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General |
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Colombat's Thrachelectomy
Device by Charriere |
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Obstetric Haemostasis Set |
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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 can be opened and closed by pulling the button at the
base of the handles. The blade would then be moved into position by
sliding the frame up or down the central shaft. It is held away from
the body of the cervix by a strong spring which when released pushes
the cutting edge of the blade into the cervix. The blade can then be rotated to resect
circumferentially, using the pincer arms as a solid surface against
which to cut. This instrument would have been used to remove the
cervix in the cases of cervical cancer. |
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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. |
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18th/19th C Silver Stork Cord Clamp |
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Obstetric Teaching Model Baby |
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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). |
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An 20th
century obstetric model of a baby made from chamois
leather and used for teaching purposes. The body has
an attached umbilical cord and placenta. The head has
landmark features (mouth, nose, eye sockets, anterior
and posterior fontanelles) which can be identified by
palpation. Student doctors and midwives would be asked
to feel the baby's head within an artificial pelvis
(i.e. out of view) and would be expected to identify
the type of presentation. |
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Contraception |
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Ramses Rings for fitting Diaphragms |
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Contraceptive Pessary by Dr
Pust (1926) |
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Diaphragm fitting rings which were
used as trial sizes to check for comfort and fit before a CAP was
prescribed. Each of the orange rubber rings is marked Ramses with a
trademark encircled "R" and with the size of the ring in mm. The box
is marked "Ramses TM. Reg. US & Can Pat. Off. Fitting Rings". An attractive vintage piece set in a "Deco style" bakelite box which displays beautifully.
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An antique contraceptive device dating
to 1926. In 1920 Walter Pust of Jena University developed this
contraceptive devices (preceding the Gräfenberg ring which was in
use from 1928). It initially consisted of a glass button, and later
as in this example an iodine impregnated celluloid cap (signed Dr Pust), to which was attached silk windings and a second coil made
from nylon or silk. It did not prevent normal periods and was
designed to be changed every 3 to 4 months. They were not that
successful and were associated with frequent infection and
expulsion. The box comes with its two original instruction leaflets
in German. |
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Contraceptive Stem Pessary in Aluminium |
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This pessary circa
1930-1950 made from aluminium measuring
(25 x 20 mm) would have been inserted in the cervical canal for use
as a contraceptive. They were frequently expelled and this device
has a hole in the dome section through which a suture could be sewn
to keep it in place. In theory they would be changed monthly but in
practice they were not and the resulting infections meant that they
fell from favour after the 1950s |
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Feeding |
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Silver Nipple Shield |
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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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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. |
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Antique Ivory Nipple Sheild |
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Treen Nipple Shield |
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A rare, finely engraved and delicately
turned ivory nipple shield, probably dating to the end of the 19th
century. In perfect condition. Dimensions 51mm circumference x 31 mm
high. |
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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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Treen French Nipple Shield with
Teats |
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An early 20th century French nipple
shield made from nicely turned treen. The teats are made from
organic material probably from some of fine animal skin and are
commonly seen with nipple shields of this period. Now brittle and
desiccated but they would have once been soft and supple. The wide
end would have been placed over the wooden teat and the infant would
suckle on the small end. |
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Obstetric Forceps |
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Hamon's Retroceps Antique Forceps |
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18th C Dubois Unplated Forceps
(Montpellier) |
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Hamon's "Retroceps" by
Mathieu circa 1860. The left blade can be
rotated and is anchored in position within the German silver
handle by a fixed pin which fits into one of 4 holes
in the steel disk at the proximal end of the blade.
The right blade does not rotate but and be abducted or
adducted by loosening or tightening the screw on the
right of the handle. Fine quality and a very rare
instrument. See Kedarnath Das Obstetric Forceps page
411 which illustrates this very model by Matthieu |
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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 |
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Pajot
Collapsible forceps 1866 |
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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" |
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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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Horn Obstetric Forceps by Mattie
(1853) |
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These are rare obstetric
forceps in two respects. Mattei forceps (1853), sometimes called Leniceps (the soft forceps) as documented in Das and Hibbard
are among the
seldom seen group of forceps with transverse handles. The blades are short
and have a single cranial curve which fits around the head and can
be adjusted to one of three positions using mortices on the handle.
The advantages were the small size "enabling accoucheurs to use it
without the knowledge of the patient" and also the lack of
compression of the foetal head when pulled. It was relatively easy
to apply force through the handle, but less easy to apply leverage.
