Obstetrical instrument set, United Kingdom, 1871-1900

Made:
1871-1900 in England
maker:
Weiss, John
,
J W Wood
and
Elliott
Obstetric instrument set, in leather roll, British Obstetric instrument set, in leather roll, British

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Obstetric instrument set, in leather roll, British
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Obstetric instrument set, in leather roll, British
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Obstetric instrument set, in leather roll, British, late 19th century

Tools in this obstetrical surgical instrument set include three sets of forceps for gripping the baby’s head and a vectis. A vectis was a levering instrument used to ease the head out. There are also destructive tools for removing a dead and obstructed foetus. A perforator pierced the child’s skull; two hooked instruments called crochets were inserted into the mother’s birth canal and hooked onto part of the child; and a pair of craniotomy forceps was a heavy toothed or ridged crushing instrument for breaking up the skull bones of a foetus.

Devices and tools were used for different applications depending on the circumstance. An obstetric physician, or male midwife, was not normally present in routine births in the 1800s. However, he was called to assist if complications arose.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A651838
Materials:
leather, steel and wood
Measurements:
overall (unrolled): 55 mm x 495 mm x 695 mm, 2.42 kg
type:
obstetric instrument set

Parts

Obstetric forceps

Obstetric forceps

Obstetric forceps, Anderson, steel and ebony, by J. W. Wood, 81 Church Street, Liverpool, England, 1864-1900.

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A651838 Pt1
type:
obstetric forceps
Obstetric forceps

Obstetric forceps

Obstetric forceps, Blundell, steel and ebony, by Blackwell of London, 1817 to 1850

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A651838 Pt2
type:
obstetric forceps
Obstetric forceps

Obstetric forceps

Obstetric forceps, steel and ebony, Robertson, by Elliott of Clitheroe, 1824 to 1858

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A651838 Pt3
type:
obstetric forceps
Vectis, steel and ebony

Vectis, steel and ebony

Vectis, steel and ebony, by Blackwell of London, 1817 to 1850

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A651838 Pt4
type:
obstetrical vectis
Perforator, Denman, steel

Perforator, Denman, steel

Perforator, Denman, steel

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A651838 Pt6
type:
perforators
Craniotomy forceps

Craniotomy forceps

Craniotomy forceps, Conquest, steel and ebony, by Weiss of London

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A651838 Pt7
type:
craniotomy forceps
Blunthook and crochet

Blunthook and crochet

Blunthook and crochet, steel and ebony, by Blackwell of London, 1817 to 1850

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A651838 Pt8
type:
crochets