[Enigmas surrounding an obstetric forceps belonging to Albertus Titsingh (1714-1790)].
In the collections of the Society of the Dutch Journal of Medicine there is a small box containing a small obstetric forceps modelled on that of the British physician Smellie and some documents with information about its origin. The instrument belonged to the Amsterdam surgeon-obstetrician Albertus Titsingh and is claimed in the documentation to have been used during the birth of the later King William I (1772-1843) in 1772. However, historical research indicates that this is very unlikely: it is an established fact that the birth of William I was rapid and successful, while Albertus Titsingh was an authoritative obstetrician in an 'obstetric climate' of biding one's time and taking no action until the natural powers have failed.
Lammes
F B
FB
Verloskunde en Gynaecologie aan de Universiteit van Amsterdam, Peppinghof 3, 1391 BA Abcoude. fb.lammes@planet.nl
D005260:Female; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000266:history; D009772:Obstetrical Forceps / Q000266:history*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome