laryngoscope French, c.1880-1900, signed Mathieu Paris Brevete, in nickel plated brass with steel spring, silvered glass mirror and ebony handle, 26.5cm overall.

Note: The bottom blade of the speculum would hold down the tongue whilst the top blade would be positioned against the soft palate so that a light source would illuminate the mirror. In turn the mirror would reflect back a view of the larynx and glottis. The first laryngoscope was attributed to Manuel Garcia (a Spanish singing professor) in 1854. It was quickly adopted by the medical profession; initially Ludwik Turk in Vienna, Czermak in Budapest and in England Morell Mackenzie pioneered the development of laryngology.