Codman & Shurtleff syringe, c. 1880s

3D Model

Codman & Shurtleff of Boston, was a medical and dental instrument supplier between 1851 and 1900. After Codman died in 1894, Shurtleff took over the company, but by 1900 he is in receivership. The syringe on display was most likely made around 1880. This syringe is 2.5 inch long and was likely used in a dental office for irrigation of the dental cavity during dental filling. The need for irrigators was necessary because there was no running water, suction or compressed air, what we use today. The water syringe attached to a dental unit was patented only in 1884. The syringe in our collection is likely from prior to that date. Description provided by Andrew I Spielman