Obstetrical Forceps Discussion

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/19/2025, 8:34:18 PM

Added description

Description

Obstetrical Forceps Discussion

Overview

A mid‑19th‑century English text authored by Gardiner, dated 1850, titled Obstetrical Forceps Discussion. The item is a manuscript or printed thesis held by Drexel University, catalogued in the PINAX database. It appears as a series of 18 photographic reproductions (JPEG images) of the original pages, each accompanied by OCR‑extracted transcriptions. The work is written in a scholarly style, addressing the practice of obstetrics in the United States during the 1850s.

Background

Gardiner’s discussion was produced within the context of a growing professional debate over the use of obstetrical instruments. The author cites contemporary practitioners—Dr. Davis, Mr. Macdougall, Dr. Jarvis—and the learned commentator Bauscelocque. The text reflects the tension between traditional midwifery and emerging surgical interventions, a theme common in 19th‑century medical literature. Drexel University’s collection preserves the manuscript as part of its medical history holdings, indicating the institution’s role in documenting early American obstetric practice.

The manuscript systematically compares obstetrical forceps with other instruments such as the lever, secale cornutum, vectis, and ergot. It discusses:

The frequency of instrument use and statistical evidence (e.g., Macdougall’s 3 cases in 1,484).
Timing of application, distinguishing “necessary” versus “beneficial” use.
Potential dangers and advantages, including the risk of uterine rupture and neonatal outcomes.
Ethical considerations rooted in Hippocratic counsel.

The OCR text reveals footnotes, quotations, and a critical stance toward over‑reliance on instruments, advocating for judicious, skillful application.

Scope

The discussion covers obstetric practice in the United States circa 1850, focusing on childbirth, medical instruments, and the evolving art of midwifery. It excludes detailed procedural instructions or case studies beyond the cited statistics. The material is relevant to scholars of medical history, obstetrics, and 19th‑century American healthcare.

Entities

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Entity Relationships

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Raw Cheimarros Data

@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event {created: @date_1850, institution: @drexel_university, language: "en", subjects: ["Obstetrics","Forceps","Midwifery","Medical Instruments","Childbirth","Medical History"]}

@gardiner:person {role: "author"}  
@gardiner -> authored -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  

@obstetrical_forceps:instrument {type: "forceps", usage: "obstetrical"}  
@lever:instrument {type: "lever", usage: "obstetrical"}  
@secale_cornutum:instrument {type: "secale cornutum", usage: "obstetrical"}  
@vectis:instrument {type: "vectis", usage: "obstetrical"}  
@ergot:instrument {type: "ergot", usage: "obstetrical"}  

@instrumental_delivery:concept {definition: "use of instruments to assist childbirth"}  
@midwifery:concept {definition: "practice of assisting childbirth"}  
@obstetric_art:concept {definition: "medical practice of delivering babies"}  
@hippocratic_counsel:concept {definition: "ethical guidelines for physicians"}  

@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event -> discusses -> @obstetrical_forceps:instrument  
@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event -> discusses -> @lever:instrument  
@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event -> discusses -> @secale_cornutum:instrument  
@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event -> discusses -> @vectis:instrument  
@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event -> discusses -> @ergot:instrument  

@dr_davis:person {role: "physician"}  
@dr_davis -> cited_by -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  

@mr_macdougall:person {practice_cases: 1484, forceps_cases: 3, years_of_practice: 33}  
@mr_macdougall -> reported -> @obstetrical_forceps:instrument {cases: 3, total_cases: 1484}  

@dr_jarvis:person {role: "physician"}  
@dr_jarvis -> mentioned_in -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  

@bauscelocque:person {role: "learned commentator"}  
@bauscelocque -> quoted_in -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  

@obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event -> mentions_frequency -> @obstetrical_forceps:instrument {frequency: "1 per 300"}  

# File relationships (each OCR file contains excerpts of the discussion)

@file_pinax -> documents -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  

@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_018_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_009_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_008_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_011_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_005_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_004_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_010_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_006_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_012_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_013_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_007_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_003_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_017_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_016_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_014_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event  
@file_hu_theses_1850gardiner_015_jpg -> contains -> @obstetrical_forceps_discussion:event

Metadata

Title: Obstetrical Forceps Discussion
Type: Text
Creator: Gardiner
Institution: Drexel University
Created: 1850
Language: en
Subjects: Obstetrics, Forceps, Midwifery, Medical Instruments, Childbirth, Medical History
Rights: No rights statement mentioned
Place: United States
Source: PINAX

Version History (4 versions)

✓ v4 (current) · 11/19/2025, 8:34:18 PM
"Added description"
v3 · 11/19/2025, 8:32:41 PM · View this version
"Added knowledge graph extraction"
v2 · 11/19/2025, 8:30:25 PM · View this version
"Added PINAX metadata"
v1 · 11/19/2025, 8:28:53 PM · View this version
"Reorganization group: Obstetrical_Forceps_Discussion"

Additional Components (16)

Click to expand and load individual components

hu_theses_1850gardiner_003.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_004.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_005.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_006.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_007.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_008.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_009.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_010.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_011.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_012.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_013.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_014.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_015.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_016.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_017.jpg.ref.json

hu_theses_1850gardiner_018.jpg.ref.json

Parent

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Obstetrical Forceps Discussion

Description

Obstetrical Forceps Discussion

Overview

Background

Contents

Scope

Entities

Entity Relationships

Raw Cheimarros Data

Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

Additional Components (16)

Parent