Antique 18th century French Doctor's Lancet Set of 6, Tortoise Shell Etui, Case, Necessaire

RARE set, all 6 razor-sharp lancets still held within the elegantly crafted tortoise shell case, etui, just 3" in length and 1" in diameter. These were used in the practice of late 18th century to perhaps c.1820 medicine. Liimited in knowledge and science, quite primitive "bleedings" were thought to release infections or illness "humours" of which a patient suffered. You've seen in many times in period movies. The patient usually always dies. Antiseptics and antibiotics and even an understanding of germs would be decades and even centuries away. A 'surgeon', as doctors were called back then, would have little but bandages for wounds, a rudimentary knowledge of splinting or amputations of limbs, and not much good luck even with childbirth. We have come a very long way since that time. As has this set. Thoroughly sanitized, it is a rare glimpse of a period before modern science and of the very real limitations of science's knowledge. Also, a really beautiful rarity, museum quality. I've