Cupping set

Made:: 1860-1875 in London

maker:: S Maw & Son

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Cupping set, in wooden case, by S. Maw, London, 1860-1930

Cupping was a method of bloodletting – a practice once carried out to treat a wide range of diseases and medical conditions. Warm glass cups were placed on the skin to draw blood believed to be harmful to health to the surface of the skin. In wet cupping, the blood was released from the body using a lancet or scarificator (a set of spring-operated lancets). The set was made by S Maw & Son, a surgical instrument maker based in London.

Details

Category:: Therapeutics

Collection:: Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection

Object Number:: A86336

Materials:: case, wood, velvet, lined and brass

type:: cupping set

credit:: Gift of Mr. Suckling

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Parts

Brass scarificator

Brass scarificator with 12 lancets

Scarificators had two uses: one was to open veins for bloodletting; and the other was to introduce substances into the body. This brass example has twelve lancets operated by a spring-released trigger. Skill was needed to make sure that the blade did not go too deep into the body. This scarificator was part of a cupping set made by S Maw & Son, a surgical instrument maker based in London. Cupping was a method of bloodletting. Warm glass cups were placed on the skin to draw blood to the surface, which was then released using a scarificator. The scarificator was introduced in the late 1600s.