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Ancient Medical Instruments: An Overview and Case Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

M. R. Notis and
K. E. Jakielski
M. R. Notis
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, U.S.A.
K. E. Jakielski
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, U.S.A.
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Abstract

An overview of the development of the materials used for surgical knives is presented. Because early surgical tools are hard to recognize in terms of specific function, unless they are found in context they are difficult to identify. A rare exception is the collection of Roman surgical implements found in Pompeii. In order to demonstrate the level of technology typical ofthat time, metallographic study has been performed on an object identified as a Roman surgical probe similar to those found in Pompeii. The composition, microstructure, and fabrication technology for this object is discussed in relation to its functional use.

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Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 462: Symposium DD – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology V , 1996, 167
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

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