Probang- Bristle, circa 1920

Search the collections

Summary:: A bristle probang used in a mental health hospital in Victoria Australia circa 1920. This instrument was designed to remove swallowed foreign bodies. The patient would be asked to swallow the tip and the flexible stem would be passed along the length of the oesophagus below the foreign body. The thumb ring and finger hold would then be pushed together causing flattening of the bristle. The instrument would then be removed, hopefully pulling out the foreign body with it. It was sometimes used to initiate regurgitation.
Description:: Probang is a long-handled brush with bristles gathered in at bottom into bullet shaped metal cap. Metal shaft is flexible with spring-like texture, hollow. Thin rod up middle of it is attached to shaped handle. When pulled bottom of brush is pulled up causing bristles to balloon. Handle is removable, held onto rod by small screw. Above handle is tiny circular, concave, fingerguard, with 2nd similarly shaped, but curled up at sides, 2cm further up.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Office of Psychiatric Services

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	39.00 cm (Height), 7.00 cm (Length)

Tagged with:	hospitals
Themes this item is part of:	Psychiatric Services Collection, Medicine in Society Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection
Primary Classification:	MEDICINE & HEALTH
Secondary Classification:	Mental Health - Clinical
Tertiary Classification:	equipment
Date Made:	circa 1920
Place & Date Used:	Victoria, Australia, circa 1920-1950
References:	S.Maw,Son & Sons, Catalogue of Surgical Instruments & Appliances, London. 1905. Card with exhibit.