History of rhinology: nasal specula around the turn of the 19th-20th century

Abstract

This review is an excursion into the past to find the prototypes of the various nasal specula around the beginning of our century. The oldest prototype is documented in the ancient Hindu text Sushruta-samhita (6th century BC): a tubular nasal speculum. The bivalved forceps-like nasal speculum was mentioned by Hippocrates and can be followed with and without self-retaining mechanisms to the modifications of Killian and of Cottle. U- or Y-shaped springlike devices to open the nares have been known since the publication of Arnold de Villanova from the 13th century. They were reintroduced in a modification by Thudichum in 1868. Fraenkel's speculum (1872) combines fenestrated blades with a screw-set for self-retaining. Duply (1868) modified the split and funnel-shaped ear speculum of Bonnafont, the branches of which can be varied by a screw. In addition to this description of the prototypes of specula a short development of the facilities to illuminate the inner nose is given starting with the sun light and ending with the glass fiberoptic.