Medical Text on Forceps Use in Obstetrics

Forceps. The objections to its use are so very evident and manifold, as to require no comments. Indeed it can very rarely be applied with a reasonable hope, far less the certainty, of forwarding parturition, where the lever becomes admissible, the forceps, if employed, would in every case supersede its use, and the result would invariably be far more certain and satisfactory. Those who regard the forceps as an instrument absolutely dangerous, and entirely ineffectual, neither know the mode of acting with them, nor the difficulties of the art, and have doubtless judged them by the abuse they themselves have made of them, and have forgot that the most safe and useful instrument often becomes hazardous in the hands of ignorance and prejudice—so says the learned B