Description

A late 19th-century esthesiometer , likely a variant of Sieveking’s model, similar to the one used by Cesare Lombroso in his influential study  “Criminal Man” (1876)–see third image, which is taken from his book. Lombroso believed that criminals had a higher threshold for touch and pain. Using  an esthesiometer, and other devices, he claimed to have confirmed this.  Esthesiometers are currently part of the neurologist’s armamentarium. In very good cosmetic and mechanical condition. Quoting from Wiki:

“An esthesiometer (British spelling aesthesiometer) is a device for measuring the tactile sensitivity of the skin (or mouth, or eye, etc.). The measure of the degree of tactile sensitivity is called aesthesiometry. The device was invented by Edward Henry Sieveking.”