Scarificator - help with marking and dating?

Hi guys,

Recently bought a Scarificator. I think it's from late 1800s, 1870ish, as did the seller, but wondering if anyone has bit more information or idea about it.

There are two marks. One on the handle, a crown above a snake wrapped round a sword, possibly a makers mark? It also has two star type marks, not sure if they are alignment marks or something to help the Dr?

Any info or ideas would be great. I love weird madness and just had to have it!

 

Why slash your own wrists when a Dr could do it for you! Ha you can adjust the depth of the blades! And it's so quick when you press the spring mechanism, I can't imagine you going back for a 2nd go!

 

I'd say second quarter of the 1800s. Possibly third. By the second half of the Victorian era, bloodletting (which is what this is for) was seriously on the way out.

 

Wellll, I guess it beats using a fleam or spring lancet. I really haven't a clue on dating this other than what is said on the following website says:

"Scarificators with pointed V-shaped blades are probably pre-1820. Those with slightly rounded blades are later. Round scarificators are usually French in design and post-1860 (often around 1900!)"

Need to scroll 1/2 way down the page to "The Scarificator" section:
http://www.medicalantiques.com/medical/Scarifications_and_Bleeder_Medical_Antiques.htm

--- Susan

Edit: Gee, I just read about cleaning a scarificator in a Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, Dec. 1833, Vol IX, No. 17, Section "The Treaties on the Operation of Cupping," Instuments, Scarificators, p. 263.

"The scarificators may be always cleaned and greased at the same time, by springing them through a piece of mutton fat."

The last sentence before the section "Torch or Burning."
https://books.google.com/books?id=c...ILTAF#v=onepage&q=Temple Scarificator&f=false

 

May we see photos of the inside and a pic that shows the surfaces of the blades? What metal is the trigger made from? I'm genuinely interested in helping to date this item.

 

Thanks guys.

The blades are rounded so probably 1850ish, slightly earlier than I thought. Which is nice.

I guess this way was quicker than a fleam but not sure I'd prefer it! It's so quick you can't see the blades move...it's got to sting! Ha

I'll grab me some mutton fat, give it a clean and I'm good to go as a bloodletter! Anyone need it doing!? Lol

 

What do you mean by inside? As in take the screw out and open it up? I'd be worried I wouldnt be able to put it back together again and really don't want to break it if has survived this long!

Matt

 

Had a look and a play and was quite easy to take the bottom off, so here's some photos.

Matt

 

Some better photos of the blades. Hope these help.

 

Looks like it needs to be run through some mutton fat.

 

Not sure if it's 1800s blood or rust!

 

I hope it's rust! I'd like to think they cleaned this thing at least once during its lifetime!!

 

Ran it threw mutton fat apparently. That gave it a good clean!

 

Thanks for pix. They satisfy my curiosity about the possibility that it was a repro, which it clearly isn't, no one could reproduce that amount of detail unless these were selling in the $1000.00 plus range, which they aren't.

 

Yeah, I was worried about repro, just because most of them were brass and this is some sort of steel, but can tell it's genuine, especially when you have a look inside. So thanks for making me do that, I wouldn't have thought of it.

Do you agree it's 1850s ish? Or could it be earlier or later?

Thanks

Matt

 

Thanks, I haven't looked into these enough to offer up any date. I think finding the maker based on the Rod of Asclepius logo, would be an essential part of dating it, and that search should be fun and educational if you aren't used to them. Or just wait a bit and Susan may find it.

 

The mark is a German maker, forget the name right now, post WWI

Edit: Jetter & Scheerer. I don't think they used the Aesculap mark until 1899, and didn't export til after the war.

 

So it could be after 1900 then? I'll have a try and look for the mark, do some research, see what's what.

Any ideas where to start, or is it a case of Google?

Thanks

 

That thing is just plain SCARY. Mutton fat notwithstanding.