The second unusual feature is that the handles are made
from horn. |
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Specula |
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Dr Protheroe Smith's Speculum Uteri |
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Nested Vaginal Specula (Fergusson) |
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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" |
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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 |
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Blackbee's Vaginal Speculum |
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A fine
French gilt and ivory four blade vaginal speculum
signed by Robert and Collin. A very high quality
instrument with delicately engraved carving to the
ivory handle. This instrument has seen plenty of
service but remains in perfect working order. This
folding four blade of speculum was first introduced in
1840 by Ricord and Robert and Collin were instrument
makers in the 2nd half of the 19th century. |
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A rare
Blackbee's speculum introduced by him in 1871. 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. In American this was
called Blakeley's Resilient Speculum as illustrated on p 433
of Tiemann's American Armamentarium Chirurgical . |
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Charriere Vaginal Speculum with Obturator |
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Ricord Virginal Vaginal Speculum -
Charriere |
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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.
Introduced in 1839
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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, although the pivot joint has had an old repair. A retaining screw with graduated markings limits the
expansion of the blades. This speculum dates to circa 1860. |
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Vaginal
Speculum in Boxwood by J Seiler |
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Pewter Récamier Vaginal Speculum |
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A French tubular vaginal speculum in boxwood by J Seiler dating to
1883. The central obturator is also made entirely from wood. The
purpose of the completely enclosed speculum was to protect the
vagina from damage during instrumentation. This type of speculum was
also used to introduce leeches to the cervix. 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 |
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A
French Récamier
vaginal
speculum which was an 1829 modification of his
original tin tubular speculum. It may have had a
polished interior which was said to aid visualization
by the reflection of light along its walls. Signed Charrière on the handle. The circular body of
the speculum is made in one piece from pewter (a tin
lead alloy) which
now has a dark and even patina throughout. The obturator
is made from ebony. |
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Ricord Bi-Valve Vaginal Speculum 1860s |
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Tri-Valve Vaginal Speculum by Zorn NY |
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A good example of a Ricord 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. High build quality but
the instrument is unsigned.
The speculum dates to the 1860s |
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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. |
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Thomas'
Vaginal Speculum by Tiemann |
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Tri-Valve Vaginal Speculum
(Nelson's) Pat 1902 |
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Thomas' speculum signed Tiemann on
the lever of the retractor. This was a variation on a theme of
Simm's speculum but it has a retractor instead of a superior blade
which largely serves the same purpose, although the retractor can be
adjusted in length. The opening of the instrument is also limited by
an adjustable screw. The handle s made from crosshatched ebony in
an octagonal configuration. A similar instrument can be seen on page
445 of Tiemann's American Armamentarium Chirurgicum |
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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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Brissez intra-uterineSpeculum
by Collin |
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Uterine Dilator 1870s (Shepard &
Dudley) |
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An intra-uterine speculum by Collin used to dilate the os cervix.
Turning the screw retracts a central rod which is T-shaped in its
distal part and so separates the blades of the speculum. This type
of instrument was originally invented by Brissez. Dating to the mid
19th century and of French origin this one is signed "Collin" on the
stem (a renowned maker of quality medical instrument in Paris). The
octagonal handle is made from ebony, the shaft is made from polished
steel and the blades of the speculum and the screw nut on the handle
are made from German silver.
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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 |
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Hubert's Transforator by Joris |
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Antique Ebony Hook and Crochet |
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A large late 19th century
destructive instrument used to perforate the skull in cases of
arrested labour. This was done before the advent of the caesarian
section to allow extraction the foetus, without which the mother
would die. After placing the heavy arched blade behind the head the
central rod was introduced and the ebony handle turned with forward
pressure screwing the olive into the skull from below. The
instrument is made from plated steel and is signed Joris (a Belgian
instrument maker) |
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An antique obstetric
hook and crochet with an ebony centerpiece handle. The blunt hook
would have been used to pull down limbs in obstructed labour. As a
lifesaving procedure for the mother in the event of arrested labour or
foetal death, the
crochet section was also used as an instrument of destruction. It
would have been inserted through a perforation in the foetal cranium
(made by another instrument) in order to extract the obstructing head.
The instrument is signed Savigny & Co dating it to circa 1850. |
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Simpson's Perforator (late 19th C) |
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Braxton-Hicks Cephalotribe - mid 1800s |
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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. |
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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) |
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Blot's Arrow Perforator (19th
Century) |
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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. |
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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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