Name/Title
Rectal dilatorsDescription
Rectal dilators were popular in the early 20th century, and were sold as a home device to treat any number of medical and neurological complaints, the theory being that the use of this product stimulated nerve pathways that controlled metabolic functions in various organ systems. The enclosed illustration is from 'Manual for Young’s Rectal Dilators' (ca. 1920) and shows conditions related to a spastic rectal sphincter.
These are early twentieth century rectal dilators (top left): Young’s Rectal Dilators by F.E. Young and Co., Chicago, (top right): Valens Bio-Dynamo Prostatic and Rectal Normalizer, George Starr White, MD, Los Angeles; (bottom left): Curvlite glass rectal dilators, (bottom right): Electro-Thermo Dilators by the Electro-Surgical Appliance Co., Inc., San FranciscoCondition
Overall Condition
Very GoodDate Examined
Aug 9, 2026Create Date
August 9, 2026Update Date
August 24, 2026
