The names of most antique medical instruments suggest their function, but some require definition. Each term is accompanied by a pictured ìgenericî instrument, though manufacturers often produced these instruments in a variety of forms.

Bistoury:

A long, narrow knife with a straight or curved blade for opening cavities. (F. bistouri, dagger) A bistoury cache is a spring loaded, double bladed instrument used in Urology.

Bougie:

A cylindrical instrument used for dilating tubular organs, such as the urethra or esophagus. (F. Bougie, an Algerian seaport from which candles were imported).

Catlin:

A long, double-edged knife, often used in amputations.

Cephalotribe:

Forcepslike instrument with a screw handle, used to crush the head in fetal abortion. (G. kephale, the head + G. tribo, to bruise).

Counterirritant:

A substance or device that irritates one area of the body presumably to relieve pain in another part.

Cranioclast:

A strong forceps used for crushing and extracting the fetal head after perforation. (G. kranion, skull + G. klao, to break in pieces).

Crochet:

A hooked instrument used for removing an aborted fetus. (F. croche, hook).

Bistoury	Bougie	Catlin	Cephalotribe	Counterirritant	Cranioclast	Crochet

Clyster (clysis):

An enema used for rectal administration of medications. (G. klyster, to wash out).

Cupping (wet and dry):

The act of applying a heated cup to bring blood to the skin to act as a counterirritant (dry), or to bleed (wet).

Dental Key:

A key shaped instrument used to remove teeth.

Diathermy:

Local elevation of temperature of tissues by high frequency current, ultrasonic waves, or microwave radiation for therapy. (G. dia, through, + therme, heat).

Ecraseur:

Instrument used to crush tissue. (F. ecraser, to crush).

Electrostatic Generator:

A therapeutic device that creates static electricity.

Elevator (dental or neurosurgical):

An instrument used to lift a tooth or piece of bone. (L. e-levo, to lift up)

Clyster	Cupping	Dental Keys	Diatherny	Ecraseur	Electrostatic Generator	Elevator

Etui:

A small pocket case for instruments. (F. estuier, to preserve).

Fleam:

A sharp lancet for bloodletting. (G. phleb, vein + tomon, to cut).

Forceps (bullet, dental, lithotomy, obstetric):

An instrument to grasp a structure, for compression or traction. (L. formus, hot + ceps, to take).

Gorget:

A director or guide with a wide groove used in lithotomy. (ME. gorge, throat)

Hey’s Saw:

Neurosurgical instrument for removal of a section of the skull. (Dr. William Hey)

Ivorine:

A trademark substance resembling ivory.

Lancet (gum, spring, thumb):

A surgical knife with a short, wide, two-edged blade. (F. lancette)

Lenticular:

Neurosurgical instrument used to elevate fragments of skull. (L. lenticula, a lentil)

Etui	Fleam	Forceps	Gorget	Hey's Saw	Lancet	Lenticular

Lithoclast (lithotrite):

An instrument used to crush a urinary stone. (G. lithos, stone + G. klastos, broken or L. Tritus, to rub).

Ophthalmoscope:

A device for studying the interior of the eye through the pupil. (G. ophthalmos relationship to the eye + G. skopeo, to examine).

Otoscope:

An instrument for examining the eardrum. (G. ous, ear + G. skopea, to view).

…otomy:

(G. tomos, cutting) – craniotomy (G. kranion, skull), lithotomy (G. lithos, stone).

Ozone Generator:

A form of oxygen (O3) that is produced by a static charge and was thought to have health benefits. (G. ozein, to smell)

Papboat:

A boat-shaped dish used to hold pap (a soft food for infants). (L. pappa, food)

Percussor:

A small hammer used to tap part of the body in order to determine density. (L. percussio, to beat).

Lithoclast	Ophthalmoscope	Otoscope	...otomy	Ozone Generator	Papboat	Percussor

Perforator:

An obstetric instrument for making a bony opening through the cranium in abortion. (L. perforare, to bore through).

Phrenology:

The appearance of the skull reflects enlargements of parts of the brain, and thus character – according to FJ Gall. (L. phren, mind)

Physiognomy:

The study of personality by appearance. (G. physi, nature + gnomon, interpreter).

