["An appropriate forceps"--150-year anniversary of Simpson's forceps].

Abstract

Despite the increasing use of caesarean section and vacuum extraction, obstetric forceps is still in frequent use in obstetric wards. There has, in fact, been an increase due to more active management of births. More than 600 obstetric forceps have been described in detail, but only three of them are in use in Norway today: Simpson's and Kielland's forceps for vertex presentation and Piper's forceps for aftercoming head in breech presentation. This year it is 150 years since James Young Simpson (1811-70) of Edinburgh presented his forceps for the first time. Simpson's forceps has been the most widely used forceps in Norway over the last 120 years. This article describes James Young Simpson, his long forceps, and its use in Norwegian obstetrics.

• Authors: P E Børdahl, E Hem
• Journal: Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke (Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen) Vol. 118 Issue 30 Pg. 4662-5 (Dec 10 1998) ISSN: 0029-2001 [Print] Norway
• Vernacular Title: "En hensigtsmaessig tang"--Simpsons tang 150 år.
• PMID: 9914748 (Publication Type: Biography, Historical Article, Journal Article, Portrait)

Topics

• Female
• History, 19th Century
• History, 20th Century
• Humans
• Midwifery (history)
• Norway
• Obstetrical Forceps (history)
• Obstetrics (history)
• Pregnancy
• Scotland