Elliot's obstetrical forceps, which consist of two joining parts, (a) right blade and handle, (b) left blade and handle; both sides have straight, flat metal handles with raised and rounded wooden grips on their outer edges; the top and bottom of the wooden grips stick outwards to provide a solid g…
Elliot's obstetrical forceps, which consist of two joining parts, (a) right blade and handle, (b) left blade and handle; both sides have straight, flat metal handles with raised and rounded wooden grips on their outer edges; the top and bottom of the wooden grips stick outwards to provide a solid grip for the hands; one handle (a) has a pin on its proximal inner edge with a round adjusting screw above it, that raises and lowers the pin; the other handle (b) had a corresponding rounded groove in the metal; the top of the handles have joint notches cut into the metal, which allow the two parts to be fitted together and used as a pair; the blades begin above the joint; the blades flare out and curve outwards to form elongated, fenestrated, oval, concave blades with rounded tips and edges; the blades curve at a pelvic tilt and also curve outwards away from each other.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - right blade and handle - Size: Length 37.8 cm x Width 7.7 cm x Depth 5.3 cm
b - left blade and handle - Size: Length 37.7 cm x Width 7.6 cm x Depth 5.3 cm
Provenance
Collected by Dr. A. A. Travill for the Queen's University Faculty of Medicine Collection.
(a,b) Both inside handles have the number "1" stamped into the metal; (a) the outside handle has "J. GRAY & SON // SHEFFIELD" stamped into the metal near the joint
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D7-3
Condition Remarks
The metal shows wear and some loss of plating; there are a few spots of non-active corrosion visible on the blades; the wood shows wear, but is complete
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Book
Reference Comments
Previous number #51; Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "Antique Medical Instruments," by C. Keith Wilbur, 1987, p. 404 (very similar to item marked)
Research Facts
The pin kept the blades apart at the proper distance and prevented over-closing the forceps
Exhibit History
Hall of Honour, Kingston General Hospital - "Beyond Ether: 150 Years of Anaesthesia" - Sept. 27, 1997- June 2011