A rare obstetric instrument used to
perforate the foetal skull in cases of obstructive labour. The screw
shaped point was rotated with pressure against the skull so to drill
through the periostium. Once the cranium had been perforated the
knife would cut away the relatively soft bone allowing complete
collapse of the cranium and delivery of the foetus. Fully functional
and in excellent condition but with some loss of the plating. The
steel handle which operates the knife is nicely crosshatched. There
is no makers mark. 34 cm x 6 cm
