The Obstetrician's Armamentarium: Historical Obstetric Instruments and Their Inventors (review)

Bryan Hibbard. The Obstetrician's Armamentarium: Historical Obstetric Instruments and Their Inventors. Norman Obstetrics and Gynecology Series, no. 4. San Anselmo, Calif.: Norman Publishing, 2000. viii + 324 pp. Ill. $245.00 (0-930405-80-3). (Available from Norman Publishing, P.O. Box 2566, San Anselmo, CA 94979-2566; tel.: 800-544-9359; fax: 415-456-6511; e-mail: orders@jnorman.com.)

This comprehensive review of the development of forceps is organized into twenty-two chapters. The author notes that his goal was to trace the gradual evolution and development of obstetrical instruments, and this he has certainly accomplished. Furthermore, he has provided many useful illustrations, and a catalog of forceps in the appendix. The reference list is comprehensive.

Perhaps now more than ever, teaching the use of obstetrical forceps is not emphasized in residency. The medico-legal climate essentially has restricted their use, previously confined to low or outlet forceps. However, in the developing world, forceps remain an important alternative. The art of their use is primarily maintained and transmitted through publications, and this textbook is a welcome addition.

Bryan Hibbard has taken on the yeoman's task of describing the development of forceps and cataloging the different curved and straight forms. This is a unique volume in that the illustrations are from the original texts and photographs (from the Instrument Collections at the Royal College and the Wellcome Collection held by the National Museum of Science). They are well positioned in the text, to allow easy reference as the reader progresses without having to turn pages excessively.

The only criticism of the book is the lack of critique. As it is a historical text, perhaps this observation may be unwarranted--but the addition of some commentary on the limitations of certain forceps based on design and clinical experience could have been of interest to the reader. Nevertheless, the book is an important addition to the obstetrical literature. It will serve as an important reference text for obstetricians and family practitioners.