In a previous paper1 a technique for ear-piercing was described which utilized a specially made earring. It was so designed that the earring itself was the instrument for piercing the ears. In this paper, I shall describe this method and also a clamp which makes the procedure practically painless and bloodless.
The earrings are made as illustrated in Figure 1. Each earring has a straight shaft, slightly larger in diameter than that on an ordinary earring. About two-thirds of the shaft is smooth; the terminal one-third is threaded to receive a guard. The end of the shaft is ground and sharpened to a triangular cutting point, as illustrated. The head is concave to facilitate the thrust of the thumb for insertion, and the disk edge of the head is ornamentally engraved or milled for easier grasping. Any competent jeweler can make them of gold or