Scarificator

[lelliott19]

Scarificator
Perhaps it should be named Scary -ficator? As if a simple lancet or fleam wasn't bad enough...more sophisticated spring-loaded devices were developed to "bleed" patients. Scarificators consisted of multiple rows of spring loaded, sharp blades that were prepped for use by cocking the lever. A button on the side activated the coil spring which released the blades upon the desired area. This action released the blades, causing multiple lacerations of the skin. Definitely scary!

http://phisick.com/item/scarificator-set-by-w-smith/

 

[nitrofd]

Scarificator
Perhaps it should be named Scary -ficator? As if a simple lancet or fleam wasn't bad enough...more sophisticated spring-loaded devices were developed to "bleed" patients. Scarificators consisted of multiple rows of spring loaded, sharp blades that were prepped for use by cocking the lever. A button on the side activated the coil spring which released the blades upon the desired area. This action released the blades, causing multiple lacerations of the skin. Definitely scary!

http://phisick.com/item/scarificator-set-by-w-smith/

I have seen a couple of those in an antique shop in Micanopy,fl.

 

[huskerblitz]

I've seen a couple, too, in a museum. No thanks...I'm good.

 

[James B White]

I think these were used in connection with a cup (with cupping), where a sort of blister was raised, then slit open with the scarificator to cause bleeding.

On bandaging, and other operations of minor surgery, 1859, Fitzwilliam Sargent

"The proper instrument for making the incisions in cupping is the "scarificator,"—a metallic box of about the same size as the cup, having its interior surface pierced with a number of slits, through each of which a lancetblade is made to protrude by means of a spring, the frame upon which the blades are secured being elevated or depressed, so as to regulate the depth of the incisions, by the turning of a screw arranged for the purpose. In the absence of this scarificator, the necessary incisions may be made by a scalpel, or a thumb-lancet; they may be parallel to each other, or crossed, or have an oblique direction."

More on cupping, same book:

In professional language, "a cup" is a small, bell-shaped vessel, made of glass, or thin metal, intended for application to the surface of the body, with the view either of removing a certain amount of blood from the minute veins and arteries which have been previously incised, or of merely producing a congestion of the surface, or a certain degree of ecchymosis. The first is termed "wet-cupping," or simply "cupping," the latter " dry-cupping."

Dry cupping is effected by merely acting upon the air within the cup, so that the integuments, on the surface of which it is placed, shall be forced, by the pressure of the atmosphere without, into the partial vacuum formed within the vessel. This vacuum may be produced in several different ways, either by means of heat so applied as to rarefy the air within the enclosure, or by the direct abstraction of a certain portion of it through the aid of a pump. The latter is the most convenient and the most eligible mode. The pump is made to fit upon the summit of the cup, which is perforated with a small hole covered with a thin valve of oil-silk, or of gum-elastic, to exclude the entrance of air from without; while, by the action of the pump, a very considerable exhaustion can be effected within the cup. The cup is best made of glass, so that the degree of turgescence of the integuments can be seen; when this is deemed sufficient, the glass is easily detached from the surface by slightly raising the valve by means of a pin inserted beneath it, when the pressure of the atmosphere within and without the cup will become equalized.

Wet cupping requires that, in addition to the local turgescence which the dry cupping occasions, the surface thus engorged shall be incised, its small vessels opened, and blood be abstracted therefrom. To accomplish this object, the cupping apparatus must be used as above described, and after the integuments have become sufficiently full of blood, the cup should be removed and a number of incisions made on the surface, deep enough to open the subcutaneous vessels; then the cup is to be re-applied, and the air again exhausted from it; thus the blood will flow readily from the openings made. After a sufficient amount has been obtained, the cup is removed and the surface cleansed; generally, no dressing is called for, but if there be much smarting, cold or warm water, or a piece of linen spread with simple cerate, may be applied, as may be most agreeable to the patient.

If you have a strong stomach, you can see a video of wet cupping being performed. No kidding! A scalpel is used instead of a scarificator. The cups are applied around 2:00, then the incisions are made around 3:30

Video of real cupping.

If a Civil War reenactor went through this same thing just to present a realistic cupping demonstration or video, he would be considered doing something crazy for a hobby. These guys are considered socially acceptable to a large number of people because Chinese medicine is considered "real," like ouija boards, dowsing, homeopathy, etc. are "real."

I don't think reenactors should be expected to go through this, but it's amazing and wonderful that some people still believe it's real, so we can have the advantage of seeing it done on them.