Pleximeter:

An oblong plate placed on the body and struck with a percussor. (G. plesso, to strike, + metron, measure)

Probang:

A flexible rod with a soft tip to advance or retrieve an esophageal foreign body. (from provang, by inventor Walter Rumsey)

Pessary:

An appliance introduced into the vagina to support the uterus. (L. pessarium, from G. pessos, an oval stone used in certain games).

Scalpel:

A knife used in surgical dissection. (L. scalprum, a knife)

Scarificator:

An instrument for making multiple superficial incisions in the skin for wet cupping. (L. scarifico, to sctatch).

Shagreen:

A dyed, untanned leather or sharkskin used for etuis or lancet cases.

Perforator	Pleximeter	Probang	Pessary	Scalpel	Scarificator	Shagreen

Sound:

An elongated, cylindrical instrument, used for exploring, dilating, or detecting a foreign body in a cavity or canal (usually urethra, or esophagus).

Speculum:

An instrument for opening a canal or cavity for inspection. (L. a mirror, from specio, to look at)

Styptic:

A device or instrument to stop bleeding (L. stypticus, to contract)

Tenaculum:

A hooked instrument used to hold a vessel that is to be tied off. (L. teneo, to hold)

…tome:

(G. tomos, cutting) – rachitome (G. rachis, spine), tonsillotome (L. tonsilla), urethretome (G. ourethra).

Tortoise Shell:

Horny (or artificial) plate from a turtle that was used in 19th century instruments.

Trepan:

A large brace with a bit for boring a hole in the cranium (also a verb). (G. trypanon, auger)

Sound	Speculum	Styptic	Tenaculum	...tome	Tortoise Shell	Trepan

Trephine:

A “T” shaped instrument used for removing a disk of bone, usually from the skull, also a verb. (L. tres fines, three ends)

Trocar:

A sharp instrument with a three cornered tip that fits into a cannula, used to remove fluid from a cavity. (F. trocart, from trois, three, + carre, side of a sword blade).

Vectis:

A single bladed curved instrument used to aid in delivery. (L. a lever or bar)

Venesection:

Therapeutic bleeding. (L. vena, vein + sectio, a cuttng).

Trephine	Trocar	Vectis

Abbreviations -- G (Greek), F (French), L (Latin), ME (Middle English),

REFERENCES:

Gove,PB, ed., Websterís Third New International Dictionary,
Springfield, MA, Merriam-Webster, Inc.,1993.

Stedman, TL, Stedmanís Medical Dictionary,
27th Edition, Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1999.

EARLY TERMS FOR DISEASES

Ague: intermittent chills and fever (as in malaria).
Apoplexy: sudden paralysis, perhaps by stroke, or bleed into the brain or other organ.
Black Death: bubonic plague.
Brightís Disease: kidney disease which is accompanied by fluid retention and often kidney failure (described by Sir Richard Bright).
Catamenia: menstruation.
Cataplexy: ìshockî by fright.
Catarrh: upper respiratory tract infection, mucous.
Cholera: any infectious disease that is epidemic.
Clap, Drip: gonorrhea.
Consumption: tuberculosis.
Dropsy: fluid retention (from heart, liver, or kidney disease).
Dystocia: difficult delivery.
Falling Sickness: epilepsy.
French (or great) Pox, Lues: syphilis.
Furuncle: boil.
Gleet: chronic gonorrhea.
Grippe: influenza.
Humor: any secreted bodily fluid.
Hydrophobia: rabies (with apparent ìfear of waterî).
Kingís Evil: scrofula, or tuberculosis of the lymph nodes in the neck.
Laudable Pus: purulent discharge from a wound -- thought to be a good sign.
ìMad as a Hatterî: mental changes from mercury poisoning (formerly used by hat makers).
Mania: insanity.
Miasma: ìdiseasedî air that causes illness.
Oedema (edema): fluid retention and swelling.
Palsy: difficulty in muscular control.
Physik: medication, or the Practice of Medicine (G. physikos, natural or physical).
Piles: hemorrhoids.
Quinsy: tonsillar abscess.
Shaking Palsy: Parkinsonís disease.
Spermatorrhea (Onanism): nocturnal discharge, masturbation.
Tokology: the study of womenís diseases.