A fine silver plated vaginal speculum marked “Dr Protheroe Smith’s Speculum Uteri” and under this “Ferguson, Maker”.  Protheroe Smith was a renowned London obstetrician in the early 19th Century who founded the Hospital for Diseases of Women and pioneered the use chloroform in obstetrics in England.

The speculum comes with an ebony obturator and has two tubes; the outer one is fenestrated to as to allow visualisation of the vaginal mucosa. It is housed in a fitted leather silk lined case which is marked on the lid “Dr De Damscanx Spa”. On the floor of the case the label reads “21 Giltspur Street, Smithfield London. Ferguson, Surgeon’s Instrument Maker to St Bartholamews Hospital”

• From the Phisick collection