Homemade Speculum?

[McKenna]

I'm writing a story where I need something like a speculum, but nothing quite so contrived. More 'spur of the moment,' or at the very least put together or constructed from materials one might have about the house.

Is this even possible?

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe, in this case, there is no substitute for the real thing.

 

[glynndah]

I'm writing a story where I need something like a speculum, but nothing quite so contrived. More 'spur of the moment,' or at the very least put together or constructed from materials one might have about the house.

Is this even possible?

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe, in this case, there is no substitute for the real thing.

https://encrypted-tbn2.***********/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTMWRoRLR-x-zgm83AAm_EV_N-9iDdqVLmbkflUiUg45ta-wxojBQ

 

[sr71plt]

A shoehorn for midgets?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Kitchen tongs?

How well does this have to work, and can there be a lot of wincing and apologising going on during it's use?

 

[glynndah]

Kitchen tongs?

How well does this have to work, and can there be a lot of wincing and apologising going on during it's use?

And dare I ask why?

 

[McKenna]

https://encrypted-tbn2.***********/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTMWRoRLR-x-zgm83AAm_EV_N-9iDdqVLmbkflUiUg45ta-wxojBQ

Kitchen tongs?

How well does this have to work, and can there be a lot of wincing and apologising going on during it's use?

Ooooh, now there's a thought!

Stella, I think it would be OK if there were a little wincing/apologizing, I mean even a clinical speculum isn't all that pleasant, right?

The kitchen tongs though, that's brilliant! Thanks you two!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Ooooh, now there's a thought!

Stella, I think it would be OK if there were a little wincing/apologizing, I mean even a clinical speculum isn't all that pleasant, right?

The kitchen tongs though, that's brilliant! Thanks you two!

Sounds like a great scene

 

[Weird Harold]

The kitchen tongs though, that's brilliant! Thanks you two!

My first thought was a pair of spoons and something to use a fulcrum -- spice bottle, thread spool or the like.

The kitchen tongs pictured have sharp edges, perhaps a higher-end pair of tongs with rubber ends?

 

[McKenna]

My first thought was a pair of spoons and something to use a fulcrum -- spice bottle, thread spool or the like.

The kitchen tongs pictured have sharp edges, perhaps a higher-end pair of tongs with rubber ends?

The kitchen tongs reminded me of these lovely, smooth wooden salad tongs my sister has. They look a bit like this:

https://encrypted-tbn0.***********/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8_PKcwdN0r57OsVcpBd20d5FXqhUkGHqbj5YDOyWH8FI0tIMP

I think something like that ^ is entirely plausible as a makeshift speculum, don't you?

I also googled "wooden speculum" and came across this antique:

https://encrypted-tbn3.***********/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMs31H2viYIasCDxbblmZm1U02eOWBs5yvycpy_Ki-WRT4niB_

Ingenious, really. I just hope they sterilized it properly.

For the sake of my story, the wooden salad tongs will fit in nicely (no pun intended!).

 

[McKenna]

Here's another view of the antique speculum:

 

[Stella_Omega]

So cool. Thanks!

 

[Handley_Page]

So cool. Thanks!

Ye gods, Stella, I can almost hear the cogs turning from here!

Mac, I look forward to reading the result.

 

[MatthewVett]

Test tube holders?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTQjG2KRwXU/Tf1YiiPe7xI/AAAAAAAAAJc/u7vbJbN9I-g/s1600/ttholder.jpg

 

[McKenna]

Test tube holders?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTQjG2KRwXU/Tf1YiiPe7xI/AAAAAAAAAJc/u7vbJbN9I-g/s1600/ttholder.jpg

I think the spring on that one is opposite of what I need. I need a tool that will hold something open, not closed. Thank you, though.

 

[McKenna]

Mac, I look forward to reading the result.

It's been years since I've written fiction. Let's hope it will be worth the read!

 

[mynameisben]

https://encrypted-tbn2.***********/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTMWRoRLR-x-zgm83AAm_EV_N-9iDdqVLmbkflUiUg45ta-wxojBQ

ROFLMAO!

You just made my day, Witchy.

 

[TE999]

https://encrypted-tbn2.***********/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTMWRoRLR-x-zgm83AAm_EV_N-9iDdqVLmbkflUiUg45ta-wxojBQ

I 'spec' those might be kinda rough on the ol' baby hatch.

Maybe a scissors jack?

 

[Handley_Page]

I 'spec' those might be kinda rough on the ol' baby hatch.

Maybe a scissors jack?

that's a bit 'industrial' ain't it ?

 

[Saxon_Hart]

that's a bit 'industrial' ain't it ?

It's not like he suggest pipe clamps. Which could hold a puss open if applied correctly. Just sayin.

 

[NoJo]

I'm writing a story where I need something like a speculum, but nothing quite so contrived. More 'spur of the moment,' or at the very least put together or constructed from materials one might have about the house.

Is this even possible?

Anyone have any ideas? Maybe, in this case, there is no substitute for the real thing.

I think a toucan would work quite well

 

[Handley_Page]

I think a toucan would work quite well

a toucan ? Like this ?

Last time I saw one of those it was on a hoarding supporting a pint of Guinness.

 

[NoJo]

Yeah, all-natural, and colourful too!

 

[Weird Harold]

I think a toucan would work quite well

The only toucan most people would "have around the house" is this one:

 

[Obzezzion]

The problem with using a pair of tongs or something similar is that a speculum opens by way of a tightly coiled spring between the spoons. A lever is used to apply pressure, which expands the spring and opens the speculum. Tongs don't have that lever for pressure, meaning that you would need something with which to modify the tongs so that you could apply said pressure; otherwise, the pressure from a body cavity would be enough to keep the tongs closed and you would have no way to open them (except perhaps with exceptional strength in your fingers). The spring in a speculum, as I understand it, works to keep the speculum closed when not in use; the spring in tongs works to keep the tongs open unless pressure is applied to keep it closed.

 

[McKenna]

The problem with using a pair of tongs or something similar is that a speculum opens by way of a tightly coiled spring between the spoons. A lever is used to apply pressure, which expands the spring and opens the speculum. Tongs don't have that lever for pressure, meaning that you would need something with which to modify the tongs so that you could apply said pressure; otherwise, the pressure from a body cavity would be enough to keep the tongs closed and you would have no way to open them (except perhaps with exceptional strength in your fingers). The spring in a speculum, as I understand it, works to keep the speculum closed when not in use; the spring in tongs works to keep the tongs open unless pressure is applied to keep it closed.

I think since the speculum is kind of a sidebar to the entire story, I'm OK using salad tongs. It's plausible enough to suspend disbelief, and that's enough for me.

Thanks for the info, though!