Instruments

Instruments 1998.3249.1
Trocar
Plated metal
Length 24 1/4"
A long, pointed needle attached to a metal tube, the trocar easily punctures body cavities to remove gas and suction fluids from internal organs. When disconnected from the aspirator, a hose can be connected to a bottle of cavity fluid similar to arterial fluids but more acidic to firm tissues faster. Trocars with two-way valves at branch junctures allow opening shut off while either filling the abdominal, thoracic, cerebral, and other body cavities or aspirating body cavity contents when attached to a suction hose.

2013.4.20
Shaper, mouth
Black metal prop piece, possibly for shaping the mouth of the deceased for viewing. Both ends curved and wider end unscrews to allow piece to lengthen. Stamped on side of shaft- "Durfee Embalming Fluid Co. Grand Rapids, MICH." Length 3 ½."
After death, muscles relax, including the ones holding the deceased’s mouth together.One way to make the mouth appear closed is to attach a shaper. Left on long enough, it holds the mouth so that it can set in place with the assistance of embalming that causes muscles to harden gradually in several hours.

2009.6.3
Syringe
Red rubber bulb syringe with hard, black rubber nozzle. Length 5."
Thomas Holmes, who gained fame in the U.S. Army Medical Corps embalming soldiers (usually officers who came from wealthier families willing to pay for body preparation and transport), began his procedure by first squeezing a rubber bulb syringe to fill with embalming solution. When full, he squeezed it again to inject embalming solution into a pre-cut armpit artery – gingerly to not bust the artery.

1998.3224.11
Rest, chin
Silver colored metal. Long rectangular piece attached to stem. Supported by round base. Adjustable. Height, width 3 ¼," 2 ¼."
Asa Dodge, on the subject of mouth closing wrote in 1906, “on this question there are many different opinions.” Besides stitching, wiring, or stapling, he wrote, some use achin rest during embalming with the expectation that the jaw will set as fluid firms up the corpse. Dodge cautioned that padding needed to be placed under the chin so any holding devices didn’t leave an indentation.