A rare pair of Hamon’s Retroceps, that were first introduced in 1864. In 1869 Hamon published his Manuel du retroceps (forceps asymétrique).... in which he describes the forceps and provides instructions for their use–see last image. Das notes that unlike most forceps that “hold the head on opposite ends of one or other of its diameters. The retro-ceps (retro behind and capere to seize) of Hamon of La Rochelle (as the derivation of the word implies) ,catches the head at the back, whatever be the portion of the circumferences , to which it may be applied; the two blades are always placed behind the head, which they hold rather like a hand introduced flatly along the inferior floor of the vagina and penetrating in front of the posterior lip of the cervix. (Das,K. Obstetric Forceps… Calcutta, 1929:411)”. Quoting from the Phisick site: “The left blade can be rotated and is anchored in position within the [polished steel] handle by a fixed pin which fits into one of [5] 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.” Maker is Gueride working in Paris. We know this pair was made before 1875 because Gueride was taken over by Mariaud in that year.
A good early pair of Simspon-Braun obstetrical forceps by Joseph Leiter working in Vienna. Handles are hard rubber or a Bakelite-like material. Length: 13.5″ or 33 cm, approx.
fine pair of Hale’s long obstetrical forceps with checkered ebony handles. Maker: Spencer and Crocker, Cincinatti (signed “S&C /CIN. O”). Hale’s forceps were introduced in 1880 in two size: long and short. This is the long size. Length: 11 or 27.5 cm.
