[Vaginal speculum: the developmental history of a gynecologic instrument].
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.
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D004867:Equipment Design; D005060:Europe; D006176:Gynecology / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval