Vaginal speculum, possibly French, 1801-1850
Made of boxwood and ebony, this vaginal speculum uses a syringe mechanism to introduce ointments into the uterine cavity. A British pamphlet of 1857 advised husbands that examination with a vaginal speculum ‘plunges its wretched victim…down into the lowest deep infamy and degradation’. Specula examinations caused controversy over male doctors performing such an intimate examination on women. However, the speculum was routine in gynaecological examination by the end of the 1800s.
Object number:
A647134
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: vaginal speculum
Instrument for dilating the vagina, and throwing light within thus facilitating examination or surgical operations
Glossary: surgery
trial term S&H