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Obstetrics and Gynaecology:

 General :   ForcepsSpecula  :  Destructive InstrumentsArchives
   

General

 

 

 
Colombat's Thrachelectomy Device by Charriere   1830-56 Pewter Breast Pump (Weedon)

 

   

Colombat's Thrachelectomy Device by Charriere

 

A rare 19th Century instrument of ebony, steel and silver by Charriere. The intricate mechanism is built to the highest standard. The pincer blades anchor the body of the cervix and the main blade then rotates to resect circumferentially, using the pincer arms as a solid surface against which to cut.

 

1830-56 Pewter Breast Pump (Weedon)

 

A most unusual breast pump whose cups are made from Pewter (which I have never seen before). Inscribed on the brass syringe "Weedon - maker - 41 Hart Street  Bloomsbury Square London". Weedon traded at this address from 1830 to 1856. The syringe attaches by screwing onto the suction cups. The set is complete in the original red velvet lined mahogany box and the cups retain their original worn leather seals.

 

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Obstetric Haemostasis Set

 

Duffin's Ivory Pessary for Prolapse 1890s
     

Obstetric Travelling Set

A 19th century haemostasis set which would have been taken by an obstetrician or physician attending deliveries and used to prevent post partum haemorrhage. It contains three vials marked Liq Opii, Liq Ergotoe and one unmarked vial. All three retain their original contents. The stoppers are secure and I have not tried hard to remove them. In the main section of the case at one end there is a minims container graduated with markings 10 through 60 "Drops". At the other end there is silk braided suture. In the lid section there is a needle, a probe, scissors and an unmarked but unquestionably silver telescopic female catheter. The case is signed Walters and Co London, who I have not been able to trace. There is a similar set in the Wellcome Medical Museum in London.

 

A Duffin's pessary beautifully carved from elephant ivory which has characteristic grain and a mellow patina. This would have been used for prolapses. The cup section would be inserted in the vagina so as to prevent downward movement of the prolapsed uterus. The lower part of the pessary would be extra-vaginal and this would have been held in place with a leather strap. The pessary dissembles into cup (5x5 cm), stem, securing ring and base (7 x 3 cm) the assembled piece is 7 cm high

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18th/19th C Silver Stork Cord Clamp

 

Ramses Rings for fitting Diaphragms

 

 

 

Silver Stork Umbilical Cord Clamp

 

A delightful and very rare late 18th / early 19th century French sterling silver stork forceps. Probably not for use by a midwife for putting on the umbilical cord post delivery (a function which is commonly attributed to them), but more likely used to thread ribbons in baby garments, which were removed for washing. There is a snake entwined around the stork's neck 'Asclepius' style. Another rather nice touch is the cocooned baby on the inside of the stork's stomach only visible when the scissors are opened. There is no hallmark, but they are made from solid silver (tested).

 

Ramses Rings

 

Diaphragm fitting rings which were used as trial sizes, testing for comfort and fit before a CAP was prescribed. A very attractive vintage piece set in a "Deco style" bakelite box which displays beautifully

 

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Silver Nipple Shield   Ivory Nipple Shield
     

Silver Nipple Shield

An unmarked solid silver nipple shield. In very good condition, noting a small barely visible repair next to one of the lower perforations. Dating to the late 19th century.  Measures 60 x 27 mm.

 

Ivory Nipple Shield

A rare ivory nipple shield carved from a single piece of ivory. A small and superficial hairline crack does not extend to both surfaces. Dating to the late 19th century or turn of the 20th century.  Measures 62 x 28 mm.

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Treen Nipple Shield    
     

Treen Nipple Shield

A nicely turned treen nipple shield carved from a single piece of fruitwood. In excellent condition and dating to the late 19th century or turn of the 20th century.  Measures 56 x 30 mm.

   
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Obstetric Forceps

 

 

 

Rare Hamon's Forceps

 

18th C Dubois Unplated Forceps (Montpellier)

 

 

 

Rare Hamon's Forceps

 

Rare Hamon's "Retroceps" by Mariaud (Paris). 1864. The blades are secured by a german silver handle which allows one of the forcep blades to be rotated and the other to be abducted. When suitably positioned the force from the obstetricians grip is transmitted to the back of the baby's head.

