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Instruments for Women

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Other than in the case of a cesarean section or a mastectomy, there was little invasive surgery available to women prior to the discovery of anesthesia in the mid nineteenth century, though a number of instruments were designed for women prior to that. 

Roman trivalve vaginal speculum with replica screw (ca. 99 B.C.–A.D. 400) found in Lebanon
Pompeii vaginal speculum
This is a nineteenth century reproduction of the vaginal speculum found in first century Pompeii.
vaginal speculae
(left) Paré trivalve vaginal speculum (ca. 1580), (top) cased Furgeson's speculum, (below) trivalve ivory speculum Weiss, (upper right) bivalve presentation ivory and gold-plate speculum by Charriere, (lower right) bivalve speculum by Tiemann
The surgery, surgical pathology, and surgical anatomy of the female pelvis organs, 5th ed. (1882) by Henry Savage
This is a lithographic representation of the repair of a vesicovaginal fistula in Sim's position. This condition was first successfully treated by Dr. James Sims in the nineteenth century, but women around the world still suffer from this tragic complication of giving birth.
Sims vaginal speculum by Tiemann
John Hunter
John Hunter was an 18th century Scottish anatomist and surgeon who is recognized as one of the most important physicians in the history of medicine. It was he who made surgery a science by introducing the modern investigative approach to this specialty.
Eighteenth Century Surgical Instruments
This is a page from Volume IV of Benjamin Bell's "System of Surgery" (1804) illustrating several contemporary surgical instruments one of which was designed by Dr. Hunter. The upper illustration shows his polypus loop which was used for the removal of uterine polyps and for aneurysm repair.
Hunter Instruments
This is an illustration from Thompson's "Guide to the surgical instruments...Museum, Royal College of Surgeons, England." 1929. Here is Hunter's polypus loop along with the other instruments that were lost in the 1941 WWII bombing that destroyed the museum.
Polypus Loop by Hunter
While John Hunter modified several instruments in the 18th century, this is the only one he is known to have invented and this is the only existent example.
Tire-Lait box for a breast pump
breast pumps and nipple shields
(Top) cased breast pumps by Elam, and Maw, Son, and Thompson; (bottom) Wansbrough’s metallic nipple shields, and glass nipple shields, nipple shell (all mid nineteenth century)
nipple shields of sterling silver and ivory
instruments designed for female hygiene (ca. 1900)
(left) Hygienophile by G. Huclin and Co.; (top right) Lawson’s vaginal washer; (bottom) Vagex by American Vagex Corp.
Leonard's uterine douche, nineteenth century
another instrument designed for feminine hygiene
Dr. Molesworth's Uterine Dilator and Syringe
An unusual instrument used for the treatment of various uterine conditions.
Leonard's uterine irrigator, nineteenth century
Repositor by Sharp and Smith, Nineteenth Century
Male physicians often attributed various women’s disorders such as pain, dysmenorrhea, and mood swings (called "hysteria) to an abnormally placed, or “dropped” uterus, and the obvious therapy was to reposition this organ with an instrument called a repositor.
Repositor by Tiemann, Nineteenth Century
another similar device
Early 20th Century Vibrator by White Cross
In the early twentieth century, vaginal stimulation with vibratory devices for the treatment of female hysteria was a common and lucrative part of many physicians’ office practices, and small electric vibrators were frequently found in homes throughout America for personal use.
Uterine Massage
Manual repositioning was the office treatment for a retroverted uterus (and "hysteria'), from A Practical Manual of Gynecology, 1891

Instruments of Destruction

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When the child had expired and the mother's life was in danger, it was imperative that the dead fetus be removed immediately. A number of gruesome and exotic instruments were used by physicians in the nineteenth century for this purpose.

Nouvelles Démonstrations D’Accouchemens by J.P. Maygrier
illustration Smellie’s perforator in use
mid nineteenth century instruments of destruction and for removal of the dead fetus
(left) Thomas’ perforator; (top center) Holmes’ Cranioclast by S. Maw, Davis perforator, Jacquemier’s embryotome caché by Mathieu; (right) plain crochet
The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine (1836) by A. Davis
use of the Ramsbotham cranioclast
The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine (1836) by A. Davis
abortion with crochet forceps
The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine (1836) by A. Davis
use of the guarded crochet
a guarded crochet by WB Millard, mid nineteenth century
exhibition Van Huevel’s forceps
This instrument was used for bisecting the skull prior to removal of the dead fetus.
Trepan de Leisurg et Diwisch by Thuerrigl
The skull was perforated so that extraction forceps could remove the remainder of the bone.
Cephalotribe du Dr. Bailly by Klein Glitsehka Gand
This was another instrument used to perforate the skull.
Tarnier’s basiotribe by Colln
Tarnier's Basiotribe
This is an illustration of the use of Tarnier's Basiotribe as found in "A Text-Book of Obstrtrics" by AJ Webster, 1903.

