The collection of obstetrical and gynecological instruments in the Historical Library, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library numbers 57 instruments. Many were collected by Herbert Thoms, M.D. (1885-1972), longtime professor of obstetrics at Yale and a nota ble historian of obstetrics, who sought out examples of the various types of forceps, perforators, cranioclasts, and other instruments. The instruments were cleaned, described, photographed, labeled, and stored by Joan Tannenbaum-Pasay as part of an inte rnship project for the degree of M.A. in Women's Studies at Southern Connecticut State University.
Midwifery before the eighteenth century was dominated by women who used traditional herbal treatments. During this time birthing stools were also used, encouraging the force of gravity as a positive aid to childbirth. By the early 17th century men began to influence the area of midwifery by attending difficult labors. The increase in male-midwives corresponded to the formation of the United Company of Barber-Surgeons.
The Chamberlen family of the 17th century is widely known to have invented the forceps as we know them today, thus taking credit for delivering a live baby in an obstructed labor. The Chamberlens -- a long line of male physicians beginning with two broth ers both named Peter -- kept their invention a secret for over a hundred years. One reason the use of forceps could remain a secret so long was the fact that male midwives operated with the bed sheet tied around their neck so no one could see the instrum ent. Several original Chamberlen instruments were discovered in 1813 beneath the floorboard in the family home known as Woodham Mortimer Hall. Each pair of forceps discovered showed an improvement on the first, providing a visual history of the Chamberle n forceps.
By the early eighteenth century, the secret was out and the use of forceps by male physicians spread throughout Europe. Shortly afterwards various obstretricians began to refine the design as they saw fit. In skilled hands these instruments aided the po sitive outcome of many obstructed labors. On the other hand, the overuse of forceps in an era before control of infection, could lead to the death of the mother from puerperal fever or to damage of the baby. Some historians have argued that it was not un til the twentieth century that physicians as obstetricians held any clear advantage over traditional midwives.
Click on the small images for a larger image and catalog description of the instrument.
Haighton's and Lowder's forceps (O-22, O-23)
 O-16 |
 O-39 |
These straight and short forceps, designed in the late eighteenth century by David Orme (1727-1812), William Lowder (d. 1801), and John Haighton (1755-1823) of London were quite similar. The models had rounder and wider blades than those of British o bstetrician William Smellie.
Young's forceps (O-25)
 O-25 |
These forceps had a turned-up tip to the blades. Thomas Young (1726-1783) taught midwifery at the University of Edinburgh.
Wrisberg's forceps (O-17)
 O-17 |
Herbert Thoms dates the design of these long forceps as 1796. Heinrich August Wrisburg (1739-1808) was a German obstetrician.
Elliot's forceps (O-19, O-40), 19th century
 O-19 |
 O-40 |
The collection contains several examples of Elliot's forceps including both types of locking devices credited to Elliot. George Thompson Elliot (1827-1881), an American obstetrician, based the design of his forceps on that of Simpson's long forceps (see below). The main characteristic distinguishing the two types is the locking device. The first device consists of a sliding pivot, which can be moved along a groove in the handle. The second device is a long screw in one handle, which extends into the s econd handle. These devices allowed the operator to fix the amount of pressure and compression of the fetal head. O-14, O-45, and O-46 are also Elliot's forceps.
Bedford's forceps (O-18), 19th century
 O-18 |
Gunning Bedford (1806-1870), an American physician, devised a forceps with blades that were lighter and thinner than the blades in previous forceps. The handles included finger rings which gave the operator better traction. O.F. Roler later designed a similar forceps.
Simpson's forceps (O-16, O-39, O-50)
 O-16 |
 O-39 |
 O-50 |
James Y. Simpson (1811-1870) of Edinburgh was a prominent obstetrician and the dicoverer of chloroform as an anesthetic. His long and short forceps of the mid-nineteenth century were widely used and became models for future designs. His long curved f orceps are still used today. O-10 is the same as O-16.
Forceps similar to Simpson's and Jenks (O-43)
 O-43 |
These forceps seem to be a combination of Jenks' and Simpson's forceps. They do not have the characteristic finger rests on both handle ends as are found in Jenks' forceps. Edward Watrous Jenks (1833-1903) received his M.D. from Castleton Medical Coll ege in Vermont. In 1871 he founded the Detroit Medical College where he taught obstetrics. He designed both long and short forceps with finger rests at both ends of the handles.
