This antique brass scarificator is a medical instrument that was used from the 18th to the 19th century that was used for bloodletting. The device houses a spring loaded iron mechanism that allows the blades to rotate. When the lever is triggered it is spring loaded and steel blades, in a uniform motion, rotate and make shallow cuts on a person's skin. Bloodletting was a common historical medical practice where physicians or practitioners removed blood to treat various illnesses.
This bloodletting device is a beautiful example from the Civil War Era and a small piece of the darker side of history.
The scarificator measures approximately 2.5"x 1.5"x 1.5".
