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Medical Technology History
History of medical devices: A Narrative on the Scarificator
Each issue, we will select a medical device in history, even though may not be found today,
showed promise during its time. Shall we begin...
A scarificator was a device used for bloodletting. It worked in the same manner as a blood lancet for drawing blood in diabetic patients, in that a sharp metal object was retracted and when released would inflict cuts in the patient to induce bleeding. Where a blood lancet utilizes a single
pointed metal tip, a scarificator, as seen in the figure could have up to 20 very sharp razor blades.
The figure shows a 12 blade scarificator.
Photo by Viennese Composers