A uterine dilator with crosshatched ebony handles made and signed by Shepard & Dudley who were quality instrument makers in New York in the 1870s.

This instrument was used to dilate the cervix in labour. The prongs would be placed through the os cervix and pressure on the handles through a double hinge mechanism allows them  to open in parallel. A screw allows  the extent of opening of the blades to be limited on a graduated scale.

• From the Phisick collection