A rare mid to late 19th century trephine based obstetric perforator used for drilling into the foetal skull.

The oval handle is made from a fetching design in cross hatched ebony.  One 3rd of the way along the shaft the joint is bordered with an ornately designed rim. Inside the outer casing the trephine is near mint and the blue tempered steel brace (which allow adjustment of a central pin forwards and backwards to anchor the trephine) shows the high build quality. Complete, fully functional and in very good condition.

• From the Phisick collection