Trepanning Anyone?

trepanning braceYes, for the LOW LOW price of $1900, you can have your very own 19th-century trepanning brace by Aubry of Paris. This item is currently for sale on the website of Gilai Collectibles. According to the description:

19th Century Neurosurgery Trepanning Brace by Aubry of Paris. This is an unusual French iron trepan in the form of a brace with rotating a high quality ivory handle. The iron body partially retained its original nickel plating. The grip handle is made of nickel-plated brass and the terminal chuck will accept 5 mm bits with circular saw end to cut out circular holes in the skull. Pre-sterilization era medical instruments are distinctive in that the handles were non-metallic; this helps to date the brace to the last quarter of the 19th century. A. Aubry was a famous French medical and surgical instrument maker who worked from Boulevard Saint Michel 6, in Paris. In 1900 he published a catalog summarizing his work: ‘Catalogue Illustre des Instruments de Chirurgie’.

About Christopher Green

Professor of Psychology at York University (Toronto). Former editor of the Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences. Creator of the "Classics in the History of Psychology" website and of the "This Week in the History of Psychology" podcast series.