WONDERFUL RARE MEDICAL BLOODLETTING 8-BLADE SCARIFICATOR, LIKELY FRENCH, 1860

Description

The practice of blood letting or phlebotomy has been used throughout history to reduce inflammation and restore the balance of body fluids. Bloodletting therapy is now rarely used in medicine. Over the centuries, the single-blade fleam was replaced by the improved multi-blade scarificator. Use of the many-bladed scarificator provided a standard depth and length to the incision in the skin and was a quicker and a less painful procedure.
This scarificator is somewhat unusual in shape, being cylindrical. Most we have seen are rectangular. It is further unusual in that its  ribbed body has a double row of vertical line decoration at the top and a single row of vertical line decoration at the base of its central body.  The central body appears to be brass while the rest of it is probably brass coated with a German silver type metal. It measures approximately 1 3/4 inches in diameter and is in EXCELLENT condition. It would be nearly impossible to find one of these in as good condition as this one.
There is a steel mechanism on top that is turned to release and cock the 8 blades into a cutting position. The scarificator is then placed on the skin and the round knob on the side is pushed (or clicked) to power the blades which make the scarifications or cuts before being retracted. Interestingly, these steel blades appear slightly rounded as opposed to the pre-1820 V-shaped profile. (Please study the attached photos carefully to get a clear idea of the details and condition.)
Use of scarificators as part of a medical / surgical Civil War kit is documented in Dr. Gordon Dammann’s “
Volume 1 Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment”,
page 36.
What a
fantastic
addition to your collection of medical, Civil War, or dealer inventory!!