Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology

by Audrey B. Davis; Toby A. Appel

Cupping set, 19th century. Case is mahogany with two ivory keyholes and a brass handle. It is lined in red plush. Set includes nine glass cups of various sizes (including an oval cup), each with screw threads covered by a brass cap. Pump is brass, 142 mm long, and has a bit of leather wrapped around the outside of the screw threads. There is an extra compartment in the case that might have held a tenth cup, but now contains only the key. In a compartment lined with silver paper and covered by a red plush top with ivory handle are two octagonal scarificators. The first is a common twelve blade scarificator in which the blades cut in opposite directions. It is engraved with a crown and “Evans/London.” The second is unusual in that it has eleven blades arranged on two rods. It is also engraved “Evans/London,” and on top is engraved, in script, “W Tothill,” and in block letters, “Staines No 2.” The mechanism is frozen. Purchased 1976. Case: L 285 mm, W 210 mm, H 106 mm. Neg. 76-7747 (BW, CS), pieces in case; 76-7748 (BW, CS), pieces out of case. NMHT 321697.21. (Figure [112].)

Cupping set, 19th century. Case is mahogany, lined in red velvet, with brass bindings on the corners and is incomplete. A brass plate on the cover is blank. The key is missing. Set includes two glass cups without fittings, two brass stopcocks, one 12-blade scarificator, and a brass holder for a wick, which is missing. The scarificator bears the inscription on one side, “Salt & Son/Birmingham.” Purchased 1976. Brass wick holder: L 101.6 mm. Cups: D 53.8 mm and 52.3 mm. Case: L 223 mm, W 127 mm, H 103 mm. NMHT 1977.0789.45.

Cupping set, 19th century. Case is mahogany with brass “straps” and a brass handle that rests flush with the lid on the case. The key is missing. Set contains two glass cups, one alcohol lamp, and one octagonal bladed scarificator. One cup is shaped like the early bronze cups. Purchased 1976. Alcohol lamp: L 67 mm, D of base 45 mm, D of top 20 mm. First Cup: L 90 mm, D at opening 50 mm. Second cup: L 63 mm, D of base 45 mm. Case: L 260 mm, W 105 mm, H 98 mm. NMHT 1977.0789.46.

Cupping set, 19th century. Case is red leather and closes with two brass hooks. It contains two glass cups with fittings, a brass syringe, a small glass bottle shaped like a test tube, and a brass three-point scarifier with a spring setting and a button release. The set is unusual for its small size. Purchased 1976. Case: L 154 mm, W 108 mm, H 42 mm. Syringe: L (closed) 101 mm, D 25 mm. Cups: L 60 mm and 67 mm, D 28 mm and 23 mm. Scarificator: L 52 mm, D 20 mm. NMHT 1977.0789.49.

Cupping Apparatus

Cupping apparatus with case, patent model, 1844. Cupping set patented by Dr. R. J. Dodd. Surgeon, U.S.N. (U.S. patent 3537). Brass syringe with ivory handle is stamped “Dr. Dodd’s Improved Cupping Apparatus.” Syringe can be fitted with either a large or small plate with blades. To operate an internal part, a straight or curved glass tube is attached to the syringe along with a flexible metal lancet that runs the length of the tube. Straight glass tube is broken in two parts. Case is mahogany and lined with red velvet. On hinge is stamped “Horne Patent.” Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office 1926. Case: L 307 mm, W 178 mm, H 80 mm. Neg. 73-4237B (CS). NMHT 89797 (M-4288).

Cupping apparatus, patent model, 1856. Patented by Mr. Loyall Tillotson of Thompson, Ohio (U.S. patent 15626). Model of plunger apparatus is made of wood, though the actual instrument would have been made of metal. The body of the instrument was to be attached to a cup (not included in the model) with a spiral wire to which a battery would be attached. The novelty of the apparatus was that electricity would be employed in conjunction with dry cupping. Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office 1926. H 160 mm, D 60 mm. NMHT 89797 (M-4296).

Cupping apparatus, patent model, 1867. Patented by Mr. William D. Hooper of Liberty, Virginia (U.S. patent 68985). Model consists of a brass syringe attached to a wooden cup. In the working instrument the cup would be made of glass. Model does not contain the diaphragm and cutting blades. The novelty was that blades were to be tubular with adjustable length and that they would remain in the skin while blood was being removed. Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office 1926. Overall L 202 mm. Cup: L 47 mm, D 36 mm. Neg. 73-4214 (BW, CS). NMHT 89797 (M-4309).

Cupping apparatus with case, late 19th century. Invented by the Drs. W. S. Black and F. Black and manufactured by Wm. B. Stewart, Trenton, New Jersey, this set includes a hard rubber pump, three glass cups, the smallest for cupping the breasts, a valve, and a head for the pump. Missing are a nipple shield and rubber tubing. Case is made of wood and has a label attached to the inside top with an illustration of the set, the title, “Drs. W. S. & F. Black’s Combined Cupping Apparatus, Breast Pump, Stomach Pump, Aspirator, Atomizer, Etc., Etc.,” the name of the manufacturer, and directions for use. Donated by the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland 1976. Case: L 250 mm, W 120 mm, H 78 mm. NMHT 302606.036.

Cupping apparatus with case, late 19th century. Another example of the previous all-purpose cupping set with the same pieces and three fragments of rubber tubing. Donated by the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland 1976. NMHT 302606.037.