Part 7 (1/2)

Photograph numbers are labeled ”BW” for black and white negative and ”CS”

for color slide. (Copies of photographs or slides may be purchased through the Office of Printing and Photographic Services, Smithsonian Inst.i.tution, Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C. 20560.) Abbreviations for dimensions of objects are as follows: D = diameter; L = length; W = width; H = height.

Instruments within each group are arranged chronologically as accessioned by the museum.

_Phlebotomy_

FLINT AND THUMB LANCETS

Flint lancets (4). Pieces of flint used to let blood by native doctors in Alaska in the 1880s. Donated by William J. Fisher late 19th century. L 22 mm, 35 mm, 43 mm, 50 mm. Anthropology vol. 30, catalog no. 127758. Neg.

73-4208 (BW, CS). (Figure 30.)

Thumb lancet, 19th century. Typical thumb lancet with steel blade and tortoise sh.e.l.l s.h.i.+eld, engraved with a crown and ”Evans/Old Change/London”

(manufacturer). Purchased 1898. s.h.i.+eld: L 56 mm. Blade: L 50 mm.

Anthropology vol. 30, catalog no. 143079.

Flint lancet. ”Indian scarificator” collected by the Section of Ethnology of the Smithsonian 1902. L 44 mm. Anthropology vol. 30, catalog no.

143166.

Thumb lancets (4) with case, 19th century. Lancets are engraved ”S. Maw”

(manufacturer). The case is made of cardboard covered with brown leather and has four compartments. Used by the donor's father while a missionary in Samoa in the 1830s. Donated in 1936 by the Rev. Robert G. Harb.u.t.t.

Lancets: L 55 mm. Case: L 60 mm, W 28 mm, H 10 mm. Neg. 73-4230 (BW) four lancets with case; negs. 73-4226, 73-4227, 73-4228, 73-4229 (BW & CS), individual lancets. NMHT 139980 (M-4151). (Figure 38.)

Thumb lancets (2), 19th century. Lancets are typical 19th century thumb lancets. Sh.e.l.l s.h.i.+elds are broken. Second lancet is engraved with a crown denoting British manufacture. Owned by S. K. Jennings of Baltimore (1771-1854). Donated by the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland 1976. First lancet: L 54 mm; L of blade 46 mm. Second lancet: L 58 mm; L of blade 42 mm. NMHT 302606.062.

Thumb lancets (2), 19th century. Sh.e.l.l s.h.i.+elds. One sh.e.l.l is marked ”A. L.

Hernstein.” Purchased 1976. First lancet: L 60 mm. Second lancet: L 70 mm.

NMHT 1977.0789.

Bloodletting knife, 19th century. Handle is cylindrical and made of carved wood, which has been turned, a bra.s.s ring, and an ivory tip with a hole bored through it. Blade is double beveled and engraved ”Rodgers/Cutlers to Her Majesty,” which indicates that the piece is Victorian. It could have been used for many purposes, including bloodletting. Purchased 1976. L 129 mm; L of blade 30 mm. Neg. 76-76108 (BW). NMHT 321697.39.

Thumb lancets in cases (8), 19th century. Seven of the cases have silver tr.i.m.m.i.n.g and are closed by a hinged cap. These are similar in appearance to cigarette lighters. The first case, made of tortoise sh.e.l.l, contains four thumb lancets (with tortoise sh.e.l.l sheaths). Two blades are marked ”Savigny & Co.,” two are marked with a cross on top of crown symbol. The second case is made of mother-of-pearl carved with an intricate floral design. It has s.p.a.ce for four lancets but contains only one lancet marked ”Thompson” on the inner side of the sh.e.l.l cover, and a silver pincers. The scroll initials ”J H” appear on the side of the case. The third case is silver, decorated with a floral relief, and contains two lancets. The fourth case is made of s.h.a.green and contains six lancets, three engraved ”Savigny” and one ”Morgan.” The fifth case is made of s.h.a.green. One blade is inscribed ”STODART.” Blades are rusted. The sixth case is made of s.h.a.green. It contains one sh.e.l.l-covered lancet of a possible six. The blade is marked Paris. ”J. P. Honard” is engraved on the silver top of the case. The seventh case is made of s.h.a.green. It contains two lancets, one with a pearl s.h.i.+eld and one with a sh.e.l.l s.h.i.+eld. On the blade of the sh.e.l.l encased lancet is inscribed ”B. Radford, 9 Patrick St. Conn.” The last case is made of leather, which is worn. It contains one sh.e.l.l-encased lancet. The blade is marked ”Gouldig & Ford, N.Y.” Purchased 1976. Case one: L 70 mm, W 36 mm. Case two: L 69 mm, W 33 mm. Case three: L 65 mm, W 30 mm. Case four: L 74 mm, W 50 mm. Case five: L 71 mm, W 33 mm. Case six: L 75 mm, W 43 mm. Case seven: L 68 mm, W 32 mm. Case eight: L 75 mm, W 17 mm. Neg. 76-9116 (BW). NMHT 1977-0789. (Figure 5.)

SPRING LANCETS

NOTE: Lancets are measured to the tip of the casing rather than to the tip of the blade. The blade length depends upon the setting, and varies from an additional 8 to 13 mm.

Spring lancet, 19th century. Bra.s.s k.n.o.b end lancet with bra.s.s lever release. Purchased 1898. L 42 mm, W 20 mm. Anthropology vol. 30, catalog no. 143078.

Spring lancets (2) with case, 19th century. One lancet is plain with a bra.s.s lever release. Second lancet is bra.s.s with a steel lever release and has a floral design on the front and back panels. There are three settings for the height of the blade instead of the usual two. Blade is broken off.

Case is square and made of wood covered with black leather and lined with rose plush. It is stamped ”Braumiller, jun.” Wood is broken. Leather and plush are badly torn. Donated by George B. Roth 1925. Both lancets: L 44 mm, W 20 mm. Case: L 62 mm, W 64 mm, H 20 mm. NMHT 88734 (M-2099).

Spring lancet, patent model, 1857. Lancet has a cupped end instead of the usual k.n.o.b end. According to a.n.a.lysis by the Conservation Laboratory, the lancet is made of silver-copper alloy. A screw on the back regulates the depth of cut by moving the spring mechanism back and forth inside the outer casing. Patented by James W. W. Gordon (U.S. patent 16479).

Transferred from the U.S. Patent Office 1926. L 36 mm, W 25 mm, H 6 mm.

Neg. 73-10318 (BW) and 73-116 (CS), front view; 73-10319 (BW) and 73-11147 (CS), back view. NMHT 89797 (M-4298). (Figures 48, 49.)

Spring lancet, 19th century. Lancet is bra.s.s and has a bra.s.s lever release. It is engraved with the initials ”A. F.” Donor claimed it was a 17th-century import from Wales, but it appears to be a standard 19th century lancet. Donated by Edward Pryor 1930. L 45 mm, W 19 mm. Neg.

73-4235 (BW & CS). NMHT 112827 (M-2995). (Figure 105.)