What is this device?

Are they still being used?

You might recognize this from the last time you visited the doctor. This is a reflex hammer, used to test reflexes. They have been used by doctors since the late 1800s. This one was donated to the museum by the Karshner family, and now is part of the Karshner Museum's collection of medical antiques.

Yes! Even though medical science is advancing rapidly, the reflex hammer is still being used to test for problems with the muscular or nervous systems, among other things. Do you know of any other tools used by doctors which were invented long ago, yet are still in use?

For more information, visit:

• Artifact Worksheets you can use in your classroom or for homeschool
• Reflex Hammer [Wiki]
• "In The Age Of Digital Medicine, The Humble Reflex Hammer Hangs On" [NPR]