Breast pump, patent model, 1879. Patented by William Kennish of
Philadelphia (U.S. patent 219738), this breast pump consists of a glass
receiver with a hanging glass globe to catch the milk, and a rubber bulb
to provide suction. The innovation was the addition of an internal valve
and a valve at the bottom of the globe in such a way that continued
compression and expansion of the large rubber bulb would cause milk to
flow out of the valve at the base of the globe. Transferred from the U.S.
Patent Office 1926. L 141 mm. NMHT (M-4343).
Breast pump. Glass breast cup with brass fittings and brass pump in a
wooden case lined with green felt. Donated by the College of Physicians,
Philadelphia, 1958. Cup: L 99 mm, W 72 mm at widest point. Pump: L 88 mm.
Case: L 132 mm, W 121 mm, H 82 mm. Neg. 76-7761 (BW, CS). NMHT 220170
(M-7435). (Figure 113.)
Breast pump. Glass breast pump with tube for self-suction of the breasts.
Tip is broken. Purchased from the Medizinhistorisches Institut,
Universitaet, Zurich, 1960. L 305 mm, H 80 mm. NMHT 232067 (M-9578).
Breast pump. Glass breast cup with protuberance for holding milk, attached
to a rubber bulb. Top of bulb is stamped "Union India Rubber Co/Goodyear's
Patent/New York/1844 & 48." Part of the original cardboard carton is
extant. Donated by Mr. and Mrs. Elliston P. Morris 1964. L 205 mm, W of
bulb 87 mm. Neg. 76-7762 (BW, CS). NMHT 252497 (M-10510). (Figure 84.)
Breast pump. Hand blown breast pump with glass tube for self-suction.
Purchased 1965. L 233 mm, W 103 mm at widest point, D 70 mm. Neg. 76-7759
(BW, CS); 76-7760 (BW, CS). NMHT 260557 (M-11467). (Figure 83.)
Breast pump, 19th century. Glass breast cup with protuberance for holding
milk attached to a vulcanite pump. Purchased 1965. L 242 mm. NMHT 260557
(M-11467.1).
Breast pump. Glass cup with "white metal" syringe similar to Meig's Piston
Breast Pump that was sold through surgical and pharmaceutical catalogs
towards the end of the 19th century. Handle is missing. Donated by George
Watson 1968. L 200 mm. NMHT 281244 (M-12343).
Breast pump. Another example similar to the one above. Used by Dr. Robert
E. Bromwell, Port Deposit, Maryland (d. 1906). Donated by Roberta Craig
1972. L 168 mm, D of bulb 79 mm, D 35 mm. NMHT 299502 (M-14703).
_Leeching_
Leeches. Two leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) purchased in 1898, preserved and
later mounted in plastic. L of leeches 83 mm. Anthropology vol. 30,
catalog no. 143077. Neg. 73-4233 (BW, CS). (Figure 91.)
Leech jar, 19th century. White ceramic leech jar typical of jars found in
late 19th century pharmacies. Word "leeches" is painted in black with the
symbol of medicine below in gold. Top is missing. On loan from Dr.
Frederick D. Lascoff 1954. H 242 mm, D 229 mm. Neg. 73-4232 (BW, CS). NMHT
201821 (M-6712). (Figure 114.)
Leech jars, 19th century. Elegant pair of tall Staffordshire leech jars.
They are light blue, ornamented with gold bordered leaves in relief, and
marked "Leeches" in gold on a dark blue decorated panel. Covers are
perforated and have flower-shaped finials. Donated by Smith, Kline, and
French Laboratories 1965. H 460 mm, D at widest point 215 mm. Neg. 73-4231
(BW, CS). NMHT 263554 (M-11504). (Figure 20.)
Leech jar, 19th century. In contrast to the other jars in the Smithsonian
collection, this one is small and plain, and perhaps more typical of 19th
century leech jars. It is a white ceramic jar shaped like a canister with
two knob handles and a perforated lid with its own knob handle. Jar is
labeled "Leeches" in black and stamped "Germany" and "IQ" below. Purchased
1976. It was formerly owned by Dr. Sydney N. Blumberg. H 175 mm, D 107 mm.
NMHT 1977.0789.43.
Leech jars, 19th century. Pair of tall Staffordshire leech jars with royal
blue handles and royal blue perforated canopy tops. The jars are decorated
with a multi-colored floral design upon a magenta background. Purchased
1976. H 710 mm, W 265 mm. Neg. 76-7765 (BW, CS). NMHT 321697.18-19.
(Figure 115.)
Lithograph, 1814. Framed colored lithograph dated "London/1814" and titled
"Leech Finders." Picture shows three women gathering leeches by a stream.
Purchased 1975. W 454 mm, H 363 mm. Neg. 76-7741 (BW, CS). NMHT 320033.08.
(Figure 85.)
Artificial leech, 19th century. Brass, cylindrical "scarificator" has
three pointed blades arranged in a triangle so as to simulate a leech
bite. Blades are cocked by pulling on the handle of the device, and
released by pushing a small button on the cylinder. Set also includes two
small oval glass cups with brass stopcocks and a brass pump, a glass tube
with cork lid for collecting blood, and a mass of silvery thread. The use
of the thread is uncertain. Case is made of wood covered with red leather
and lined with black plush. Unfortunately there are no manufacturer
markings or other clues to the provenance of this unusual set. Purchased
1976. "Leech:" L 61 mm, D 20 mm. Pump: L 102 mm. Case: L 155 mm, W 107 mm,
H 45 mm. Neg. 76-9120 (BW). NMHT 316478. (Figure 98.)
Leech cage, 19th century. Tin, nickel, lead composition. The surface is
worn and five holes are punctured in the hinge at one end. Purchased 1976.
L 120 mm, H 32 mm, W 31 mm. Neg. 77-13984 (BW, CS). NMHT 1977.0576.02.
(Figure 116.)
_Veterinary Bloodletting_