Last update:
09-Sep-2020

This paper discusses a solid thin catheter-shaped tube of copper alloy ending in a small scoop, found during the excavations of a Roman salting factory in the beautiful archaeological site of Troia by the sea, in the peninsula of Setubal near Lisbon. The finding shares similarities with the published hollow Roman catheters, being compared with the items. Its function was described in the medical literature on the urologic procedures and studies on GreekRoman instruments, the finding fitting into the typology of instruments for unclogging the bladder neck from a stone blocking the passage of urine and combining the function of the ear probes, probes and catheters described in the literature for this purpose. A second similar device, in poor condition, presenting a broken end and bent in its distal part was found in the same archaeological site. These findings indicate a high prevalence of urinary lithiasis, induced by a diet rich in fish, shellfish and garum, itself used as a medicine, but containing a high amount of purines.

Key words: Catheters, Greek-roman surgical instruments, History of nephrology, History of urology, Urinary lithiasis.