| Reference Number | MIMM/2017-14/9 |
| Title | Set of Hegar's Dilators in Case |
| Date | 1900-1949 |
| Creator Name | Fannin, Medical supply company, 1829- |
| Description | This is a set of 8 Hegar's Metal Dilators in a fabric organising case, which are double ended to function as dilators in 16 different sizes. These eight rods are traditionally curved with a conical tip, with the numbers engraved on the middle of the dilator corresponding to its diameter in milimeters. One slot of the case is empty, as one of the dilators is missing (size 1/2).
Some of them are bent or dented (3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, 15/16). There is is minor scratching along all of the dilators, but little corrosion is present. The case for the dilators is ochre fabric with green edge detailing and a tie to secure it when rolled up.
These dilators are still used today to treat conditions such as vaginismus, as well as cervical dilation. They were invented in 1879 by Albert Hegar in Germany for use in the gynaecological field, and have a few variations in terms of shape to account for differences in doctors' needs. |
| Extent | 1 item |
| Dimensions | Case: 220mm x 235mm |
| 220mm x 15mm x 15mm (largest) |
| 200mm x 5mm x 5mm (smallest) |
| Digital Collections | View online in our digital collections |
| Copyright | Free to use under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) |
| Credit Line | Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
| Object Name | Vaginal Dilator |
| Term | Gynaecology -- instrumentation |
| Obstetrics -- instrumentation |