A Text-book of Diseases of Women

by Charles B. Penrose

Fig. 7.—Sims’ speculum.

Fig. 8.—Sims’ depressor for the anterior vaginal wall.

The bivalve speculum is introduced with the woman upon her back, in the dorso-sacral position already described. The vulva and the vagina should be cleaned. The speculum should be warmed by placing it in hot water, and should then be lubricated with the soap solution or with vaseline. It should be introduced with the blades closed and the plane of the blades lying not exactly in the median sagittal plane of the body, but inclined at a small acute angle to this plane, one edge of the speculum being directed toward either vaginal sulcus. The instrument is passed into the vagina toward the position in which, by a previous digital examination, the vaginal cervix had been found to lie. The instrument is then turned with the handles toward either thigh, so that the blades become parallel to the anterior and posterior vaginal walls, in order that, when separated, they will open the vaginal slit. The handles are brought together and the blades opened. When the vaginal cervix comes well into view the blades are fixed in place by the screws ([Fig. 9]).

Fig. 9.—Goodell’s speculum in position.

In some cases, where the cervix points well forward or well backward, it may be readily brought into view through the speculum by catching it with a tenaculum.

By means of the bivalve speculum we are able to make a partial inspection of the vaginal walls, an imperfect inspection of the vaginal vault, and a good inspection of the vaginal cervix and the external os. Applications can be made to the cervix, but none of the minor operations of gynecology can be performed through this speculum.

The Sims speculum enables us to make the most thorough inspection of the vagina, the vaginal vault, and the vaginal cervix. The Sims speculum is merely a hook or retractor for the perineum, and may be introduced with the woman in the dorsal position, the Sims position, or the genu-pectoral position. If the Sims speculum is introduced in the dorso-sacral position, it is necessary to hold forward the anterior vaginal wall in order to obtain a view of the cervix.