The Vaginal Speculum and Its Modifications Throughout History

The vaginal speculum is an instrument in a contested technology. As the oldest instrument in the technology of obstetric surveillance and diagnosis, the vaginal speculum provoked serious debates about the propriety and power of looking at women's bodies. Contemporary devices, such as the ultrasound machine and the electronic fetal monitor, continue to engender debates about looking. The vaginal speculum (katopter) was known in Antiquity. The instrument fell in disuse during the Middle-ages notwithstanding the fact that Abulcasis had conceived improved speculae in the 10th century. Obstetrical use (embryotomy) of the speculum matricis was deleted from the 17th century on. The speculum vaginae was "rediscovered" in 1801. This is one of the few works on the subject and is profusely illustrated.