tongue depressor
{{Short description|Medical tool}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{redirect|Popsicle stick|the frozen snack on this type of stick|Ice pop}}
A tongue depressor or spatula is a tool used in medical practice to depress the tongue to allow for examination of the mouth and throat. Hobbyists, artists, teachers and confectionery makers use tongue depressors, which may also be referred to as craft sticks or popsicle sticks.
Description
A tongue depressor is a tool used in medical practice to depress the tongue to allow for examination of the mouth and throat. For this use, it is also known as a spatula.[https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/spatula "Spatula"], Collins Dictionary of Medicine, Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
History
Earlier versions of depressors were made from balsa, pine, or redwood woods. Tongue depressors made from wood and metal exist from the American Civil War.{{Cite web |date=November 19, 2009 |title=Civil War Concenus, N.Y. hospital inventory list inventory |url=http://www.braceface.com/medical/Civil_War_Articles/Civil_War_Hospital_inventory_1865.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119050950/http://www.braceface.com/medical/Civil_War_Articles/Civil_War_Hospital_inventory_1865.htm |archive-date=November 19, 2009 |access-date=April 7, 2023 }}
The most common modern tongue depressors are flat, thin, wooden blades, smoothed and rounded at both ends,{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tongue+depressor|title=Definition of TONGUE DEPRESSOR|website=www.merriam-webster.com}} but, historically, tongue depressors have been made of a variety of materials.Cohen, J Solis. Diseases of the Throat and Nasal Passages: A Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Affections of the Pharynx, Oesophagus, Trachea, Larynx, and Nares. Chapter II, Examination of the Throat and Nasal Passages. Published by W. Wood, 1884, 742 pp. Since they are inexpensive and difficult to clean because of their porous texture, wooden tongue depressors are labeled for disposal after a single usage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120588469924246975|title=Hospitals Reuse Medical Devices To Lower Costs|first=Laura|last=Landro|website=WSJ}}
Other uses
Ice pops and ice cream bars have used wooden tongue depressors to hold the confection, leading to the name popsicle sticks. Hobbyists, artists and teachers use wooden tongue depressors in sculptural projects, which has led to the name craft sticks. Kent Wood, Ric LaBan. N Scale Model Railroad That Grows Kalmbach Publishing, Co., 1996.LaBritta Gilbert, Linda Greigg. Do touch: instant, easy hands-on learning experiences for young children Published by Gryphon House, Inc., 1989.
References
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