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Instruments of Destruction

Instruments of Destruction

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.

Antique Chapters



Nouvelles Démonstrations D’Accouchemens by J.P. Maygrier
illustration Smellie’s perforator in use
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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
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The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine (1836) by A. Davis
use of the Ramsbotham cranioclast
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The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine (1836) by A. Davis
abortion with crochet forceps
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The Principles and Practice of Obstetric Medicine (1836) by A. Davis
use of the guarded crochet
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a guarded crochet by WB Millard, mid nineteenth century
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exhibition Van Huevel’s forceps
This instrument was used for bisecting the skull prior to removal of the dead fetus.
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Trepan de Leisurg et Diwisch by Thuerrigl
The skull was perforated so that extraction forceps could remove the remainder of the bone.
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Cephalotribe du Dr. Bailly by Klein Glitsehka Gand
This was another instrument used to perforate the skull.
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Tarnier’s basiotribe by Colln
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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 Instruments for Women