upon Tyne, write: The obstetric bed described here has been evolved in an attempt to overcome the disadvantages of the models in current use while sacrificing none of their good points. The requirements of a good obstetric bed are: (1) It should be wide enough to ensure comfort for the patient during a prolonged labour. (2) It should be so designed that the patient can be placed rapidly and easily in the lithotomy position with a minimum of movement. Once in this position she should be readily

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... ccessible to both obstetrician and anaesthetist. (3) It should be so arranged that in an emergency a rapid headdown tilt can be assumed and the horizontal position just as easily restored. (4) There must be sufficient rigidity to allow of all obstetric manceuvres being carried out without the whole structure being too cumbersome for the nursing staff to move when necessary. These aims have been achieved by designing a bed in two sections-a head end which supports the patient's body at all times, and a foot section which supports the legs during the first stage and which, when the lithotomy position has been assumed, can be telescoped under the head end. ... An overall view of the bed, without mattress, is shown here. The head-piece of the bed is made to lift out and the lithotomy stirrups are designed to fit into the legs of the head section. To assume the lithotomy position the patient's legs are raised, the stirrups swung inwards, and the feet slung in position. To dispose of the lower end, the handles visible at the foot of the bed are rotated inwards, when the top of the foot section drops on to the main frame and the whole of this part of the bed can then be pushed under the head end. There is sufficient clearance between the two parts to permit the use of a split 4-in. (10-cm.) sorbo mattress. The head of the bed is supported on two hydraulic jacks and is held in the horizontal position by two spring-loaded locking-pin's. These pins are connected to a kicking-bar, so that, when this bar is kicked forward, the pins are withdrawn and the head of the bed drops smartly to an angle of 15 degrees. The shock of the fall is absorbed by the damping action of the jacks. To level the table again, it is necessary to lift the head end by hand, an easy matter, when the locking-pins will automatically re-engage and maintain the horizontal position.