What do you think this is? What was it used for?
Who would have used it? When do you think it was made?
Answers:
What do you think this is? What was it used for?
This is a haemacytometer (also spelled "hemocytometer")! That is to say, this is an antique medical device used to count the levels of blood cells in samples taken from patients. The name "hemocytometer" comes from three Greek roots: "αἱμο-" (haimo-) meaning blood, "κύτος" (kútos) meaning cell, and "μέτρον" (métron) meaning to measure. A sample is placed in the haemacytometer, which is then placed under a microscope, and then cells are counted using gridlines in the device itself.
Who would have used it? When do you think it was made?
The haemacytometer is actually a tool that is still used today, and not only by medical professionals! It is also used to count cells in brewing, in measuring the growth of phytoplankton, and many other applications of cell biology. This haemacytometer was made in the early decades of the Twentieth century, and was donated to the Karshner Center in 1982.
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