 

19th C French Unplated Forceps (Montpellier)

 

A pair of mid to late 18th C forceps made from unplated steel and with a pelvic curve, marked "BORDEAUX AINÉ A MONTPELLIER". These were of the Levret type as modified by Dubois. A French screw locking mechanism secures the two blades. The handles have attractive and characteristic crosshatching. The ends of the handles were also be used as blunt hooks and unscrew to reveal points which could have been used as destructive instruments to collapse the foetal skull in the event of arrested labour.

 

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Obstetric Vectis with Ebony Handles

 

Pajot Collapsible forceps 1866

 

 

 

Obstetric Vectis with Ebony Handles

 

A rare 19th C obstetric vectis used to facilitate obstructed and delay labour in a similar way to forceps, but because there was only the one blade they were often referred to as "Levers". It has a fine solid crosshatch ebony handle handle and the metalwork is in excellent condition. Signed "W.E.FORD.NY"

 

 

French 19th C Cupping Set

Rare. Beautiful. Das quotes "Long forceps of the Levret type with modified handles and blades" ..."the extremity of the left handle turns up exposing a sharp perforator" and more. "Pajot's jointed forceps resemble Charriere's but have at one extremity of the handle a blunt hook, at the other a thread of silk terminated by a leaden ball for the purpose of embryotomy, as recommended by the inventor" and .... "Pajot realised the forceps were too long and attempted to make them less cumbersome. To solve the problem he had the branches folded. Other authors had the same idea but were not successful in producing an instrument rigid enough to be useful"

 

 

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Specula

 

 

 

Dr Protheroe Smith's Speculum Uteri

  Nested Vaginal Specula (Fergusson)
     

Dr Protheroe Smith's Speculum Uteri

A fine silver plated vaginal speculum marked "Dr Protheroe Smith's Speculum Uteri" and under this "Ferguson, Maker".  Protheroe Smith was a renowned London obstetrician in the early 19th Century. The speculum comes with an ebony obturator and has two tubes; the outer one is fenestrated to as to allow visualisation and instrumentation of the vaginal wall. It is housed in a fitted leather silk lined case which is marked on the lid "Dr De Damscanx Spa". On the floor of the case the label reads "21 Giltspur Street, Smithfield London. Ferguson, Surgeon's Instrument Maker to St Bartholamews Hospital"

 

Nested Vaginal Specula (Fergusson)

A very rare set of nested Fergusson's vaginal specula in the original fitted red velvet lined leather case with bottle. These are tubular specula made from glass with the inner surface mirrored so as to reflect as much light as possible and the outer surface covered in black gum. Because of the fragile nature of these pieces very few survived through to the 20th Century without damage.

 

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4-Blade Folding Gilt Ivory Vaginal Speculum   Blackbee's Vaginal Speculum
     

4-Blade Folding Gilt Ivory Vaginal Speculum

A fine French folding gilt and ivory four blade vaginal speculum signed by Robert and Collin. A very high quality instrument which has seen service but remains in perfect working order. Early to mid 19th Century.

 

Vaginal Speculum (Blackbee)

A beautiful example of a rare Blackbee's speculum. It is unusual to find one of these with the original wooden ring. This ring was used to constrict the "blades" of the wire frame during insertion into a cylindrical shape. When in position in the vagina the wooden ring would be pulled back and the metal frame would expand back into its resting expanded state. 

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Charriere Vaginal Speculum with Obturator

 

Ricord Virginal Vaginal Speculum - Charriere

 

 

 

Charriere Vaginal Speculum with Obturator

A Charriere tri-valve vaginal speculum, sometimes referred to as a Segala type speculum. The three blades collapse to form an oval shape which accommodates the obturator. The speculum would be inserted in this form, then pressure applied to the handles would expand the blades enough to remove the obturator and the hinged blades would be further extended into a circular configuration and locked in place. Signed Luer. The speculum is made from ebony with an ivory insert in the handle. Mid to late 19th Century.

 

Ricord Virginal Vaginal Speculum - Charriere

 

A rare example of a small virginal speculum of the Ricord type marked "Charriere". This modified bi-valve vaginal speculum with crosshatched ebony handles is in very good condition. The pivot joint may have had an old repair. Dated to the early 19th C. A retaining screw with graduated markings limits the expansion of the blades.

