrical forceps grip and rotate the baby’s head during difficult births. The curved blades fit the curve of the mother’s pelvis. Obstetrical forceps were introduced in numbers from the early 1700s, but only gradually found widespread use. This pair is made from nickel-plated steel with ebony handles by Glasgow-based surgical instrument and bandage maker James Dick.