What is a Bleeding Bowl?

A Fitting Title: A bleeding bowl is used for the process of ‘bloodletting.’ This practice involved the withdrawal of large amounts of a patient's blood with the belief that this could cure or prevent illnesses and diseases. The practice has been all but abandoned in the modern world.

What is a Scarificator?

Not Your Average Blade: A scarificator is a spring-loaded instrument that has a series of blades. The blades snap out to cut the skin and allow for bloodletting. Following the incision, the blood was drained into a bleeding bowl.

How to Learn More

Schedule a Tour: Contact the MHC to schedule a tour. Email us at mhcmail@osumc.edu, or call us at (614) 292-3275. We are located in Columbus, Ohio.

More to Come: Watch for more Curator's Top 25 artifact highlights throughout the rest of 2022!

In the meantime, visit https://library.osu.edu/site/mhcb/2012/02/06/bloodletting-instrument/ for more info about these two artifacts!

Medical Heritage Center Contact Information

The Ohio State University Health Sciences Library
5th Floor, Prior Hall
376 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 292-3275
go.osu.edu/mhc