Anatomical syringe set, cased, London, England, 1810-1872

Anatomical syringe set in case, by Savigny and Co., London, England, 1810-1872.

Anatomical syringe sets were used to inject wax and other substances into body parts to preserve their structure. The resulting anatomical preparations were useful teaching aids in an age when there was a lack of bodies available for dissection.

Made by Savigny & Co, this syringe can hold 6 fluid ounces (16 ml) of wax. The syringe comes with eight different attachments, possibly for different areas of the body. Wax injection was perfected by, among others, Frederik Ruysch (1638-1731), a Dutch anatomist who was also known for his fantastical and often grotesque arrangements of anatomical specimens.