Urethral Syringe

A urethral syringe, like this one, with its curved funnel tip was used to administer mercury for the treatment of venereal diseases.

Analysis of the residue recovered from the interior of the syringe does in fact show a low concentration of mercury. The ring on the plunger of the syringe features a mark consisting of the letter P below inter-locked rings and a crown, indicating it was made in Paris in 1701 or 1708. A second partial mark indicates the maker was Laurent Chatelain, who worked as a pewterer between 1689 and 1724.