Below are six midwifery tools that were used during the 18th and 19th centuries. When I bought them, I did not realize how HUGE they are, very heavy and very nicely made. The black handles on the large forceps are Gutta Percha!
These type of tools go by different names, Obstetrical Craniotomy Tools, Cranioclasts, foetal crushers, foetal hooks, foetal forceps, blunt hooks, Perforators, etc.
I put a Sharpie pen in the photo so you can see
just how big these tools are.
A general rule was that when using these type of tools, they were utilized in order to complete a failed delivery, especially when there was sufficient evidence that child was dead, especially in cases when the head was firmly impacted in the pelvis and it wasn't moving.
Here is an excellent site with many incredible "Man midwife" tools that are not only terrifyingly beautiful in their craftsmanship but also are quite rare. Thankfully, these type of instruments are no longer used today.
The Obstetrician's Armamentarium by Bryan M. Hibbard has much more information about the history as well as the doctors who not only invented them, but who used them during the 18th and 19th century, which were used primarily to save the mother's life.
The book is quite pricey, most likely because of the controversial nature of the subject matter. Here it is on Amazon - the starting price begins at (gasp!) $245.00!!!
These instruments will be for sale later this year, and will most likely be sold as a set in a framed curio with more history on how the instruments were used.
We are in the process of getting ready to paint the house and redoing the front porch back to its original Victorian splendor, which includes a lot of pounding, hammering, sawing, caulking, and all the other mind-numbing racket that is associated with the upkeep of a nearly 140-year-old house.
When we moved in nearly a ten years ago, this house already had a solid reputation for being haunted and even had a large write-up in the local paper about it. The husband and I have definitely seen, felt and heard odd things in the house, and it comes with the seasons.
Recently, with all the racket which I am certain has been quite enough to raise the dead, I will admit that last night I was very jumpy, on edge and I kept hearing odd thumps around the house, and voices downstairs.
When I was upstairs, I heard voices coming from downstairs, and kept looking out the window thinking someone was outside. Then I would hear the thumps, and would go down to investigate (usually a 3 am thing) and nothing. All calm and normal. While standing in the kitchen, I heard a loud thump coming from upstairs, right above me. So I rushed upstairs, did a kitty count and all four were sound asleep as was the husband. Hmmmmm.
I asked the husband about it and he said he kept waking up hearing thumps all night, thinking it was me, and then he reminded me about how when old houses have work done on them, that it tends to wakes things up.
I did a quick search on Remodeling and I found a link that gave me some quick pointers: How To Solve a Sudden Haunting. Thing is, I am not frightened, and now that I have figured out what all the racket is, not going to worry about it.
I just took a picture of the stairs a few minutes ago, and voila! Orbs!
Tonight I have to pick the colors for the house, I am thinking "Addam's Family" grays and black. We have decided to put in a garden (even though I have a black thumb) and we thought a nice bunch of white Calla Lilies would look lovely in front of the house. They seem very sturdy in this climate, and would really add to the "haunted house" look we are striving for.
I got this amazing jaw model in the post today, I just love this kind of stuff, it is just so incredibly beautiful. I am thinking I might just keep this one, put it on my shelf next to my human heart embedded in Lucite.
I am currently reading an interesting book all about the history of hangings in Oregon, which were known as "Necktie Parties." Very interesting book and what was even more interesting, was the fact that there were two hangings right here in Astoria!
Here is a photo of one of the hangings that happened here in Astoria. I did a bit of research and asked the local historian (of which we are kindred spirits because we both seem to like the macabre history of these parts the best) and he said the hangings occurred near the old jail (the one that is in the movie, The Goonies).
Right across the street is the lovely Flavel mansion museum. If you were to go to the second floor of the Flavel mansion and look out the window towards the old jail, back then they would have had first row seats for the local hangings.
The only thing not mentioned in the book, was how many stairs were used for the scaffold - which everyone believes is thirteen steps but I still haven't found reference to it in this book. I need to finish reading it I guess. In the same vein, I am looking forward to reading The Hanging Tree: Execution and the English People 1770 - I have always had a morbid fascination with the Tyburn tree as well as hanging rituals and superstition.
Then, I just have seven more large ads to hand-illustrate and I will be done doing freelance work for the rest of the year. I loved doing this, it has been a dream job but I miss making my own stuff - soon, very soon.
OK, I need to get to choosing paint colors, the painter is coming today!
OK, I need to get to choosing paint colors, the painter is coming today!
