William Balfour Ker was a Canadian-American artist. He was also a declared socialist, and his political stance was often reflected in his art. This lithograph is a compelling illustration of the race against time sometimes faced by doctors when trying to get to a patient to assist in birth before the baby is born.A black and white lithograph. At top right, a stork is flying through the air, with a baby bundled in a cloth that it is holding in its beak. To the left, a horse drawn buggy follows rapidly behind, with the driver wielding a whip and urging on a speeding white horse. The artist's signature printed at bottom right corner of image reads 'WM.BALFOUR-KER'. The lithograph has been mounted and framed in wooden frame. The outer edge of the frame is black, and the inner edge is gold. On the back of the object, a small piece of paper bearing the title of the lithograph has been attached at bottom centre. It reads 'A HURRY CALL, THE DOCTOR v THE STORK'. A second tag attached to the back of the work reads 'From FF', suggesting the donor of this object was Frank Forster. An old display label is attached to the bottom left of the back of the work. A wire and two hooks have been attached to the back of the frame for hanging.obstetric delivery

This atlas was collected, along with fifteen other items, from St George's Hospital in Kew, Victoria, on the final day of obstetric services provided by the hospital. After 28/11/1998, all obstetric deliveries from the Birralee Maternity Service (St George's) were via Box Hill Hospital. Black hardcover book, with silver lettering on cover. Text printed on cover reads 'BIRTH ATLAS/SECOND EDITION/MATERNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION/NEW YORK'. Book contains 17 pages with 24 plates of sculptures depicting the stages of fetal growth from conception to 14 days postpartum. Published by Dickinson & Buskie.st georges hospital kew, obstetrics

Dr Henry Mitchell O'Sullivan was a medical doctor also practising obstetrics in the district of Casterton, Victoria from 1919 until his death in 1977.The Gladstone bag and contents were used in the inter-war period 1918-1945. His son, the late Dr David More O'Sullivan donated the obstetric bag and its contents to the RANZCOG Museum in 1999.The Gladstone bag was put aside and the contents have remained intact. Consequently, this item is a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals usedby a Victorian country doctor in the inter-war period.An obstetrician's bag belonging to the late Dr Henry Mitchell O'Sullivan (1892-1972) containing various items such as obstetric forceps, destructive instruments, curette, pelvimeter, catheter, speculum, antiseptic, chloroform, iodine, catgut suture, surgical needles and twine for tying off umbilical cord after delivery. dr henry mitchell o'sullivan, casterton victoria, dr david more o'sullivan, inter-war period

Embryotomy is a destructive procedure whereby a fetus is dismembered to facilitate removal from the uterus when delivery is obstructed or impossible. It carries a risk of trauma (such as uterine rupture or vaginal/cervical injury) but aims to reduce the risks of mortality and impaired function to the patient. (Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres, 'MSF medical guidelines - Essential obstetric and newborn care - 9.7 Embryotomy'') This instrument was included with other obstetric instruments, mostly destructive instruments, given to RANZCOG from Box Hill Hospital labour ward in February- March 1998. The maternity service at Box Hill Hospital combined with St George's Hospital in Kew to be known as Birralee Maternity Service. These instruments were collected by Julie Collette, Unit Manager, St George's Kew and given to RANZCOG Museum Curator, Susan Barnett.Embriotomy scissors. Curved-on-flat scissors with take-off point.destructive instruments

This is a destructive instrument. Perforators were used to pierce and empty the skull in a craniotomy (which is a form of embryotomy). A craniotomy is a procedure whereby "a perforation is made in the foetal skull to reduce the volume of the foetal head which prevents delivery." (Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres, 'MSF medical guidelines - Essential obstetric and newborn care - 9.7 Embryotomy'') This instrument was included with other obstetric instruments, mostly destructive instruments, given to RANZCOG from Box Hill Hospital labour ward in February- March 1998. The maternity service at Box Hill Hospital combined with St George's Hospital in Kew to be known as Birralee Maternity Service. These instruments were collected by Julie Collette, Unit Manager, St George's Kew and given to RANZCOG Museum Curator, Susan Barnett.Simpson's perforator. Stainless steel perforator with fluted handles. Various inscriptions: "ALLEN & HANBURYS LTD/ENGLAND S.S.ut" on shaft, "12" on inner surface of hinged brace, "B.H.H.L. Ward" on inner shaft of blade."B.H.H.L. Ward"destructive instruments

James Hobson Aveling (1828-1898) invented this type of forceps. They are made from steel with an ebony handle. Obstetrical forceps gripped a baby’s head to help delivery during difficult childbirths. Aveling thought a curved handle rather than a straight one would improve grip and make the forceps easier to insert into the body. However, his idea did not work well and the forceps were not widely used. Aveling also promoted the use of chloroform during childbirth.Set of Aveling style forceps, consisting of two plated metal blades with ebony handles. Stamped 'MAYER & MELTZER/LONDON & MELBOURNE' inside the handle of one blade. The number '11' is stamped on both blades at the point where the two blades connect.MAYER & MELTZER/LONDON & MELBOURNE'forceps, obstetrics