Although this variety of the spathomele is not one which is specially mentioned by any classical writer, it is convenient to have a name by which we can denote that variety of the spathomele in which the blade is not flat.
It has the same large oval nucleus as the flat spathomele, and the same shaft, plain, or fluted, or overlaid with silver, but the spatula is replaced by a spoon, the outline of which shows the same variety of form as we met with in the spatula. The depth of the spoon varies greatly. [Pl. XIV, fig. 3] shows an instrument in which the two lateral halves of the blade, instead of lying exactly in the same plane, meet in the midline at a slight angle so as to form a cavity obtusely angular on cross section, and gently rounded on longitudinal section:
| Cross sec. | ||
| Long. sec. |
[Pl. XV, fig. 1] shows a similar arrangement, except that the cavity is more marked, and the tip instead of being sharp is rounded. In [Pl. XIV, fig. 1] the cavity is so marked that a typical spoon is formed. This specimen is interesting as showing the ornamentation of the shaft by overlaying a spiral silver wire. It is from the Naples Museum, and it is figured by Vulpes. Other varieties are seen in [Plates XIV], [XV]. [Pl. XV, fig. 4] shows a very coarse, thick specimen. The scope of the cyathiscomele in medical art is evidently like the flat spathomele to act occasionally as a sound, but mainly to mix, measure, and apply medicaments. Some are adapted for use as curettes. But the large number in which this instrument occurs would of itself indicate that it was used for lay as well as medical purposes. Many are toilet articles. An interesting discovery of two typical specimens in the grave of a lady artist was made in Vendée in 1847. Among a number of colour pots and alabaster mortars for rubbing down and mixing colours was an étui similar to the typical cylindrical instrument case of the ancient surgeon, and in this were two spoon probes like the one shown in [Pl. XIV, fig. 1]. Evidently they were favourite instruments of the painter, and had been used by her for mixing and preparing her colours.[2]
The form of cyathiscomele, in which the two lateral halves of the scoop meet at an angle ([Pl. XIV, fig. 1]), has a tendency to split along the ridge in the middle of the scoop if roughly handled. One of these, to which this accident has happened, is in the Naples Museum ([Pl. XV, fig. 3]) and has an interesting history. In 1847 Vulpes described it as a guard for dividing the fraenum linguae, and successive writers have copied this ever since, and it is so described in the catalogue. As the photograph shows, it is only a spoon probe which had been trod on or otherwise damaged, and which had split down the centre, or rather near the centre, for the crack has deviated at its termination from the midline. The termination of the notch thus formed has quite a different appearance from the figure by Vulpes. The accident is not an uncommon one. There is in the Capitoline Museum an instrument to which precisely the same has happened, and I have a probe in my own possession which has split, and which with a little manipulation would make a beautiful duplicate of the one in the Naples Museum ([Pl. XV, fig. 1]). It is almost certain that the guard is quite a modern invention.
Many ancient writers point out the danger of wounding the vein, but none mention the guard. Thus Celsus says:
Horum extrema lingua vulsella prehendenda est, sub eaque membrana incidenda: magna cura habita ne venae quae iuxta sunt violentur et profusione sanguinis noceant (VII. xii).
Paul says:
‘The patient is to be placed in a proper seat, the tongue is to be raised to the roof of the mouth and the membranous fraenum cut transversely. But if the curvature is occasioned by a cicatrix we transfix the callus by a hook and draw it upwards, and making a cross incision free the bent parts, taking care not to make deep incisions of the parts, for haemorrhages, which have been found difficult to stop, have thereby been occasioned’ (VI. xxix).
Aetius gives a similar account.