“In 1843 Professor Simpson, of Edinburgh, advocated cutting through the walls of the cervix and thus gaining space without dilatation.  His single-bladed hysterotome is introduced without a speculum, the patient lying on her left side.  With the blade concealed the instrument is guided by the index finger into the cervix.  Next the blade is deployed thrown out and withdrawn with increasing pressure on the handle.  Thus, the incision is made wider at the lower than at the upper part of the cervix.  The device is then reintroduced and the opposite side 3 incised in a similar manner.” – G. Thomas.