Barany nystagmus drum, 1960-1970

Made:
1960-1970 in Europe
Barany nystagmus drum, probably for use with children Barany nystagmus drum, probably for use with children

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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Barany nystagmus drum, probably for use with children
Science Museum Group
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Barany nystagmus drum, probably for use with children
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Barany nystagmus drum, probably for use with children

Optometrists use the Barany nystagmus drum to assess a condition known as optic nystagmus. This causes involuntary movements of the eye, usually from side to side. The handheld revolving drum is made of wood, metal and plastic. Cartoon-style characters, separated by thick black lines, are on the outside. The drum almost certainly tested children. Their eyes attempted to follow the figures as they rotated around the drum. The device was developed in the 1920s by Austrian Robert Bárány (1876-1936). He had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1914 for his work on the inner ear.

Details

Category:
Ophthalmology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A662690
Materials:
wood, metal and plastic
Measurements:
overall: 500 mm 180 mm,
type:
nystagus drum
credit:
C Davis Keeler Limited