William Smellie (1697-1763), taught midwifery in London from 1741. Using a "machine" pelvis, an artificial cradle, artificial babies with pliable craniums, he taught the use of forceps. The operation had to be carried out under a sheet, keeping the forceps hidden, as they were held responsible for mistakes. (Not until 1840 was Astley Cooper able to amputate a breast and see what he was doing).
The forceps of 1752 were an advance in obstetric instruments introducing the "English lock" or "Smellies lock", which relied on a pivot, which did away with the need for notches which had previously been taped together. The lock has remained a standard for obstetric forceps.