Surgical Probe

1914.05.0038

Thumbnail of Surgical Probe (1914.05.0038)

Basic Information

Artifact Identification Surgical Probe   (1914.05.0038)
Classification/
Nomenclature
  1. Science & Technology T&E
  2. :
  3. Medical & Psychological T&E
  4. :
  5. Medical Instruments
Artist/Maker Unknown
Geographic Location
Period Ptolemaic?
Date 305 – 30 BCE?
Culture Egyptian
Location Not on Exhibit

Physical Analysis

Dimension 1 (Length) 17.8 cm
Dimension 2 (Width) 1.6 cm
Dimension 3 (Depth) 0.5 cm
Weight 13 g
Measuring Remarks N/A
Materials Metal--Bronze
Manufacturing Processes Cast

Research Remarks

Description N/A
Published Description

"As its name suggests, this instrument is composed of two elements attached to the ends of a shaft. The curved hook dissector, which Galen speaks of as an "eyed hook" (Milne, p. 87), served to seize and raise small pieces of tissue around wounds and lesions and to draw out the tonsils for amputation with the fistula knife. The pointed spatula was both a pharmacological and a surgical instrument. Like most spatulas, it was used for the mixing and spreading of medicaments, and the scraping away of discharge. It could also serve as a semi-sharp dissector to lance and clean fistulas.

For related examples see Kunzl, p. 65, fig. 35 (Musee des Antiquites Nationales, Saint-Germain-en-Laye); Milne, pp. 87-88, pl. XXIII, no. 1 (author's collection), no. 2 (St. Germain-en-Laye), no. 3 (British Museum), no. 4 (St. Germain-en-Laye)." -Eunice Dauterman Maguire, Henry Maguire and Maggie J. Duncan-Flowers, Art and Holy Powers in the Early Christian House (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989), 204.

Bibliography

James, T.G.H. Excavating in Egypt: The Egypt Exploration Society 1882-1982. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982.

Maguire, Eunice Dauterman, Henry Maguire and Maggie J. Duncan-Flowers. Art and Holy Powers in the Early Christian House. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1989.

Artifact History

Credit Line/Dedication Egypt Exploration Society
Reproduction No

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