Trepan - Jacques Guillimeau

This page features an assortment of trepans - tools used for trepanation/trepanning, or, put more crudely, the drilling of holes in the head - as featured in the English translation of Jacques Guillimeau's The French Chirurgerie, printed in London in 1683.

While the book is not paginated, this information is from the section "The Thesaurarye, or Storehouse of Chyrurgereye," on the 10th and 11th pages of that section. The spelling and grammar have been preserved, although I have inserted some material in square brackets to make it more meaningful to modern audiences. I have inserted lettering into the diagrams because the original letters were often not easily read as well as some arro. I have also moved the original images around so that they work well with the display area on this web page, although I have not altered the actual images in any way other than adding the red lettering that appears on the instruments, as mentioned.

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(Source: Guillemeau,  p. 11 ) "Declaratione of the Characters contaynede in the portractures of sundrye, and divers sortes of Trepanes, and ipinge tonges.

A, A, A, A, Demonstrate the vvhole Trepane in his forme, and fashone.
B, The coverture or cappe of the Handle
C, D, That vvhich properly is callede the Trepane, G. Trepanon Chynicida, or Chenicion & Pirona characton:vvhich vve must soe understande, vvhen the same is vvithoute coverture: In latine it is callede, Terebellum, Trepanum striatum Serateres, & of Celso, Modiolus, and vvhen the coverture is therbye,
E, vvhich is noted vvith E, it is then G, called Abaptiston, & in Latine Trepanum securitatis, because it can entre not deeper thé[n] the arreste, vvil suffer.
F,G, The Piramide vvhich passeth cleane through the Trepane, vvhich must a little excelle the trepane because in the turninge of the Trepane it might stande stedye, and havinge her circle, may be taken out, closinge that end vvhich is notede, with G.
H, The Perforative Trepane, vvhervvith vve only note the place, vvhere vve intende to set the Pyramide.
I, The little vise vvhich vve vvinde into the coverture of the Trepane, to assure the same, that it may stand stedfastlye.
K, An other Kinde of Trepane vvhich is a little larger in her basis, then in the beginninge therof: & is in latine called Terebellum alatum, & such a Trepane can not sincke invvardes.
L, the vvinges of the Trepane, vvhich delicatelye and easilye cutt.
M, N, The Piramide vvhich passeth cleane throughe vvhich vve must remove the Trepane having made his circle.

...

Q, An other Kinde of Trepane, to perforate the bone, vvhich is not dislike unto a thimble, & is also alatede [alated – having wing-like attachments], and delicatelye cuttinge, as vvell above, as one the sydes.
R, the little poyncte, vvhich servethe in steede of the Pyramyde, leaste that shee shoulde stirre out of her place, vvhich must as long be usede therin until the Trepane, be rightiye settlede, & fastenede therin.
r, The little poyncte beinge taken avvay.

(Source: Guillemeau, p. 11 )

O, An other Kinde of Trepane, vvhich onle cutteth the fleshe; & is verye necessarye vvhé[n] vve must suddaynlye trepane, because vve feare any greate fluxió[n]s of bloode. It cutteth and perforateth throughe the musculouse fleshe of the Heade the same being first vvith a potentialle Cauterye cauterizede.
*, The circle or circuite vvhich must cutt as vvell as a Kinfe, nether muste it be toothede.
P, The Pyramide as is in the other fore rehearsede.
...
R, The quoyse, or cappe vvhich turnethe.
S, the vise vvhich fastenethe the Trepane assuredlye.
T, The hole wherein the foresayede vise must be turnede.
V, the trepane beinge taken in peeces, vvithout cappe or Pyramide.
X, The Cappe.
Y, the vise vvich houldeth faste the cap, the vvhich is scruede into that hole, notede with ∏
Z, The Piramide beinge alone.
2, The hole or apertió[n], vvhereout the Pyamide sticketh
3, A little eminence by the vvhich the Pyramide is steadefastlye helde fast, in the Treapane.
4, the end of the Pyramide, vvhich must entre throughe the hole of the trepane notede vvith 1
6,6 The exfoliative trepane.
7,7 Rounde pinsers, or tentacles, very necessary to take avvay the trepanede percelle of bone.

(Source: Guillemeau, p. 11 ) The Declaration of Characters contaynede in the capitalle Instruments, or Pinsers.

A, Demonstrate the pinsers, vvhich are callede parates billes, L, Rostrum Psitaci.
B,B, The openede parrates bill,
C, that parte vvhich rescindentlye is removede up, & dovvne,
D, on the end of thereof notede with, D.
E, the other end vvhich houldethe faste, vvhich is also rescindente.
F, the vise vvhich openethe the sayede Bille, & again shuttethe the same.
G,G, The little Glysorye, or Glidere up and dovvne.
H,H, the recludede Parrates Bille.
a,b, A little pincette.

Declaratió[n] of the Characters, which are contaynede in the Trepanes with vises.

O,R, The trepane vvith vises beinge taken a sunder.
P,P, The vise.
Q, The end, or extremity vvhich shutteth in the quotes, or Cappe.
n, the Cappe in the vvhich is a vise.
f, The treapane vvithe the vise, beinge, readye.
g, The quoyse, or Cappe.
h, The trepane.
i, i, The vise vvhich is on the end.
l,m, The Pyramide, vvhich passeth cleane throughe.

 

(Source: Guillemeau, p. 11 ) Declaratió[n] of the Characters, which in the Cranio are contaynede, being in two places Trepanede.

P,P, The Cranium, vvhich demonstrateth the tvvo bones, to vvitt the Foreheade, and the Parietale, noted vvith a,a.
b,b,b, The fissure, or fracture vvhich crossethe the suture.
c,c,c, The Coronalle Suture.
d,d, The tvvo hoales, vvherevvith these tvvo bones vve are boarede, and pearcede throughe.
e,e, The tvvo rounde parcelles of bone vvhich are taken out of the holes.
T,V, A ground dravver vvith three feete, or branches, the first vvherof is notede vvith V, & serveth for a soundinge irone, to knovve hovv * deepe vve have pearcede the bone.
X, A little Elevatorye, thervvith to move the bone, & marke vvhether it be almost throughe.
Y, The grounde dravver, to sublevate out of the hoale, the Trepanede bone."
(Guillemeau, p. 10)