Clar as Mud? Origins of the head mirror: A historical note.

In Europe, the name "Clar" immediately evokes to any otorhinolaryngologist the classic head mirror that remains a symbol of our profession. Yet, the origin of Clar has never been investigated. In this clinical and historical review, based on an Internet and PubMed database search together with perusal of Fischer's Biographical Lexikon, the authors seek to elucidate this medical enigma. The data presented suggest that Clar was not a physician but rather a term picked by the company that designed the mirror by the end of the 19th century to underscore the bright and sharp view provided by this then innovative medical device. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 930-932, 2016.