A superb example of a mid-Victorian thumb lancet, used by 19th-century practitioners for bloodletting and minor surgical procedures. This 6.1cm instrument features beautiful translucent tortoiseshell scales and a sharp steel blade stamped with the prestigious "Millikin and Lawley Boro and Down" mark.
 
Millikin & Lawley were renowned suppliers to the surgeons of London’s "Borough" hospitals, and this piece represents the high-water mark of their craftsmanship. Housed in its original leather case, the lancet has been remarkably well-preserved. The tortoiseshell arms remain vibrant with no evidence of cracking, and the blade sits between the arms when not in use and cased.. A classic "pocket" instrument for any serious collector of Victorian surgical history.