"This was an intriguing discussion and once again I had a sneak peek of the mystery object with Catherine Walker from the Wellcome Collection. The object was a bronze moulded cupped thin piece fitted with a groove for a metal (iron primitive steel) scalpel. It resembled a tiny coffee spoon with a long thin extension, curved with an inside jagged edge. The scalpel end was for making an incision in the right spot and then to probe with the spoon end to remove a bladder stone. The object is well preserved with the bronze mouldings being quite clear. The iron blade for the scalpel had corroded though the groove for the fitting of this double ended instrument was discernible to experts. The surgeon had usually pared his fingernails and applied some olive oil to said finger. In the operation the surgeon would have had the patient sitting legs raised and assistant surgeons would have been on hand to hold down the operating and operated bodies "
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