Cranial trephine
- PART OF:
- Trephination set in case
Brace cranial trephine with five bits, part of trephination set by Sirhenry, France, 1771-1830
With a cutting attachment added to one end, this brace was used as a drill during an operation known as trephination - the cutting of a hole in the skull. This instrument pre-dates ideas about infection causes and their prevention during operations. Any surgery was risky due to the potential for infection, and one on the skull and brain was likely done as a last resort.
Details
- Category:
- Surgery
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A121486 Pt8
- Measurements:
-
trephine: 28 mm x 245 mm x 93 mm,
arrowhead perforator: 10 mm x 84 mm x 15 mm,
handle: 15 mm 47 mm,
conical crown bits (3): 86 mm 20 mm,
- type:
- cranial trephine
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
