Post-1880's Surgical Sets and Instrument
identification
Non-Civil War
Surgical Sets
By Dr. Michael Echols
The key feature for identification of post
sterilization c. 1870-80's, surgical sets is the absence of composite, ebony,
ivory, or other non-metallic handles. If it's chrome plated or has a
metal handle, it's post 1890 for sure and maybe post 1880.
If the instruments have
metal handles, they are NOT Pre-1870 and most likely are post 1880-90. There is absolutely no way any
of the following were used in the Civil War.
Typical 1890's all
metal handle set
Metal handled knives in post 1880
pocket surgical kits
Typical post 1890's chrome plated saw
and instruments with metal
handles
Post 1890 neurological set, all metal trephine,
leather bag, Merck bottles None of which, existed during the Civil War
Post 1880 French set by Charriere, with many of the
attributes of an earlier set (velvet lined, mahogany case, brass cartouche,
bilateral latches, but the bottom line is the instruments are all made
for sterilization with all metal handles and are post-1880 for sure
Post 1880 American set by Shepard and Dudley
with all metal handles
Tiemann
surgical set c.1881 evaluation
By Dr. Michael Echols
This set came up on
eBay in 2008 and I saved the photos for evaluation and discussion.
I do not own this set.
This is an unusual
post-sterilization set produced by George Tiemann & Co. c. 1881.
Of particular note is the mahogany case, which until it is opened, one
would think was pre-1860 judging by the brass banding, keyed lock, and
brass name plate.
On opening, the blue
velvet interior would be typical of post-Civil War sets, but the
presence of plated metal handles on the saw, amputation knives,
trephine, and
absence of any non-sterilizable materials is the cardinal point of the
example. Tiemann would still put up their post-sterilization
instruments in pre-sterilization cases and interiors in 1881 as the era
of non-sterilization slowly passed.
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