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Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseDistender, possibly originally for surgical use
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Distender, possibly originally for surgical use
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Distender, possibly originally for surgical use, reputedly from the Tower of London, by Gill, English, 1700-1850
This standard surgical instrument is reputedly from the Tower of London. It appears to have been used as a torture implement. The jaws of the distender separate when the thumbscrew is turned and can forcibly open a mouth. The distender is embossed with the maker’s name, ‘Gill’. It was supposedly found at the Tower after a fire in 1841. Torture was used in the Tower to extract information from prisoners. However, contrary to popular belief only a small proportion of prisoners were tortured.
Details
- Category:
- Wellcome (general)
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A14486
- Materials:
- body, iron and jaws, ivory
- Measurements:
-
overall: 12 mm x 65 mm x 100 mm, 37 mm, .087kg
- type:
- distender
- credit:
- Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)
