Medical Schrimshaw
A rare and wonderful example of medical scrimshaw is shown on this presentation Piorry stethoscope. The ivory pleximeter which screws onto the funnel shaped chest end has a etching of a thumb lancet used for bloodletting, poppy pod used to make morphine and Asclepius staff showing a rod and snake, and in Latin the words Conjurat Amice (Together in Friendship). The ivory ear plate which screws onto the stem reveals the presentation date May/11/1829/Paris etched on the inner surface.
​
Piorry stethoscope assembled for auscultation with ivory pleximeter screwed onto the funnel shaped chest end and ivory ear plate screwed onto the stem ear end.
The scrimshaw on the pleximeter appears to be copied from the bookplate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow shown below:
Bookplate of the Faculty of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow displaying the staff of Asclepius (Greek God of medicine and healing), blood letting lancet (representing surgeons) poppy pod (representing physicians) and the Latin words on the top Conjurat Amice (Together in Friendship).