1st-4th century AD. A bronze medical instrument with hooked end, tapering handle with spindle decorated end. Property of a Surrey collector; acquired in the early 1970s. Hooks, long thin metal instruments were used as probes and the maneuvering small pieces of tissue more easily. Hooks were another common instrument used regularly by Greek and Roman doctors. The hooks the ancient doctors used came in two basic varieties: sharp and blunt. Both of these types of hooks are still used by modern surgeons' for many of the same purposes for which the ancient doctors first used them. For instance, blunt hooks were primarily used as probes for dissection and for raising blood vessels. Sharp hooks were used to hold and lift small pieces of tissue so that they could be extracted and to retract the edges of wounds. 15 grams, 15cm (6").

Extremely fine condition.