| Speculum Metricis. An ancient
instrument similar
to those found at Pompeii, 1st Century BCE. See James V. Ricci,
M.D. illustrations page 38, and page 78. " The Development
Gynecological
Surgery and Instruments," 1990 Norman Publishing, San Francisco. |
Circa 16th Century.
A three pronged speculum came back
into use
in the 16th and 17th Century on the continental Europe. It was
used
to dilate the vagina to visualize the cervix. It may have been
utililized
to forcibly dilate the cervix to hasten labor. Unplated steel, 17 x 23
cm ( 7 1/2''x 9'') The prongs open 4cm (1 3/4'') at its greatest
diameter
at the tip. |
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John Weis Speculum
Circa 1831
Checkered
ivory handle with screw mechanism that opens and closes the
blades. Three unplated steel blades with ebony obturator. |
| The vaginal speculum was
introduced to gynecology
in 1801 by Joseph Claude Recamier. His fist vaginal
speculum
was a slender tin tube five inches long he used to introduce treatment
for cervical ulcers. Later he widened this tin conical tube
to inspect the cervix. Some doctors considered the speculum
essential
for an adequate pelvic examination, while others regarded it as
unnecessary
and objectionable. " The use of the speculum was, for respectable
women,
a serious sacrifice of their delicacy." The vaginal speculum underwent
numerous modifications since Recamier's time. |
 |
|
The first generation vaginal
speculum was
a widened conical tube similar to the Ferguson silver speculum as shown
on the left photos.
Circa: Mid 1800
|
Ferguson
Mirror Vaginal
Speculum
Circa 1850's
Mirror vaginal speculum
introduced by William
Ferguson. A tubular glass with mirrored interior and
outside
black coating: 14 cm. ( 5 1/2 "). E. Bennion pg 134. |
Ashton's
Fenestrated Speculum
Circa: 1850's
A tubular mirrored speculum with
opening along
one side and a closed end. 10 1/2 cm
(4 1/4") Tiemann pg 431 Fig
3175. |
|
Ferguson
Vaginal Speculum
A cylindrical vaginal
speculum. Circa
1850s
Bakelite
outer, biege
inner. 13 cm (5 1/4")
|
Ferguson
Wood Vaginal
Speculum
c 1850s
Short cylindrical wood Ferguson
vaginal speculum.
10 cm (4")
Long wood Ferguson speculum.
14 cm.
|
|
Pewter speculum with
handle. Ebony
obturator. 20.5 cm (8 1/4") in length.
|
Boxwood with brass handle,
complete with
obturator that has a metal shaft;
a conic shaped boxwood tip and a
knob handle.
19 cm (7 1/2")
|
Charriere
Trivalve Speculum
c 1850
A three bladed vaginal speculum
with an ebony
obturator, introduced in 1837. The instrument features a unique
hinged-tube
that is inserted as an almond-shaped oval and expands to a full circle
by pressing the two finger grips together. Made of unplated
German
silver with nickel-zinc alloy, a material used rarely for medical
instrument. |
Segala
Quadvalve Speculum
Circa Mid 1800's
Four bladed vaginal speculum with
ebony obturator
and metal shaft. Unplated steel. 19 cm (7 1/2") in
length.
Introduced by Paul Segala in the 1830s. |
Thomas-
Sims Speculum
Circa 1880
Ebony handle,
unplated steel blades
|
Philippe
Ricord Vaginal
Speculum
c 1834
Two
bladed unplated steel
speculum expanded at both ends around a fixed center. Has
checkered
ebony handles. 25.5 cm (10") |
 |
Four Bladed
Speculum with ebony
handle. 27 cm (10 3/4")
c Mid 1800s
|
|
Tri-valve Speculum with
crosscheckered
ebony handles by A.L. Hernstein,
N.Y.
c. 1870's
|
| Three bladed vaginal
speculum. A complicated
action, and a locking grip. Plated steel, marked I. Stevens & Sons
/ London, Circa 1870s. 20 cm (7 3/4") in length, blades open to 6 cm (2
1/4") wide. |
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regarding date, age, and origin are statements of opinion. All
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