till it be sufficient to overcome the obstacles to the delivery of the patient. It was before observed, as the head of the child descended, that the face would be accordingly turned towards the hollow of the sacrum, without any aim or assistance on our part. Of course the position of the handles of the forceps, and the direction in which we ought to act with them, should alter; for they becoming first more diagonal or oblique with respect to the pelvis, and then more and more lateral, every change in their position will require a differently directed action, because the handles should ever be antagonists to each other. In proportion also to the descent of the head the handles of the forceps should approach nearer to the pubes; so that, in the beginning of the operation, though we acted in the direction of the cavity of the pelvis, towards the conclusion we should act in that of the vagina. When we feel that we have the command of the head, by its being cleared of the pelvis, and the external parts begin to be distended, we ought to act yet more slowly, especially in the case of a first child, or there would be great danger of a laceration of the soft parts; and this can only be prevented by acting very deliberately in the direction of the vagina--by giving the parts time to distend--by duly supporting the perineum, which is the part chiefly in danger, with the palm of the hand--by soothing and moderating the hurry and efforts of the patient--and, in some cases, by absolutely resisting for a certain time the passage of the head through the external parts." [Illustration: PLATE LI. _The head being drawn through a narrow Pelvis by the Forceps._ The manner in which the forceps draw the head is well shown in the above plate, and also the compression of the head itself, which is seen to be squeezed almost to a point at its presenting part. This compression, however, is not likely to do serious injury, unless it be excessive. The child may be convulsed a little from it, but usually recovers, and suffers nothing afterwards.] It is merely necessary to remark, in conclusion, that the forceps should never be used till it is manifestly impossible for the child to be born without them; and it should be remembered that nature alone frequently effects delivery under the most unfavorable circumstances, by giving her time. We should wait therefore as long as the safety of the mother will allow, but never delay a moment when that safety is compromised.