Spring lancet, patent model, 1849. Lancet is brass and oval shaped. A
wheel and axle mechanism allows the blade to sweep out an elliptical
curve. Lancet is set by a detachable key and released by a lever
protruding from the side. Lever is missing or hidden inside the case and
the mechanism is frozen. Patented in 1849 by Joseph Ives of Bristol,
Connecticut (U.S. patent 6240). Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office
1926. L 97 mm, W 33 mm, H 14 mm. Neg. 73-4211 (BW, CS). NMHT 89797
(M-4292). (Figure 23.)
Spring lancet, patent model, 1880. Instrument is made of brass and shaped
like a gun. The cocking lever is attached to both a coiled spring in the
handle of the gun and an extension of the blade. Pushing the trigger
injects the blade. Blade is dart form with double beveled edges, as was
typical of veterinary fleams. Patented by Hermann Reinhold and August
Schreiber of Davenport, Iowa (U.S. patent 236084). Transferred from the
U.S. Patent Office 1926. L 105 mm (to tip of blade), H 77 mm. Neg. 73-4210
(BW, CS). NMHT 89797 (M-4327). (Figure 24.)
Spring lancet with case, 19th century. Brass knob end lancet, a larger
version of the spring lancet used in human phlebotomy. Case is also
similar to the spring lancet cases for human use. It is made of wood
covered with brown leather, lined with chamois, and closed by a latch.
Case has a chalice decoration on top. Donated by Dr. A. J. Olmstead 1945.
Lancet: L 74 mm, W 38 mm. Case: L 133 mm, W 60 mm, H 33 mm. NMHT 171080
(M-6418).
Spring lancet, 19th century. Veterinary lancet similar to the previous
lancet except that the blade is larger and provided with a blade guard.
Blade guard can be set by a screw in order to regulate the size of the
blade. Stamped on back panel is "F. Leypoldt/Phila." This is presumably
the same Frederick Leypoldt who patented two scarificators, one in 1847
and one in 1851. Donated by the University of Pennsylvania 1959. L 74 mm,
W 34 mm. Neg. 76-7757 (BW, CS), compares lancet to one used in human
phlebotomy, NMHT 218383 (M-9256). (Figure 22.)
Spring lancet with case, 19th century. Brass knob end lancet with large
blade and blade guard. Lancet has a rim around the top and a lever release
molded to resemble a torch. Case is lined with black plush and covered
with black cloth. Purchased 1976. Lancet: L 85 mm (not including blade), W
40 mm. Case: L 142 mm, W 78 mm, H 39 mm. NMHT 316478.
Spring lancet with case, 19th century. Instrument is made of brass and has
a ball-shaped handle. The blade is double beveled, typical of blades for
veterinary bleeders. The ball handle contains a spring that is attached to
a small projecting cylinder with string tied to it. By pulling on the
string, one can pull the blade in, and by pushing a button one can inject
the blade. Case is made of wood covered with leather and is coffin-shaped.
Purchased 1976. L 95 mm (to tip of blade), D of ball 34 mm. Neg. 76-7750
(BW, CS). NMHT 321697.07. (Figure 104.)
Spring lancet with case, 19th century. Lancet is brass and has a
triangular shape. It is triggered by a slide catch on the front of the
instrument. The triggering handle is a detachable piece that lifts off a
square peg. Hinged from the side is a curved piece for ease in holding.
Screw on front of the instrument probably regulates blade depth and a
rectangular button at the top corner probably releases the blade.
Mechanism is jammed and the blade is hidden within the instrument. Only
the bottom half of the case remains. Purchase 1976. L 83 mm, W 59 mm. Neg.
76-7756 (BW, CS). NMHT 321697.08. (Figure 119.)
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.)
Greek vase (replica). Reproduction of a small Greek vase depicting a 5th
century B.C. medical "clinic," including a Greek physician bleeding a
patient. Original is in the Louvre. Made by Dorothy Briggs of the
Smithsonian Institution 1960. H 85 mm, W 75 mm. Neg. 73-4216 (BW, CS);
73-4216-A (CS), red background. NMHT 233055 (M-9618). (Figure 26.)
