A pristine and working Marey’s Sphygmograph by Charles Verdin, circa 1870s’
Sold
Circa
1870s'
Country of manufacture
France
Description
A very fine, complete, working and cased example of the famous Marey’s sphygmograph, made in gilded brass by Charles Verdin.
The Marey Sphygmograph is the first instrument for measuring blood pressure to be widely used in clinical medicine.
“The first machine that could produce a paper record of blood pressure was introduced in 1847. Many other “sphygmographs” soon followed. In 1860, the French inventor, Dr. Étienne Jules Marey (1830-1904) described his own sphygmograph. Dr. Marey was a pioneer of blood pressure measurement and other physiological studies. He also pioneered cinematography as an aid to some of these studies.
His sphygmograph was held on the patient’s forearm with a cloth band. An ivory plate was positioned on the patient’s radial artery (the artery that parallels the radius bone in the arm). As the patient’s pulse moved the plate, that motion was transmitted to a stylus which was dipped in ink. The moving stylus traced an ink line representing that motion on a piece of paper, while the paper was pulled forward by a clockwork mechanism. The Marey Sphygmograph became the first instrument of its kind to be widely used in clinical medicine.” (Wood library Museum).
The condition is excellent and the clockwork is in perfect workind condition.
The case measures 21×9,5x5cm.
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Dealer information
Le Zograscope
Established by Alexandre Piffault in 2014 and based in Paris at 5 rue de Condé, 75006, very close to Odéon, Le Zograscope specializes in antique and rare books in Science, Medicine and Technology, and rare antique instruments in the same fields. We have especially a strong interest in early and continental microscopy, early and special mathematical/drawing instruments, medical and surgical instrument, and rare technology.
Personnal website : https://www.lezograscope.com/
