18 Medical Devices That Look Like Torture Tools

Many medical devices from history and even modern times appear frightening, yet they were designed to heal.

Sophia Zapanta
October 29, 2025
5 min read

18 Medical Devices That Look Like Torture Tools — Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz on Pexels

Medicine has used tools that, at first glance, seem more like instruments of pain than care. Some belong to the past, when surgery and treatment were far more brutal, while others are still used today in refined forms. These devices show how the history of healing often looked unsettling.

1. 1. Trephination Drill

Trephination was one of the oldest surgical practices, involving drilling into the skull. The drill used looked sharp and dangerous, resembling a carpenter’s tool. It was believed to treat head injuries, epilepsy, or mental illness. Many patients survived, showing surprising medical skill for the time.

2. 2. Tonsil Guillotine

Jenny O'Donnell on Wikimedia Commons — Jenny O’Donnell on Wikimedia Commons

This device was used in the 19th and early 20th centuries to remove tonsils. It resembled a miniature guillotine with a blade that cut out tissue in a single motion. The process was fast but often unsafe, with high risks of bleeding. Modern tonsillectomy tools have replaced it with safer methods.

3. 3. Vaginal Speculum (Antique Versions)

Early speculums were made of metal and shaped like clamps. Their heavy design gave them a harsh, mechanical look. They were essential for gynecological exams but could be intimidating for patients. Modern designs are lighter, cleaner, and less threatening.

4. 4. Lithotome

The lithotome was used to remove bladder stones before modern surgery. It involved sharp blades and forceful cutting. The procedure was extremely painful before anesthesia was common. Though effective, the device looked closer to a weapon than a medical tool.

5. 5. Scarificator

Used in bloodletting, the scarificator contained multiple spring-loaded blades. With one press, it created parallel cuts in the skin. Doctors believed releasing blood balanced the body’s health. Today, it is remembered as both frightening and unnecessary.

6. 6. Amputation Saw

Surgeons used large hand saws for amputations, especially in wars. The tool looked identical to a carpenter’s saw. Operations were often performed quickly to reduce pain before anesthesia was widely available. These saws saved lives but were terrifying to see.

7. 7. Obstetric Forceps

Forceps were designed to help deliver babies during difficult births. The large metal clamps looked intimidating in size and shape. While they saved countless lives, their appearance often alarmed patients. They remain in use today, though with more careful techniques.

8. 8. Dental Key

The dental key, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, was used to extract teeth. It had a hook-like end that twisted teeth out by force. The process was extremely painful and often damaged gums or jaws. It was eventually replaced by safer forceps.

9. 9. Iron Lung

The iron lung was a large machine used to help polio patients breathe. It enclosed almost the entire body, leaving only the head outside. Its size and mechanical sound made it look intimidating. Despite its appearance, it saved thousands of lives.

10. 10. Syringe Trocar

This device combined a sharp metal point with a syringe to drain fluids. It was often used to treat swelling or abscesses. The long, pointed design looked severe and dangerous. It played an important role before safer drainage tools were developed.

11. 11. Rib Spreader

J. Sklar Manufacturing on Wikimedia Commons

A rib spreader is used in chest surgery to hold ribs apart. Its heavy metal arms open the chest cavity for surgeons to work. The appearance is mechanical and unsettling. It is still in use today as a vital surgical tool.

12. 12. Tonsil Snare

Before modern surgical methods, a wire loop called a snare was used to remove tonsils. The device tightened around the tissue and cut it off. The appearance and function were both grim. Modern techniques have made the process safer and less invasive.

13. 13. Bloodletting Lancet

Lancets were small knives designed for cutting veins to release blood. They were often decorated but still looked like sharp weapons. Bloodletting was once one of the most common medical practices. Today, lancets are only used in controlled forms, such as for diabetes testing.

14. 14. Cranioclast

The cranioclast was used in the 19th century during difficult childbirths. It crushed the skull of a fetus to allow delivery when both lives were at risk. The heavy, sharp tool looked closer to a torture device than medical equipment. It is no longer in use due to modern obstetric care.

15. 15. Leech Jar and Applicator

Leeches were widely used for bloodletting. Special jars and glass applicators were made to place them on the skin. While less sharp than other devices, the thought of live leeches gave them a disturbing reputation. They remain in limited medical use today.

16. 16. Electroconvulsive Therapy Machine (Early Models)

Early ECT machines delivered electric shocks through crude electrodes. The procedure looked terrifying and was poorly understood at the time. Though controversial, it was used to treat severe mental illness. Modern ECT is safer, controlled, and still used in some cases.

17. 17. Tongue Depressor (Metal Versions)

Early tongue depressors were made of cold metal and looked like clamps. They were used to keep the mouth open during throat exams. Their rigid and industrial design appeared uncomfortable. Today, disposable wooden depressors have replaced them.

18. 18. Hernia Truss

A hernia truss was a belt with metal pads to hold hernias in place. The straps and springs made it look like a restraint device. Though awkward and uncomfortable, it was widely used before modern surgery. It was a temporary fix rather than a cure.