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Trephination set Wood, fi sh skin, velvet and brass 1893–1930 RRa0115 / A616092 Science Museum / L0076319 Wellcome Images
Dating back to at least Neolithic times, trepanation (or trephination) is the oldest known surgical proce- dure. Trepanation operations have been conducted for a wide range of purposes, including the relief of depressions or fractures of the skull and the release of demons or humours thought to cause headaches or epilepsy. Their popularity has waxed and waned through the centuries. This instrument set contains drills with cylindrical
blades, rugines to remove connective tissue from bones, lenticulars to depress brain matter and a brush to remove fine fragments of bone.
RIGHT: Trephination operation From A Compleat Discourse of Wounds John Browne, 1678 b12221260 Wellcome Library