"laid in a right position for the applica"tion of the forceps, the blades ought "to be privately conveyed between the "featherbed and the clothes, at a small "distance from one another, or on each side of the patient: that this convey 66 66 ance may be the more easily effected, the legs of the instrument ought to be kept in the operator's side pockets. "Thus provided, when he sits down to "deliver, let him spread the sheet that 66 hangs over the bed, upon his lap, and "under that cover, take out and dispose 66 the blades on each side of the patient, by which means he will often be able "to deliver with the forceps, without "their being perceived by the woman herself, or any of the assistants.' 66 In order that those who would represent, notwithstanding the above directional quotation, that the forceps although placed ready are seldom used, may be confuted in such misrepresentation; a further quotation, which relates specifically to the use of the forceps when the labour is natural by the head's presenting fair, is adduced; and let husbands but picture to themselves the process. The direction to the operator is in the following words :-" When the "head presents fair with the forehead to "the sacrum, the occiput to the pubis, "and the ears to the pelvis, or a little 66 diagonal; in this case, the head is commonly pretty well advanced in "the basin, and the operator seldom "miscarries in the use of the forceps. "Things being thus situated, let the 66 patient be laid on her back, her head "and shoulders being somewhat raised, " and the br* *ch advanced a little over "the side or foot of the bed; while the "assistants sitting on each side, sup"port her legs at the same time, keeping "her knees duly separated and raised 66 66 up to the belly, and her lower parts always covered with the bed-clothes, "that she may not be apt to catch cold. "These precautions being taken, let the "operator place himself on a low chair, 66 and having lubricated with pomatum "the blades of the forceps, and also his 66 right hand and fingers, slide first the "hand gently into the vagina" (the passage for the birth) " pushing it along "in a flattened form, between that and "the child's head, until the fingers have passed the os internum; then, with 66 66 his other hand, let him take one of "the blades of the forceps from the 66 66 place where it was deposited, and in troduce it betwixt his right hand and "the head; if the point or extremity of "it should stick at the ear, let it be slipt "backwards a little, and then guided "forwards with a slow and deliberate "motion: when it shall have passed "the os uteri" (neck of the womb) "let "it be advanced still farther up, until "the rest at which the blades lock into "each other, be close to the lower part "of the head, or at least within an inch "thereof. Having in this manner in"troduced one blade, let him withdraw "his right hand, and insinuate his left "in the same direction, along the other "side of the head, until his fingers shall "have passed the os internum" (mouth of the womb)" then taking out the other “blade from the place of concealment, "with the hand that is disengaged, let "it be applied to the other side of the "child's head, by the same means em 66 ployed in introducing the first; then "the left hand must be withdrawn, and "the head being embraced between the “blades, let them be locked in each "other. Having thus secured them, he "must take a firm hold with both hands, "and when the pain comes on, begin to "turn the head from side to side, conti 66 nuing this operation during every pain, "until the vertex appears through the "os externum, and the neck of the child " can be felt with the finger, below the "os pubis, at which time, the forehead 66 pushes out the perinæum like a large "tumour: then let him stand up, and raising the handles of the forceps pull "the head upwards also, and the fore"head being turned half round up 66 wards, the perinæum and the lower parts of the os externum may not be "tore." From the foregoing directions it appears clearly, that even "when the head presents fair," little or nothing is left to nature it is made manifest that an operation which is entirely nature's own, and which ought to be left to her allsufficing efforts, as it well might, and as intended by Providence, is taken quite out of her guidance, and direction is assumed by a man in whose hands are frightful instruments, and whose art only serves to interrupt her natural processes, even if his very presence should not. Can this long operation described, carrying on in the dark, be reflected on by men without trembling for the woman I |