 

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French Vaginal Speculum in Boxwood

 

Ricord Bi-Valve Vaginal Speculum - Mid 19thC

 

 

 

Treen and Bone Pill Dispenser

A 19th century boxwood French vaginal speculum. The central obturator is also made entirely from wood. This relatively wide bore tubular speculum could also have been used to introduce leeches to the cervix (for amenorrhoea). In the first half of the 19th century France used 100 million leeches and despite leech farming in Germany and France they were nearly made extinct and had to be imported from North America and Russia

 

Ricord Bi-Valve Vaginal Speculum -  Mid 19thC

 

A fine example of bi-valve vaginal speculum with crosshatched ebony handles. The speculum expands at both ends around a fixed joint. A retaining screw with graduated markings limits the expansion of the blades. A retaining screw with graduated markings limits the expansion of the blades. High build quality but an unsigned. Dated to the first half of the 19th C

 

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Tri-Valve Vaginal Speculum by Zorn NY

 

Tri-Valve Vaginal Speculum (Nelson's) Pat 1902

 

 

 

Tri-Valve Vaginal Speculum by Zorn NY

A late 19th Century nickel plated tri-valve vaginal speculum with crosshatched ebony handles of the Neslon type. The instrument is signed 'Zorn NY' (New York). There is minor loss of plating on the lower blade but the instrument is otherwise in very good condition and perfect working order. The handles are joined with an adjustable and graduated bar secured with a screw which allow the blades to be held open at various angles.

 

Tri-Valve Vaginal Speculum (Nelson's) Pat 1902

A three way Nelson's vaginal speculum. The two smaller blades nestle in the larger inferior blade and when the handle is gripped they expand against the anterior vaginal wall. Marked "Blank Pat 02.11.02" and with a trade make of an ampersand enclosing the letters P and S. The plating is in excellent condition throughout.

 

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Uterine Dilator 1870s (Shepard & Dudley)

 

 

 

 

 

Uterine Dilator by Shepard and Dudley

This instrument was used to dilate the cervix in labour. The prongs would be placed through the os cervix and pressure on the handles through a double hinge mechanism allows them  to open in parallel. Attractive crosshatched ebony handles. Good condition throughout apart from some minor loss of plating consistent with age. Made and signed by Shepard & Dudley who were quality instrument makers in New York in the 1870s. 

 

 

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Destructive Instruments

 

 

 

Simpson's Perforator (late 19th C)

 

Braxton-Hicks Cephalotribe - mid 1800s

 

 

 

Simpson's Perforator (late 19th C)

An instrument used to perforate the foetal skull. The American Simpson's perforators had scissor handles but this is an example of the English Simpson's perforator with an articulated handle joint (similar to the European Naegele's perforator) which locks the tip ensuring that the pointed ends stay firmly together while entering the skull. Marked "Harris & Co Birmingham". There is some early oxidation on one side as shown.

 

Braxton-Hicks Cephalotribe - mid 1800s

A large and powerful and heavy cephalotribe. This brutal instrument was used as a lifesaving procedure (for the mother) in cases of arrested delivery when there was no other way of extracting the foetus. The large clamps were used to crush the foetal skull which was then removed piecemeal. Dating to the mid to late 1800s 19th century this piece has lost much of its plating but has a very nice patina. Made and signed by Downs. 38cm x 20 cm 1.3 Kg

 

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Conquest Cranioclast - Weiss (1820s)

 

Blot's Arrow Perforator (19th Century)

 

 

 

Conquest Cranioclast - Weiss (1820s)

A rare example of the Conquest Cranioclast by Weiss London. This is marked with a crown and the letters GR, (George Rex or King George IV) dating it to 1820-1830. The insides of the heavy spoon shaped blades are fitted with spikes and holes made from tempered blue steel. The handles are made from ebony in an early 19th century style.

 

Blots Arrow Perforator (19th Century)

A Blot's Arrow Perforator made from nickel plated base metal. The tip of the perforator is flat and has no locking mechanism. The steel sprung handle in its resting position keeps the blades closed whilst penetrating the foetal skull. The blades are opened by applying pressure to the handle which widens the perforation and allows subsequent collapse of the skull so as to remove the dead foetus in cases of arrested labour due to cephalopelvic disproportion. In excellent condition throughout noting minima loss of plating.

 

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