Bloodletting manikin, 15th century. Pen and ink drawing in black and red
inks on a folded sheet of paper with the watermark "Ochsenkapf mit Krone"
reportedly made in Southern Germany in 1480. The paper is backed at the
fold by a piece of vellum. Drawing is of a man with astrological signs and
instructions in German in balloons pointing at 25 points of his body, of
which 4 are symmetrical. Such a drawing used in conjunction with a dial
would be used to determine when and where to bleed. On the reverse are
astronomical tables. According to analysis by the Conservation Laboratory
at the Smithsonian, the paper might well date from the 15th century and
the ink has been applied at various times. Purchased 1962. L 310 mm, W 225
mm. Neg. 76-13536 (BW). NMHT 243033 (M-10288).
Surgeon's kit, late 18th century. Revolutionary War surgeon's kit includes
a leather case with brass handle, three pewter cupping cups, a spring
lancet, syringe, two trocars, knife, probe, and scraper. There is space
for two other missing instruments, one of which may have been a
scarificator. Lancet has an unusual boot shape and is decorated with a
floral design. It is made of brass and has a steel lever release.
Purchased 1969. Neg. 73-4237-A (CS). NMHT 285125 (M-12352).
Baunscheidt's _Lebenswecker_, mid 19th-early 20th century. Carl
Baunscheidt of Bonn exhibited his _Lebenswecker_ ("Life Awakener") at the
Great Exhibition in London in 1851. It consists of a long hollow tube made
of ebony and containing a coiled spring attached to a handle. A cap
covers a plate with some thirty sharp needles. Pushing upon the handle
injects the needles into the skin. The devise was used with Baunscheidt's
special oil, which was applied to the skin after the needles had irritated
it. Donated by Grace Sutherland 1970. L 250 mm, W 30 mm. Neg. 76-7751
(BW). NMHT 287885 (M-12936). (Figure 79.)
Baunscheidt's _Lebenswecker_, mid 19th-early 20th century. Another example
of the previous instrument. Donated by Mrs. William F. Press 1970. L 245
mm, W 20 mm, H 25 mm. NMHT 290304 (M-13832).
Baunscheidt's _Lebenswecker_, mid 19th-early 20th century. Another example
of the previous instruments. Purchased 1976. NMHT 1977.0789.
Alcohol lamp, late 19th-early 20th century. Glass lamp with glass cap and
cotton wick, used in exhausting air from cups. Used by Dr. F. L. Orsinger
of Chicago (1852-1925). Donated by Dr. William H. Orsinger 1973. H 100 mm,
D 83 mm. Neg. 74-4086 (BW, CW). NMHT 308730.08.
Junod's boot, 19th-early 20th century. Copper boot first introduced by
Victor-Theodore Junod in the 1830s. The boot fits tightly about the foot
and air is exhausted from it by means of a pump. John S. Billings
described the boot as "An apparatus for enclosing a limb, and from which
air can be exhausted so as to produce the effect of a large cupping
glass." (_The National Medical Dictionary._ Philadelphia, 1890 p. 732.) On
loan from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. L 280 mm, H 430 mm.
Neg. 73-7885 (BW). (Figure 81.)
Barber pole, ca. 1890-1900. This small, red, white, and blue striped pole,
with a newel post and no globe on the top, was used in Binghamton, New
York. The colors are faded into an orange and tan color. Purchased 1974.
Pole L 2600 mm, W at widest point 900 mm. NMHT 312616.
Barber pole, ca. 1920. A red, white, and blue striped pole full size. It
has a silver wooden top. It was used in New Jersey. Pole: L 63 mm, W at
widest point 20 mm. Top: L 33 mm. Gift of H. E. Green. NMHT 322,655.01.
Footnotes:
[A] _Audrey Davis, Department of History of Science, National Museum of
History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560.
Toby Appel, Charles Willson Peale Papers, National Portrait Gallery,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560._
[B] "White metal" is the technical term for an undetermined silver colored
metal alloy. See discussion of materials at beginning of index.