Surgery

Kidney (1)

Two gynecologic kidneys, about 1980

Pus ponds (French cuvettes à pus), known since the 19th century, were evidently nothing more than a further development of medieval barber bowls. Most of them were kidney-shaped (French cuvettes réniformes, in jargon "haricots"). In 1900 they were available in hard rubber, in glass, glazed porcelain, papier maché, brass. The most common in the doctor's office were bowls of white enamelled iron, later of inox. Sheet steel.

In addition to the kidney shape, there were the heart shape (French forme de coeur), the cloverleaf (French forme de trèfle), the trough shape (French forme de terrine) etc.

It is interesting to note that no surgeon has immortalized himself with a bowl of his invention - apparently nobody wanted his name to be associated with pus or filth ...