18th C. English Pewter Medical Syringe

Northwestern Europe, England, 18th to 19th century CE. An interesting pewter syringe comprised of three pieces: a main tube with a narrow nozzle, a lid that fits onto the threaded tube, and a rod-shaped plunger. The exterior of the tube is incised with three lines to denote dosage measurements. The plunger has an integral ring top and operates much like a modern-day syringe; pressure applied to the plunger pushes the rod through the lid opening and into the main tube. Early syringes were devised for irrigation of different body orifices such as the throat, nose, and below the waist for sexually transmitted diseases. Injecting mercury into reproductive organs with these syringes was a common practice to treat diseases such as syphilis, which lead to the proverb: "A night in the arms of Venus leads to a lifetime on Mercury." Size: 4.6" L x .75" W (11.7 cm x 1.9 cm)

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000

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#158476
Condition Report: Lid unscrews from main tube easily. The plunger moves freely up and down. Age and use expected wear with nicks and surface scratches.