Small brass octagonal box, gold-coloured, with a round knob on top with a lever beside it; twelve round blades come out of the bottom when the lever is pulled; release button on the side.
Small brass octagonal box, gold-coloured, with a round knob on top with a lever beside it; twelve round blades come out of the bottom when the lever is pulled; release button on the side.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Used in China in 1918 for smallpox vaccinations by Dr. Howard Box and Dr. G. S. Cronk; donated by by L. Bruce Cronk.
Dates
1850
1900
circa 1850-1900
Material
metal: dark gold, grey
Inscriptions
On front: two small stars
On top: Roman numeral "VII"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D6-5
Length
4.5 cm
Width
3.9 cm
Height
6.2 cm
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Some minor tarnish; all moving parts still work, but are stiff
#2: condition unchanged
July 28, 2023: Surface scratches; surface grime and wear; discolouration; extensive tarnishing on all grey metal features; green rust mainly on top surface surrounding feature joints or openings and scattered across most other object edges or connection points; red rust dotting extending grey lever and lower gold plate surface; brown rust noticeably scattered across entire object with a greater concentration on the lower gold plate and the top surface; white rust residue in creases of upwards extending nob; both circular nobs are still mobile while the lever is extremely stiff and stuck; blades do not easily release
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
Reference Comments
"Antique Medical Instruments" by C. Keith Wilbur, M.D., p.119; letters from previous owner, L. Bruce Cronk
Research Facts
Scarificators were used in bloodletting practices, often accompanying cupping procedures. The blades are designed to make equal and even cuts on the patient's body.
Although scarificators were usually used in conjunction with cupping, there is evidence they were also sometimes used by physicians other purposes. Long after the use of scarificators for bloodletting had gone out of fashion in Western medicine, Dr. Howard Box and Dr. G.S. Cronk employed this instrument for smallpox vaccinations in China in 1918.
Exhibit History
On loan to McMaster University L-2023-3 until 27 November 2023
On exhibit, Providence Continuing Care Centre: "Rockwood Asylum: Refuge and Renewal 1878–1905" from Feb. 13, 2007- Nov 2016. On exhibit as of Dec. 5, 2000; taken to Toronto for one day to be shown on TVO's "Body and Health" show; exhibit "Asylum," The Story of Kingston Psychiatric Hospital; Dec. 5, 2000.