Since the mid-19th Century, many mouth gags have been designed specifically for these surgeries.

The first successful cleft palate surgery in the United States was performed in 1820 by John Collins Warren (1778-1856). Surgical procedures for the repair of cleft palate began in the 18th Century.

Mouth gags are sometimes used to hold the patient’s mouth open for dentistry, oral surgery and anesthesia. Notes: Anesthesiologists are responsible for maintaining the patient’s respiration and other vital functions during surgery. Notes: One mouth gag Consists of two sculpted, horizontal bars, hinged together at each end, and connected on the right side to a mechanism for adjusting the space between the bars The mechanism consists of two handles that are hinged so as to stand perpendicular to the bars These handles hold a ratchet between them The end of each handle is scored by hatching on its exterior side (for improved grip) In the short physical description the gag is measured in the fully open position When the gag is fully closed, the height is 8.5 centimeters Both bars, and both handles, are marked on the interior with the number: “25” The lower handle is also marked with the logo, consisting of a circle enclosing the letter “J” superimposed on the letter “S”. Whitehead’s Gag and his Cleft Palate Cases. Transactions of the American Medical Association, Volume XX. Report on the best methods of treatment for different forms of cleft palate. Richmond, Virginia: Powers & Anderson, Inc., 1917:355. Illustrated Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and of Allied Lines. Miller School of Medicine, Louis Calder Memorial Library website, electronic books webpage. 3: Alveolar and Palatal Deformities:141-157. Palatoplasty: evolution and controversies. The complete removal of the tonsil in its capsule (Sluder method) by means of a new tonsillotome. Notes: Austrian Difficult Airway/Intubation Registry, Virtual Museum of Equipment for Airway Management. It is unlike the caduceus logo of the German manufacturer, Jetter & Scheerer.ĭescribed from the operator’s perspective, with the ratchet on the right and the handles extending forward. The “JS” logo stamped on the object is unknown to the cataloger. The second year in the date range is based on the date that the gag was received by the WLM, but it’s fragility suggests that it is more likely to have been manufactured in the first half of the 20th century. Notes: The first year in date range is based on the date of Jennings’ original description of the gag. Subject: Airway Management – instrumentation. Subject: Anesthesia, Inhalation – instrumentation. Physical Description: 1 mouth gag metals 6 x 18.5 x 9 cm. Publisher: Place of manufacture unidentified : manufacturer unidentified. Both the Whitehead and Jennings gags are still being made today.Ĭatalog Record: Jennings Cleft Palate Gag Jennings Gag To close it, the ratchet is depressed and the handles pushed apart.

Squeezing the handles together opens the gag. The Jennings gag has a single ratchet that can be operated by the finger and thumb of one hand. The Whitehead gag has two spring-loaded ratchets. Jennings removed the built-in tongue depressor of Whitehead's gag, and simplified the mechanism for adjusting it. Jennings' gag is a modification of the Whitehead gag, which had been introduced some fifty years earlier. Louis physician John Ellis Jennings (1863-1935).

Mouth gags are sometimes used to hold the patient's mouth open for dentistry, oral surgery and anesthesia. Anesthesiologists are responsible for maintaining the patient's respiration and other vital functions during surgery.

Jennings gag tongue