Stay Sharp

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There is no evidence cavemen had corns and even if they did refined tools to shave the skin have never been found. Corns were known to be around in ancient Egypt (4000 BCE), and copper alloy razor like implements have been found which are likely to be used as corn scrappers. In the New Kingdom (1567-1320 BCE) bronze razors replaced the crude copper alloy. The coming of the Iron Age (1000 BCE) probably meant skin scraping utensils were made from iron. By the time of the Greeks, refined scalpels were available and great physicians of the time recognised regular skin shaving was the only way to reduce corns. The use of pumice stone to rub away hard skin was popular among Roman Legions. Shoe finds from this time confirm foot problems, then, were no different to today. In 1163 papal decrees forbid clergy to commit sacrilege of shedding blood. Blood letting monks turned their duties over to barbers and corn cutters. Corn salves were popular among corn cutters and were popular under the Quack Act, when traditional medicine was challenged by the complications of plague and syphilis. It took until 1680 before an open razor was available and a half century later before cast steel (a harder, finger grained steel) was able to take and hold an edge. When a tiny quantity of silver was added to the cast steel in 1820 this meant greater control of the cutting instrument could be achieved. Keeping the blade sharp involved honing (or sharpening). In days prior to infection control, small tool sterilization, and disposable blades, practitioners refined a sharp edge on their solid scalpels. The cutting edge was ground to a bevel so that the two sides of the blade meet. The cutting edge was then refined by honing until the blade was capable of cutting. Steeling was done by passing the blade against nearly-smooth hard metal steel which plastically deformed the metal of the blade's edge, smoothing out rough edges. Honing, or stropping, was also done by polishing the edge with a fine abrasive such as rouge or tripoli on a piece of stout leather.

Would you ever?

Cameron hey, what do I know

 

Thankyou Cameron. As always you are a mine of random but highly fascinating information.

Another question for the font of wisdom.

1. Are thwaites nippers anything to do with thwaites? (short pegs used in tyling)

Settle the bet for us.

Regards

Robert

 

Robert

Thwaite is Norse in origin and used in a a place name. It means clearance, so it is unlikely to come from that source. As was a common custom surgeons would ensure their immortality by giving their name to procedures or tools specific to their favorite surgical procedure. Thwaite’s nippers may have been designed by a surgeon by that name.

Fascinating resource on the where to get info on the origins of surgical instruments is at: http://www.priory.com/homol/ant.htm

Also the Thackray Museum in Leeds should be able to help.

http://www.thackraymuseum.org/

Cheers
Cameron