Raadsels rond een verlostang van 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.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2005;149:2910-20