Spring lancet, late 18th-early 19th century. Triangular-shaped lancet made of brass and iron and decorated with a floral design. Blade (missing) is attached to an iron lever, which, when pulled back, is held in place by a lever with ratchets attached to the facing side of the instrument. Pressing upon this same lever releases the ratchets and injects the blade. Purchased 1976. H 97 mm, W 80 mm. Neg. 76-7755 (BW, CS). NMHT 321697.09. (Figure [120].)
Spring lancet with case, 18th century. This rather elegant lancet consists of a body and a detachable handle. According to analysis by the Conservation Laboratory, the lancet is made of ferrous metal (iron or steel). Blade is screwed into a curved lever. Pulling upon the handle pulls back the lever with the blade, and releasing the handle releases the blade. Case is made of wood, covered with black leather and lined with green silk and green plush. Seller says that the lancet was made in England, ca. 1700. This date seems somewhat too early. Purchased 1976. H 112 mm, W 72 mm (to tip of blade). Neg. 76-7753 (BW, CS). NMHT 321697.10. (Figure [121].)
Spring lancet, 19th century. Instrument is made of brass and has an odd, irregularly curved shape. A large blade with a blade guard protrudes from the side. Blade is triggered by an iron slide catch on the front of the instrument and released by a brass lever release similar to that found in knob end lancets. Purchased 1976. L 138 mm, W 82 mm (to tip of blade). Neg. 76-7754 (BW, CS). NMHT 321697.11. (Figure [103].)
Spring lancet, 19th century. Instrument is made of brass with steel screws. It is inscribed on one side: “Weiss improved bleeding instrument 33 Strand London.” There is a brass guard on the blade that can be moved along the blade by a screw attached directly opposite the blade. It fits into a red leather case with beige velvet lining. The case closes with two brass hooks. Purchased 1976. Case: L 92 mm, W 75 mm. Height without lever 66 mm, Width at widest point 64 mm, overall width 12 mm. Neg. 77-13961 (BW, CS). NMHT 1977.0576.01. (Figure [122].)
Related Artifacts
Counter-irritation device, patent model, 1860. Improved version of Baunscheidt’s Lebenswecker patented by Alfred Stauch of Philadelphia (U.S. patent no. 28697). Stauch added a brush around the needles and an additional spring to force the needles back after they had entered the skin. The brush could be oiled before the operation, thus saving the need to oil the wound afterwards. The device is similar to the Lebenswecker in size and construction, except that it was made of a lighter colored wood and was trimmed in brass. Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office 1926. L 245 mm, D 20 mm. Neg. 72-11290 (BW). NMHT 89797 (M-4299).
Counter-irritation device, patent model, 1866. Patented by Friederich Klee of Williamsburg, New York (U.S. Patent 55775), this instrument is another modification of Baunscheidt’s Lebenswecker. It is made of wood and brass, and is much shorter than the Lebenswecker but operated in the same manner. A screw on the handle served to regulate the length of the needles. A further innovation was the addition of a diaphragm of leather through which the needles pass. The leather could be saturated with oil before the operation, thus again saving the need to apply oil afterwards. Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office 1926. L 92 mm. Neg. 72-11274. NMHT 89797 (M-4305). (Figure [123].)
Barber-surgeon’s kit, late 18th-early 19th century. Kit includes a teakettle lamp (M-6991), a deck of playing cards to amuse customers, four standard glass cupping cups (M-6686), two scarificators (M-6687, M-6688), two rectangular spring lancets in a case (M-6689), a dental kit, a barber kit, a tourniquet (M-6692), and a comb. Scarificators are both 16 blade square models. One is unusual in that only the bottom is detachable as in octagonal scarificators. The spring lancets are of an unusual shape, with straight edges and curved tops and bottoms. Donated by Mrs. Frank J. Delinger, Jr., through Mrs. Paul J. Delinger, 1953. Lamp: D of base 65 mm, W 145 mm, H 95 mm. Spring lancets: L 49 mm, W 18 mm. Tourniquet: L 1260 mm, W 35 mm. Neg. 73-4207, entire kit plus barber’s basin (NMHT 225114 [M-9399]), which is not part of kit; 73-4225, cups; 73-4219, two scarificators; 73-4221, dental set; 73-4222, barber set; 73-4223, deck of cards; 73-4224, tourniquet; 73-4234, set of spring lancets; 73-4218, teakettle lamp. All negatives BW, CS. NMHT 199536 (M-6684 to M-6693).
Barber-surgeon’s sign (replica). Reproduction of a 1623 barber-surgeon’s sign (original is in Wellcome Medical Museum) illustrating the various specialties of the barber-surgeon of the period. Phlebotomy is shown in the upper right hand corner. Made by Richard Dendy of London and donated by him 1958. L 724 mm, W 624 mm. Neg. 44681 (BW). NMHT 215690 (M-7343). (Figure [32].)
Greek votive tablet (replica). Reproduction of a Greek votive tablet found on the site of the Temple of Aesculapius. The original is in the Athens Museum. Illustrated are two metal cupping cups and a case containing six scalpels. Replica made by Dorothy Briggs of the Smithsonian Institution 1960. W 400 mm, H 295 mm, Thickness 30 mm. Neg. 73-4217 (BW, CS). NMHT 233055 (M-9617). (See Figure [54].)