Steel bullet extractor, 17th century.
Image number: 10287752
The use of gunpowder increased in the 15th century, and this affected medicine because wounds caused by guns and cannon were different to those made by swords and arrows. New instruments were devised to extract bullets (many people believed bullet wounds were poisonous). This type of extractor has claws which could be used to grasp the bullet, while other types could be screwed into the soft lead of the bullet before pulling it out.
- Image number:
- 10287752
- Credit:
- Science Museum/Science & Society Picture Library
- Date taken:
- 20 October 2003 12:43
- Image rights:
- Science Museum
