MagennisInstructions1899

Text of the article by Magennis (1899):

Instruction to wait for pulsations of the cord to cease before clamping

A MIDWIFERY SURGICAL CLAMP

In the old method of dividing the umbilical cord the accoucheur after tying the

first

thread pressed the blood in the vessels some distance along the cord

which was

then held by an assistant until the second thread was tied, the

object being to avoid

the escape of blood on to the bedclothes. This part of

the accoucheur’s work may,

however, be accomplished more conveniently by

making use of a clamp which I

have designed and which is represented open

in Fig. 1 and closed in Fig. 2, for it

by the same movement cuts the cord and

compresses both the cut ends, thereby

supplying the place of scissors and

ligatures. The clamp having been opened, the

cord when it has ceased to

pulsate is placed between the blades, resting on the

plain side; the knifed

edge is then pressed firmly down and retained in position by

the catch. The

clamp is removed a few seconds after application, and if the

accoucheur is

afraid of haemorrhage (although French authorities say there is no

need for

ligatures) he can tie the cord on either side of the clamp before releasing

the

catch. The instrument is neat and easy to use. Messrs. Arnold and Sons,

London, are the makers. EDWARD MAGENNIS, M.D. R U.I.

Lurgan, Ireland.

1. Magennis E. A Midwifery surgical clamp. Lancet 1899 May 20; 153(3951):1373.

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