Sawyer's forceps (O-12, O-51, O-52)
 O-12 |
 O-51 |
 O-52 |
Edward Warren Sawyer (b. 1848) designed forceps with very short handles and slightly curved blades for use in outlet delivery.
Hodge, Wallace, and Davis forceps (O-36, O-41, O-44, O-49)
 O-36 |
 O-41 |
 O-44 |
 O-49 |
These forceps are combinations of Hodge, Wallace and Davis forceps. All are single forge metal forceps with English locks and hooked handles. David Davis (1777-1841) was a British obstetrician who designed numerous forceps. Hugh Lenox Hodge (1796-1873 ), a medical graduate of University of Pennsylvania, lectured at Philadelphia Medical Institute for many years before becoming professor of obstetrics at his alma mater. His forceps were based on French forceps. William Wallace (1835-1896) was a British physician who moved to Brooklyn in 1864. He designed forceps of light construction and Hodge-type hooked handles.
Tarnier Forceps, ca. 1890 (O-55)
 O-55 |
 O-47 |
Axis traction forceps were designed to allow easy transition along the axis of the pelvic plane. William Dewees was from Salinas, Kansas.
Unknown forceps (O-20, O-26, O-54, O-55, O-56)
 O-20 |
 O-26 |
 O-54 |
 O-56 |
We would be happy for any assistance in identifying these forceps. Please write to toby.appel@yale.edu.
Smellie's perforator (O-3)
 O-3 |
William Smellie (1697-1763), British obstetrician, designed this perforator to work like a scissors. The operator was required to use both hands ro open the blades and cut the tissue. The end of the short pointed blades has a shoulder, which prevents the device from being introduced to too great a depth. This example includes a pin lock.
Simpsons's perforator (O-1)
 O-1 |
This perforator is very similar to Smellie's perforator but it has thinner and longer shanks. It has a pin lock and worked like a scissors.
Blot's perforator (O-2)
 O-2 |
Hippolyte Biot of Paris designed this perforator for obstructed labor. The points of the blades are like diamond-shaped spears. The spring-loaded handle of these perforators facilitates one-handed use. After the fetus is perforated, compressing the h andle engages the spring, which allows the blades to open and enlarge the perforation.
Lusk cephalotribe (O-34, O-35), late 19th, early 20th century
 O-34 |
 O-35 |
The cephalotribes in this collection were made by George Tiemann & Co., a surgical instrument manufacturer in New York City. The only cephalotribe listed by this manufacturer was that of William Lusk (1838-1897), who taught at Bellvue Hospital Medical College. Cephalotribes (head crusher) first appeared in the early nineteenth century. A cephalotribe is constructed like a forceps except that the blade tips are in contact with in the closed position, giving it crusing power. After performation, a fe tal cranium could be crushed with a cephalotribe.
Smellie's double crochet (O-31)
 O-31 |
Smellie devised a double crochet that could also be used as a single crochet. It is simple in design much like a forceps except that it has a sharp tooth at the end of each slim blade. This tooth could pierce and be embedded int he head of a fetus fo r removal.
Blunt hooks and crotchets(O-4, O-5, O-7, O-8, O-9)
 O-4 |
 O-5 |
 O-7 |
 O-8 |
 O-9 |
These instruments have a simple angled hook, on the end which when placed around the neck and twisted, succeeded in severing the head. These types of instruments were used when the fetus was already dead and the mother's condition was critical. They mi ght also have been used to remove tumors.
Embryotomy spoon (O-53)
 O-53 |
London obstetrician David Daniel Davis (1777-1841) prescribed the careful use of these instruments only as a last resort. This spoon has a sharp, small, serated edge and was probably used in combination with a crotchet decapitator.
Cranioclasts(O-27, O-28, O-29, O-30)
 O-27 |
 O-28 |
 O-29 |
 O-30 |
Craniocalsts were also known as skull crushers. Thier use was advocated only after all else had failed.
Chain ecraseur (O-6)
 O-6 |
The collection contains one example of a chain ecraseur, used for the removal of uterine and ovarian tumors. The ecraseur has a screw-operated tightening mechanism that can shorten a looped wire, thereby strangulating soft tissue.
Pelvimeter (O-57)
 O-57 |
Speculum (O-48)
 O-48 |