Vintage Trepanning Head Clamp. [N.p., ca. 19th century]. Brass and iron trepanning head clamp with wooden handles. With crank-driven rotating skull drill, screwing head fasteners with wing nut-style handles. Working. Some rubbing, occasional rust. Fine. A rare artifact of a bygone era, in which drilling holes into someone's skull was thought to be a therapeutic treatment for various mental illnesses or conditions (forms of trepanning still exist, but are done in a sterile, surgical environment by trained cranial surgeons for recognized medical procedures). Approximately 10 ? x 9 x 3 ?".