RomanArmyTalk

Just finished the latest addition to our group's (Vex.Leg.VIII - http://www.legio8augusta.de ) medical kit. Alex made the speculum itself (so most of the work), I did the decorations and finishing. It is based on a find from Asia minor, now in the RGZM (Mainz).

wow, thats a gorgeous piece! Realy good work.

Magnificent!

Excellent craftmanship!

Was the screw hand turned on a lathe?

Martin another cracking piece of kit D D lol:
Regards Brennivs

That's a pretty specialised piece of kit, Martin. I guess if anyone accidentally sits on their pilum, they can come to you. hock:

Quote:That's a pretty specialised piece of kit, Martin. I guess if anyone accidentally sits on their pilum, they can come to you. hock:

What a nice way of putting it :-) )
Let me set the soldiering part of the audience here at ease by reassuring them that this piece of equipment firmly belongs to the civilian side of ancient medicine we are presenting ;-) )

Quote:Was the screw hand turned on a lathe?

No, although turning on a lathe possibly was the way at least some of the originals were done.

Quote:Let me set the soldiering part of the audience here at ease by reassuring them that this piece of equipment firmly belongs to the civilian side of ancient medicine we are presenting ;-) )

Thank God! I was thinking of retiring, but you just changed my mind! "Never get outa the boat!"

Gorgeous work.

Matthew

All I can think of to say is, "Ouch!" Most excellent metalwork. I have not seen anything better or more precise.

Brilliant work! This is really beautifull workmanship!

What is the function of the screw in addition to fold out handles? Do you use both?

I second Robert's motion wholeheartedly. Truely a great piece of work!

I thought the function of the folding handles was to date uncertain. All speculum finds of the screw type seem to have them, 3 and 4 finger, but I can only guess at their function. Can anyone be tempted to some 'speculum speculation'?

That probably calls for some field testing. hock: :oops:

For twisting it back and forth :? What precisely is this for now? Lets not be squeemish here, straight answers.

Very nice work, another time.

The speculum is a medical tool for open the vagina or the anus, retain it opened, and let the medicus to work inside the body.

The rounded fingers remains together when closed, you have to put inside the hole, and then open with the help of the screw.

am i wrong?

Well that what I figured....Wonder wha tknid of surgery they were capable of the went tha tfar.
I was trying to imagine a military use, but a wound that big would probably have killed the recipient long before he was brought to the surgeons tent. So it all boils down to what they would be twiting it around in a vagina for.....an anus as torture perhaps.... hock: