Medical Surgical Instruments Childbirth Forceps Chirurgie Diderot

Original copper-plate engraving by Benard printed on laid Paper.

Published Paris, c.1751-1772

Plate mark size = 23cm x 19cm (9.2 x 7.6inch)

Condition = Excellent

'The Encyclopedie ou Dictionnaire raisonne des sciences, des arts et des metiers, par une Societe de Gens de lettres.'

 Published & engraved in the era of French Enlightenment under the direction of Denis Diderot (1713-1784), a French Philosopher, art critic and writer, and Jean leRond d'Alembert (1717-1783), a French Mathematician, physicist and philosopher. The folio contained 17 volumes of text and 11 volumes of plates and was published between 1751 and 1772. It contained 72,000 articles written by more than 140 contributors. This encyclopedia was a massive reference work for the arts and sciences, as well as a means to propagate the Enlightment concepts and ideas.

Surgical Evolution

Early Surgical instruments in some cases, have changed little. High mortality has always been an issue for babies and their mothers in Childbirth. The establishment of forceps-assisted delivery as a means of avoiding both maternal and neonatal morbidity was initiated in the 16th century by the Chamberlen family and later developed over several centuries by leading obstetricians of the time including Simpson, Barnes and Keilland. The evolution of forceps is a fascinating story which is rich in history. Despite the development of Ventouse, a vacuum technique developed by James Young Simpson in Edinburgh in1849, and the increasing use of Caesarean section for difficult delivery, forceps remain an integral part of obstetric practice. The striking resemblance of modern day forceps to the original instruments used by the Chamberlen is a testament to both the family's ingenuity and enterprise as well as the subsequent pioneering obstetricians who followed in their footsteps.