Name/Title
kit, cuppingEntry/Object ID
L2025.002.003Description
Cupping set of 9 glass cups of various sizes in dark wooden box with brass handle on top lid. Original ID number from the Maryland State Medical Society is 60.72 A-E. Belonged to Dr. James Bordley (1808-1870). 8 1/2” x 7 1/2” x 4”. Box is in poor condition, top lid broken from frame.Context
Cupping was a way to bring an excessive concentration of blood to the skin. A heated cup of flint, glass or horn created a vacuum on the skin as the hot air cooled. The skin would then swell within the cup. Dry cupping brought the blood to the surface, whereas wet cupping involved cutting small incisions first, typically drawing up to 3-5 ounces of blood. Cupping is an ancient practice that was very popular in the 1700 and 1800s and is still used today, particularly in sports medicine. On loan from the Carroll County Farm Museum.Exhibition
Main Street at Work: Merchants and Medicine in Carroll County
