Wishbone Stem Pessary
date: label: date made
content: 1920s - 1930s
notes: label: Description
content: The wishbone stem pessary was developed in Germany around 1880. This type of pessary is an intracervical device - the "stem" protruded into the uterus through the cervix. Stem pessaries were used to control excessive uterine bleeding and were also used as contraceptive devices into the 1930s.
label: Description
content: To insert the device, the two arms of the pessary were closed and encased in gelatin. After insertion through the cervix, the gelatin melted and the two arms returned to the Y configuration; the button end remained outside the uterus.
label: Description
content: This item is part of a kit used by midwife Rosa Bonfante in the early-mid- 20th century.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Medicine
label: Subject
content: Women's Health
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
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content: Health & Medicine
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content: Midwife Kit
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift from Joseph Badlotto in memory of Rosa Bonfante and her daughter Mary Bonfante Chirchirillo Badlotto
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2012.0128.08
label: accession number
content: 2012.0128
label: catalog number
content: 2012.0128.08
objectType: label: Object Name
content: pessary, stem
label: Object Name
content: midwife's kit
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 3/4 in x 2 1/4 in x 3/4 in; 1.905 cm x 5.715 cm x 1.905 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 15.7 cm x 2.2 cm x 2.5 cm; 6 3/16 in x 7/8 in x 31/32 in