[L. vectis lever, crow-bar.]
† 1. A lever. Obs.
1648. Wilkins, Math. Magic, I. v. 33. Rather suppose B C, to be a Vectis or Leaver, towards the middle of which is the place of the fulciment.
1674. Petty, Disc. Dupl. Proportion, 119. In the Fuze of a Watch, the greatest strength of the Spring is made to work upon the shortest Vectis.
2. Surg. a. An obstetrical instrument employed as a lever to free the head of the child.
1790. Med. Comm., II. 397. It is now near forty years since an account of the vectis or lever of Roonhuysen was published.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), V. 199. If, at the same time, the head be lying clear on the perinæum, the vectis or forceps should be had recourse to.
1841. Ramsbotham, Obstet. Med. & Surg., 314. Another instrument that has been much employed with the view of extracting the child living, is the vectis or lever.
1881. Trans. Obstet. Soc. Lond., XXII. 78. I passed in a vectis, and by its aid as a lever … I brought down the second larger head and left arm.
b. An instrument employed in operations on the eye.
1882. Illustr. to Maw’s Price-current, 77 [Eye instruments.] Vectis, Taylor’s. Ibid. (1891), 42. Ophthalmoscope lamp, operation scissors,… and vectis.
1895. Arnold & Sons’ Catal. Surg. Instrum., 158. Vectis (Taylor’s), for Extraction of Soft Lens.
