SDO10105 - A Roman Medical Instrument from Dorchester

A Roman bronze Medical Instrument, uvula clamps or staphylagra, was found sometime prior to April 1850 close to the Roman wall whilst excavating the foundations for a house. Sparey-Green suggests that this is likely to be at the northern end of West Walks because that was the only part of Dorchester to have houses close to the town wall at that time. He also considers that the object was likely to represent a casual loss during the Roman period rather than a medial hoard or grave deposit. Nevertheless the object demonstrates that a high level of medical care was available in Dorchester during the Roman period. The object measures 220mm long with plain double handles, save for delicate baluster mouldings at their terminals. The jaws of the clamp were hollow and with fine interlocking teeth extending around two sides of each rather square valve. The clamps had a scissor like hinge. Such instruments are rare in Britain, they had a dual uasage; for throat operations, the removal of inflamed uvula; and for the strangulation and crushing of haemorroids.