“Very often a conical, flexed, or simply imperfectly developed cervix will prevent examination and treatment of the uterine cavity.  In such cases the cervix should be drawn forward by a strong hook or vulsellum forceps, and some form of a tent or a dilator of small size gently forced into its canal.  In some cases nothing can be made to enter without causing too much pain, except a Slippery-Elm Tent or Tupelo Tent, but with a little larger than a crocheting needle, whittled out of a fresh piece of Slippery-Elm bark, moistened in a 5% aqueous carbolic acid solution, and slightly crushed in the jaws of a dressing forceps to render it flexible and provides for a mucilaginous coat, protecting inflamed or ulcerated mucous surfaces.  After two or three such treatments larger ones can be passed, and finally a small Hank's dilator.  We will then be able to explore the cavity with a small dull curette for softened mucous membranes ad debris of malignant growths, etc.”  - Textbook of Gynecology, Baldy, 1894.