Forgotten medical instruments

While browsing old local newspapers, I discovered a reported theft of a urinometer. I wondered whether it did what I thought it did – it didn’t, it actually measures the specific gravity of urine, from which doctors claimed they could assess kidney function.



This did set me wondering whether there were other obsolete medical items and what they did – read on….



Trephines were used for making holes in the skull, the process known as trepanning.



Ecraseurs were used to strangle tumors, particularly in the uterus or ovary. It worked by tightening a wire loop around the base of the tumor.



Surgical guillotine was employed for urgent amputations, where surgeons decreed creating a flap of skin to fold over the wound would delay the procedure to an unacceptable degree.



Brass scarificators were considered a big step forward – we might view something which replaced leeches in the practice of blood letting rather differently.



Spinal saws were used for removing bone after fractures or deformities were diagnosed.



Surgical hammer – must have been of some use, and afterwards you can call a toffee hammer.



Skin hooks were obviously used to hold back the skin while playing around inside – but they do seem quite terrifying.