Delivery and Obstetric Forceps

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One of the most important discoveries in the history of medicine was that of the obstetric forceps, and some have called the forceps “the most valuable of all surgical instruments.” Unfortunately, however, the Chamberlen family kept the discovery a secret for several generations, thus depriving millions the use of this life-saving device. 

A Rose Garden for Expectant Women and Midwives (1513) by Eucharius Rösslin
Physicians were male prior to 1700, and were either reluctant or prohibited by law to aid in delivery. Midwives stepped in to help until the specialty of obstetrics came into being in the eighteenth century.
The Expert Midwife
Jacob Rueff wrote The Expert Midwife in 1637. Here he described the role of the midwife during delivery.
Obstetric Forceps (right)
Rueff designed and illustrated the forceps to the right in his seventeenth century book. It remains unclear whether these forceps were to be used to deliver a post mortem fetus or a live child, or both.
Rueff Obstetric Forceps
This mid seventeenth century set of obstetric forceps ("longa et tersa") designed by Jacob Rueff is the earliest known instrument of its kind and actually predated the famous Chamberlen forceps.
Original Chamberlen Forceps (late 17th century)
Peter (the elder) Chamberlen and later family members regrettably hid his extremely important discovery from the medical profession and from the public. Chamberlen's original set of forceps was discovered over a century later hidden under the floorboards in the attic of his previous home, Woodham Mortimer Hall in Essex
cased obstetrics set (ca.1870) by White and Wright
The set includes delivery forceps, scalpel, blunt hook and crochet, perforator, and craniotomy forceps.
folding obstetrics set by Maw, Son & Thompson
This set had all the necessary instruments and would accompany the physician to the home for delivery.
Nouvelles Démonstrations D’Accouchemens (1822) by J.P. Maygrie
illustrated application of the forceps
Tarnier traction forceps (ca. 1870) by Tiemann
This instrument and the ones that follow aided the obstetrician in prolonged labor.
a vectis ca. 1870 to aid in delivery
a small instrument that was available to most obstetricians in the nineteeth century to aid in dielvery
a filet by Weiss, mid nineteenth century
an instrument for creating traction in order to aid in delivery
Histoire des Accouchements by GJ Witkowski
another instrument for creating traction
Histoire des Accouchements by GJ Witkowski
This traction pulley could be added to the Tarnier forceps for very difficult deliveries.
Chassigny traction forceps by Mathieu, mid nineteenth century
another pulley device for prolonged labor
Nouvelles Démonstrations D’Accouchemens (1822) by J.P. Maygrier
It was not until 1500 that the first documented cesarean section took place, though in legend the Greek god Apollo performed the first cesarean section when he delivered his son Asklepios, the eventual god of medicine. Images of this procedure appeared in many ancient cultures, including those of the Egyptians, Chinese, and Greeks. The term has been attributed to the birth of Julius Caesar though this origin is likely erroneous since Caesar’s mother, Aurelia, was apparently alive during her son’s invasion of Great Britain years later and at that time the cesarean section was reserved for the rescue of the child after the death of the mother.
Histoire des Accouchements by GJ Witkowski
nineteenth century birthing chairs
Histoire des Accouchements by GJ Witkowski
African birthing chair
This type of chair has been in use for centuries and is still used in parts of Africa.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

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Where they save one, they murder many.

                                                    Dr. William Hunter (1718-1783)

It was only within the last several hundred years that the study and treatment of conditions affecting women were considered appropriate for review by the established medical community.  Even into the 19th century, Victorian prohibitions and gender bias prevented an accurate and thorough evaluation of women’s diseases.

(Chapter Sections below, additional Pictures left)   

Anatomia Uteri Humani Gravidi (1774) by Dr. William Hunter
a famous illustration of the gravid uterus
Subscribe to obstetrics
 

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