bavarikon4UDescription
The introduction of gunpowder in the fourteenth century and the rapid development of mobile small-calibre weapons posed a previously unknown problem for barbers and army surgeons. In the body of the wounded were no longer arrows but deeply penetrating metal projectiles. Hans von Gersdorff, author of the "Feldbuch der Wundartzney" (Field Book of Surgery) published in Strasbourg in 1517, saw this quite calmly. He stated that the bullets or "Büchsen-Klötze" would have to be extracted from the wounds in the same way as the arrows used to be removed. Rather than a separate chapter in his book, one only needed a few especially made instruments the shape of which he explained on woodcuts. A spreader ("Loucher") to extend the shooting channel, straight and curved pliers for bullets ("Klotz Zang" or "Schlang"), a bullet spoon – and a "scharpff börerlin do mit man die klötz ußschrubet" (and a sharp little drill to screw out the bullets).
The bullet drill from the museum's collection looks very similar to the one depicted in Gersdorff's book, but also has an additional tubular sheath into which the drill could be retracted while probing the firing channel in order not to damage the tissue. As soon as the surgeon met the metallic resistance of the lead bullet, he bore the drill with its threaded tip into the metal and then gently pulled the ball out of the shooting channel.
Author
Marion Maria Ruisinger