A glass ear syringe from the turn of the century in its fitted case

This would have been used for irrigating the ear. The body of the syringe has a bulbous terminal for fitting in the ear canal. The piston is also made from glass and is sealed at the plunger end with a coil of thread and the proximal end with a perforated cork bung. The fitted, hinged, material covered case is tapered, lined in velvet and seals with a brass catch.

• From the Phisick collection