Obstetric bed (c. 1850)

This Obstetric Bed is kept in the Medical Equipment Museum of Siena. It dates back to 1850 and it is made of wood. Thanks to its inner working, the equipment was considered really innovative for its time.

obstetricbed01

In fact, the bed's peculiarity was the possibility to modify the position of its seatback and of the legs-restraint while the woman was on it. This feature was really important because if the need arose, the surgeon could operate promptly with a lower risk of complications.

obstetricbed02
  • Photos and main text by Federica Valcarenghi moc.liamg|aciredefihgneraclav#| and Giulia Palmieri moc.liamg|89ailuigmlap#| (December 2017)
  • Courtesy of Dr. Davide Orsini, director of the SIMUS.

Bibliography

- D. Orsini, G. Terenna, Letti ostetrici e sedie da parto: l’importanza degli arredi sanitari nella storia della medicina, in Atti del Convegno Giornate SISM di Museologia Medica - 2, a cura della Società Italiana di Storia della Medicina, Museo di Palazzo Poggi, 2013, pp. 33-36,

- D. Orsini, F. Sacchetti. Tavolo operatorio-ostetrico-ginecologico dell’Ospedale Santa Maria della Croce di Montalcino, scheda di catalogo, in Il corpo e l’anima. I luoghi e le opere della cura ospedaliera in Toscana dal XIV al XIX secolo, Pacini editore, Pisa, 2014, pp. 110-111.


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