Although the nucleus of the spathomele was too large to admit of its use as a probe for small lesions, it is evident that in exploring large cavities it must have been a valuable instrument. Galen (ii. 712) says:
‘In small bodies the opening into the torcular Herophili may not be large enough to admit a spathomele nucleus, and therefore we must try some of the other olivary probes or even an ear probe, and cut alongside it.’
Priscianus alludes to plugging the nares with it:
Prius spathomeles extremo in baca molli lana obvoluto glebas sanguinis e naribus frequentius purgare nos convenit, post lana identidem obturando perclaudere (xiv).
‘First of all we must frequently wipe away the clots of blood from the nose with the end of a spathomele wrapped on the ‘berry’ with soft wool, and then occlude it by plugging with wool in the same way.’
From Leonidas (Aetius, VI) we learn that it was used as a tongue depressor. He says:
‘In inflammation of the throat in adults seat the patient, open his mouth and depress the tongue with a tongue depressor or a spathomele, and open the abscess with a scalpel or a needle-knife.’
The following passage from Galen shows that it was used as a substitute for the meningophylax (q. v.):
‘Having separated the pleura from the rib and placed a thin meningophylax or a flat spathomele (σπαθομήλην πλατεῖαν) between the ribs, and taking care that you neither tear nor perforate the membrane, which being properly accomplished, cut the bone of the rib with two chisels placed opposed to each other’ (ii. 686).
Soranus (xxvii) refers to its use as a cautery: