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Category: Bleeding and Cupping Pre 19th Century Instruments
Estimated Date: 1800
Name: Horn Cup

Description: 3” x 1.5” (mouth) horn which is closed on narrow end with a piece of leather or parchment that is tied in place. The piece is a companion piece to a bleeder that was acquired with it. Cups were usually made of glass and those made of metal or horn are less common. The cup was applied after heating the air in it so that it created a suction on the skin. Later cups had an outlet for a rubber bulb to create suction or a syringe. The cups could be applied to the dry skin or after an incision was made for bleeding. The technique dates back about 3000 years and was thought to remove toxins from the body.

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