Offered for sale is a rare and fascinating piece of medical history: an antique obstetrical perforator. This instrument, dating back to the late 1800's, provides a tangible link to a bygone era of obstetrical practice.
 
Obstetrical perforators were used in the 18th and 19th centuries in cases of obstructed labor when the delivery of a fetus posed a serious risk to the mother's life. While the procedures they were used in may seem shocking by modern standards, they represent a significant stage in the development of obstetrics.